ProRodeo Sports News - June 28, 2019

me hungry. It made me want to do better, and instead of getting down in the dumps I stayed positive, and it turned around. That’s the biggest deal at any rodeo.” Martin’s Cowboy Christmas hot streak that cashed in for $23,844 was worth more than any other timed-event cowboy’s, launching him from 26th to 13th in the world standings. The Kansas cowboy went on to make his second consecutive trip to the Wrangler NFR. NOT THEIR FIRST RODEO The thrill of the Cowboy Christmas run is muffled for the titans of rodeo, but its significance doesn’t fall on deaf ears. “Everyone puts so much emphasis on it, but there are other weeks you can win that much too,” O’Connell said. “Reno, for me, starts Cowboy Christmas because you can go on to Ponoka and then it’s the first of July and it ramps up the summer run. There’s so much right out of the gate but it doesn’t slow down, and a lot of rodeos have stepped up their prize money. “There are so many opportunities for us, not just (Cowboy Christmas). It’s July 1 through Sept. 31. During the summer run everyone is feeling it, and (with) everyone going is why everyone gets so pumped up about it.” Martin agreed with O’Connell about the Reno (Nev.) Rodeo. “Our Fourth starts at Reno,” Martin said. “We rope there and then go to Pecos, drive to Greeley, fly to Ponoka and Airdrie, and drive back down to Cody, Livingston and Red Lodge. We have it mapped out.” Logistics are one of the biggest challenges in Cowboy Christmas as high-dollar competitions can be hundreds of miles apart on the same day. “Everyone is tired, it’s not just us,” Martin said. “We’re all driving everywhere, and nobody has an advantage on that standpoint.” O’Connell and his traveling partners chartered a plane to make competing at multiple rodeos each day possible. Unlike last year, the reigning world champion has a bigger gap to close on topping the world standings due to missing several months of competition this season. “That’s going to be my plan from here on out, doubled or tripled up through the end of the year,” O’Connell said. “I’ll allow myself to get on a good horse every day for three months. That’s how I will play catch up and make the Finals. But I’m going to be realistic, I won’t be at the top at the end of the season, but I’ll have a realistic shot at the gold buckle because it’s an even chance once you get there (to the Wrangler NFR).” Timed-event cowboys have an additional logistical challenge because they must get themselves and their horses to each competition or find a suitable mount to borrow. In the last year, Martin has tripled his equine arsenal with the addition of Water Boy and Shooter. “I have Water Boy in Canada now because he is super fast and better on little calves, but Payday is my go-to, my veteran,” Martin said. “Shooter is for walking-fresh calves, and I send him to places where I need to give Payday time off.” Martin will juggle a schedule that involves 16 rodeos and three horses between two countries with his travel partners Reese Reimer and Cade Swor. “It’s awesome, you get to run nearly a calf a day and so you get in a rhythm,” Martin said. “It’s almost like the practice pen, but you drive every day and rope in a perf or slack, and they’re all huge.”

Andy Watson photo

After earning $23,844, Cooper Martin had the most lucrative Cowboy Christmas run of all timed-event cowboys in 2018 thanks to major wins such as the Cody (Wyo.) Stampede (above).

COWBOY CHRISTMAS TOUR RODEOS Cowboy Christmas 2019 consists of 26 PRCA rodeos during June 30-July 9. Among those are six ProRodeo Tour stops. Here’s a look at the Tour rodeos that will play a part in Cowboy Christmas this season. • Greeley (Colo.) Stampede • World’s Oldest Rodeo, Prescott, Ariz.* • Cody (Wyo.) Stampede* • Livingston (Mont.) Roundup • St. Paul (Ore.) Rodeo • Oakley Independence Day Rodeo, Oakley City, Utah* * Streaming on ProRodeoTV.com

ProRodeo Sports News 6/28/2019

ProRodeo.com

35