ProRodeo Sports News - March 8, 2019

SAN ANTONIO & RO DEO STOCK SHOW

A new twist to the final round’s draw turned out in bull rider J.W. Harris’ favor at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, as the bull he chose for the finals helped him make the winning ride. The luck of the draw was still in play, though, as the order of who picked first was determined by drawing names from a hat, and Harris was the first bull rider drawn. “Luckily, I got the No. 1 pick, and it was a no- brainer that is the one to have in the short round, because if you ride him you will win,” Harris said of Powder River Rodeo’s SweetPro’s Bruiser after nailing a 92.5-point ride to win the rodeo. “I’d been on him when he was 3 years old. He’s been such a good bull for such a long time, and that shows how well the animals are cared for.” Ten years ago, Harris was the co-champion at San Antonio. Now 32, the Texas cowboy won San Antonio outright for the first time since joining the PRCA in 2005. “This is one that has alluded me for a long time,” Harris said. “It’s the one I wanted to win before I retired, and we finally got it done.” Harris is a four-time world champion bull rider (2008-10, 2013) and nine-time qualifier for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (2006-14). He ended the 2018 season on the bubble, ranked 16th in the world with $93,769. His San Antonio earnings of $25,250 were worth about one-third of his 2018 season earnings. “It’s been such a good rodeo, and this sets you up for the rest of the year,” Harris said. “And the hospitality here is second to none, there is a reason they won 14 (large indoor rodeo of the year) awards.” The payday gave Harris one of the biggest jumps in the 2019 PRCA | RAMWorld Standings at the end of February – moving him from 130th to seventh in bull riding. “This dang-sure helps, and it gives you confidence going into Houston and all the big rodeos coming up,” Harris said. –Matt Naber bull riding with 92.5 Harris nets SanAntonio

Ten years after being co-champion at San Antonio, bull rider J.W. Harris won the rodeo outright at 32 years old. Greg Westfall photo

ProRodeo Sports News 3/8/2019

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