ProRodeo Sports News - June 10, 2022

RIGGIN’ RALLY XTREME BRONCS DARBY, MONT.

Steiner scores 95-point trip on C5 Rodeo’s Virgil The Record BY JOLEE JORDAN, Special to ProRodeo Sports News I t’s only taken a few months for rookie Rocker Steiner to etch his name into the record books. Steiner turned 18 last December and now, just five months into his professional career, he has claimed his first title at a Riggin’ Rally stop in world record fashion with a 95-point ride aboard renowned bucking horse Virgil fromC5 Rodeo. TOP BAREBACK RIDES IN PRCA HISTORY 95 points – Rocker Steiner on C5 Rodeo’s Virgil in Darby, Mont., 2022 94 points – Wes Stevenson on

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Kesler Rodeo’s Cover Girl in Dallas, 2002; Will Lowe on Kesler Rodeo’s Sky Reach in Omaha, Neb., 2003; Ryan Gray on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Grass Dancer in Eagle, Colo., 2009; Tilden Hooper on Classic Pro Rodeo’s Big Tex in Silver City, N.M., 2010; Tim O’Connell on Northcott Macza’s Stevie Knicks in San Angelo, Texas, 2020; Tim O’Connell on Frontier Rodeo’s Gun Fire in Weatherford, Texas, 2021

“I’m so mind-blown right now,” Steiner said. “That was one of the most special moments of my life. I’ve been dreaming of getting that horse for about four years now, ever since I started riding.” Turns out, Steiner said he had a premonition of the world record moment weeks ago. “The craziest thing is I texted one of my buddies about two weeks ago and I said, ‘bro, what if I set the world record on Virgil?’” Steiner laughed, adding that his dad, PRCAWorld Champion Steer Wrestler Sid, dreamed that he won the event on the famous grey horse. The Riggin’ Rally features a unique format. The 30 contestants, comprised of the top 24 in the PRCA | RAMWorld standings alongside six riders who advanced from a qualifier, are drawn into three sections. The top three from each section move on to the nine-man Finals. On June 5, the competitors were able to draft their livestock for the long round. With the fourth pick in his section, Steiner chose Brookman Rodeo’s Boozy Beaver. Three-time PRCAWorld Champ TimO’Connell set the bar at 88 points for the section win, while Steiner tied for second with Canadian cowboy Ty Fast Taypotat, who advanced to compete through Saturday’s qualifier. The matching 83-point rides squeaked into the sudden death finals. Then came the finals, a sudden death competition known to produce marquee matchups and high scores. “We were sitting behind the chutes andWill O’Connell was calling out who’s matched up against what horse and he said, ‘Rocker Steiner, Virgil,’” Steiner recalled. “Right there, my stomach dropped, I was scared. . . . Honestly, I strapped my glove on and took a deep breath and I was thinking, ‘why am I doing this to myself ?’” he said laughing. When the gates blew open, Steiner matched moves with the two-time PRCA Bareback Horse of the Year (2017-18) and two-time Canadian Professional Rodeo Association Bareback Horse of the Year (2017-18) and hit the ground to a huge celebration. “It was everything I dreamed of,” he said. “I just kept telling myself to set the brakes because he was going to want me out the front.” “I couldn’t believe that I made the whistle,” he joked. Steiner’s 95-point ride broke up a logjam of six 94-point rides that formerly held the world record, originally set in 2002. Steiner was the first to set a world record in the PRCA since 2009 when team ropers Chad Masters and Jade Corkill clocked a 3.3-second time in Round 9 of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. “I couldn’t draw it up any better than that,” Steiner said. Both his dad and granddad were on hand to share the moment. “That’s been my favorite horse for four years now. I always dreamed of getting on that horse and setting a world record on him and I did today.” Steiner earned $10,000 for the win. He came to Montana 15th in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings and will move up the ladder as he aims to make his Wrangler National Finals Rodeo debut in 2022.

VIDEO

Sid Steiner, the 2002 PRCA Steer Wrestling World Champion, shares a moment with his son, Rocker, in Darby, Mont., after the world-record ride.

Dave Hollenback photos Rookie bareback rider Rocker Steiner had a 95-point world record ride to win the Riggin’ Rally on June 5 in Darby, Mont. Steiner is the first cowboy to set a new PRCA world record since 2009.

ProRodeo Sports News 6/10/2022

ProRodeo Sports News 6/10/2022

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