ProRodeo Sports News - June 23, 2023

WEATHERFORD, TEXAS

PARKER COUNTY RODEO

Leighton Berry captures Weatherford win Hometown Hero

BY BRADY RENCK, Special to ProRodeo Sports News R odeo is family. Life on the road makes brothers and sisters of the competitors. For Leighton Berry, last week’s rodeo was actual family. In a meteoric career, bareback rider Leighton Berry experienced a goosebumps moment sandwiched by his latest terrific performance. Berry won his third title at the Parker County Sheriff’s Posse Frontier Days and PRCA Rodeo in Weatherford, Texas, posting a 91-point ride on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s San Angelo Sam. Not only was this his hometown rodeo – “You can literally throw a rock from where I live and hit the arena,” Berry said – but his younger brother Kade and sister Maci participated in the event. It made the experience unforgettable. “They do such a great job with this rodeo. The support I feel is second to none. The only other place where I feel the electricity of the crowd and the energy like that is at the NFR (in Las Vegas). Dang right, I had a lot of friends there that I consider family. My dad was there,” said Berry, “and I got to compete with my little brother and my little sister for the first time. It really doesn’t get much better than that.” Kade, on his permit, finished eighth in the bareback, with an 80-point trip. Maci was in the breakaway roping. Leighton placed an exclamation on the family weekend with his disciplined ride, edging Cole Franks (89), Rocker Steiner (88.5) and Lane McGehee (85). “That’s a horse we usually take to the Finals in the eliminator portion. It’s a stout bucking horse that gives you everything you need to win,” said Berry, who pocketed $2,329 for the victory. “He’s not going to give you anything. He’s trying to get you off, and you are going to have to work for it. It was a strong, aggressive ride and I was able to do what I was supposed to. You just have to play the game, be patient and stick with your fundamentals. You can’t let the talk and stats about the horse get into your mind. It’s about having the right mentality.” Only 24, Berry finished third in the PRCA | RAM World Standings last season, earning $267,274. He finished fifth in the average at his second NFR – he first qualified in 2020 – and won Round 2 and Round 8. The NFR appearances empowered Berry, validated his path, and suggested what the future held with slight improvement. Berry was first in the world standings through the first two weeks this June, his season fueled by victories at RodeoHouston and the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. “I feel like I have built off every year. I have suffered some injuries the last three years, but every time I made the Finals, once in Texas and once in Las Vegas, I left there with a stronger mental attitude. And I used that as I moved forward,” Berry said. “After my finish last year, I knew what I was capable of, and that was more than third place. I could win the title. There’s a lot of rodeoing left. But I am feeling good, feeling fresh.” The focus now shifts to maintaining momentum. Berry planned to take 10 days off to train and recover, before hitting the July 4th circuit with a laser focus. “I normally rodeo a lot, and that’s not going to change even with a good start to the season. We will be doing every big rodeo,” Berry said. “I will enter the same amount and keep that same mentality – and that’s to dominate.”

TOP SCORES

TOP MONEY EARNER Billy Good ($3,449, steer roping) BAREBACK RIDING

Good

1. Leighton Berry ....................... 91 pts. 2. Cole Franks ................................... 89 3. Rocker Steiner ........................... 88.5 STEER WRESTLING 1. Bridger Anderson ................. 3.4 sec. 2. Colten Leech ................................ 3.6 (Tie) Dylan Schroeder .................. 3.6 TEAM ROPING 1. C. Summers/J.Long .............. 4.6 sec. 2. N. Wyatt/C. Tryan ......................... 4.9 3. C. Kirchner/B. Jack Saebens ........ 5.0 (Tie) Clay Tryan/Ryan Motes ........ 5.0 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Jacobs Crawley ...................... 90 pts. 2. Wyatt Casper ................................ 87 3. Tanner Butner ............................ 86.5 (Tie) Traylin Martin .................... 86.5 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. John Douch .......................... 7.5 sec. 2. Tuf Cooper ................................... 7.9 3. Robert Mathis .............................. 8.0 STEER ROPING 1. Billy Good ................... 38.3 sec. on 3 2. Trey Wallace .............................. 44.3 3. Mark Milner ............................... 47.2 BULL RIDING 1. Robbie Taylor ...................... 87.5 pts. (Tie) Cody Teel ........................... 87.5 3. Vitor Losnake ............................... 85

Complete results/Page 65

Robby Freeman photo

Bareback rider Leighton Berry continued his strong 2023 season by winning his hometown Parker County Sherriff’s Posse Rodeo in Weatherford, Texas, with a 91-point ride on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s San Angelo Sam.

ProRodeo Sports News 6/23/2023

ProRodeo Sports News 6/23/2023

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