ProRodeo Sports News - November 19, 2021

BAREBACK RIDING

ANice New View

Hooper to NFR as the leader for first time

BY TRACY RENCK V eteran bareback rider Tilden Hooper had a PRCA regular season to remember in 2021. It concluded with him qualifying for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo as the season leader for the first time in his career. Hooper’s atop the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings with $161,952. This is Hooper’s eighth trip to the NFR – (2008-09, 2011, 2014, 2018-21). His career-best finish was third in the world standings in 2018. “Man, I have no complaints,” said Hooper, 33. “I was super blessed this year. I drew good and I have been healthy, and I have been riding good. That’s the secret sauce there. You get to ride horses and take advantage of them when you get them.” Hooper’s season received a huge jumpstart when he wonThe American March 7 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Hooper wonThe American with a 90.5-point ride on Frontier Rodeo’s Gun Fire. The ride earned Hooper $100,000 – $50,000 which counted in the world standings. “Heck yeah, you get $50,000 in one whack that knocks out the majority of what it takes to qualify for the Finals,” Hooper said. “That was a huge deal, no doubt. “God puts opportunities in front of us, and whenever he puts an opportunity in front of you like this, I feel like it’s my job to take advantage of it, and that’s dang sure what I was trying to do.” Hooper won seven rodeos in 2021, including the Reno Rodeo on June 27. Hooper won the average in Reno with 254.5 points on three head. Hooper, who came into the short round as the leader, clinched the crown with his 84-point ride on Bridwell Pro Rodeo’s Ted. It was his second career Reno win. Hooper earned $14,080 for his Reno victory. “There were a lot of great moments for me this season and when you’re riding good like that, there are always a lot of big moments and fun moments,” Hooper said. “I would say winningThe American was definitely the high point of the season.” Hooper and his wife, Melissa, also celebrated the birth of their first child, son, Tell McLain, who was born in January.

2021 BAREBACK STANDINGS

1. Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas.............. $161,952 2. Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa................... 156,056 3. Clayton Biglow, Clements, Calif................ 142,004 4. Caleb Bennett, Corvallis, Mont................. 140,213 5. Kaycee Feild, Genola, Utah....................... 125,856 6. Jess Pope, Waverly, Kan.......................... 110,024 7. Richmond Champion, Stevensville, Mont.... 98,945 8. Cole Reiner, Buffalo, Wyo........................... 98,216 9. Orin Larsen, Inglis, Manitoba..................... 97,844 10. Garrett Shadbolt, Merriman, Neb.............. 96,013 11. Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn.. .............. 85,675 12. Cole Franks, Clarendon, Texas. ................. 77,393 13. R.C. Landingham, Hat Creek, Calif............ 72,129 14. Taylor Broussard, Estherwood, La.. .......... 70,204 15. Zach Hibler, Wheeler, Texas. ..................... 65,381 FROM THE CHAMP

Bareback rider Kaycee Feild won his fifth world championship in 2020 and he’s not ready to stop adding gold buckles to his collection. “Winning six world titles goes through my mind every day. I write it down every day and read it every day. I mean

QUOTABLE “I put in the work in October and November and when I get to Vegas, I’m going to be out there to have fun and show off and enjoy getting to ride out there for all that money on all those great horses.” – Tilden Hooper

Feild

A huge win at The American in Arlington, Texas, March 7, paved the way for Tilden Hooper to head into the NFR in the No.1 spot.

“This year has been so special,” Hooper said. “Getting to come home to him every week and see him changing. Him coming is definitely the best thing that happened, probably the best thing ever. I have just been enjoying that time with him.” Hooper’s mindset for the 2021 NFR is to be ready to compete at his highest level. “I put in the work in October and November and when I get to Vegas, I’m going to be out there to have fun and show off and enjoy getting to ride out there for all that money on all those great horses,” Hooper said. Hooper is looking forward to competing at theThomas &Mack Center after a year away in 2020. “I really enjoy the electricity of theThomas &Mack,” Hooper said. “You have 18,000 fans right there on top of you and it is awesome. The electricity in

theThomas &Mack is unmatched. It is different than competing in Arlington (Texas in 2020). “The energy and the electricity and all the stuff you have to do while you’re out there in Vegas it is different than what we did last year in Arlington. It is definitely a whole different animal, and it is exciting. It’s fun to be going back out there and be part of all that high energy.” Hooper did take a moment to think about what a gold buckle – his first – would mean to him. “That would be a dream come true,” he said. “The reason I still do this is chasing that gold buckle. Having an opportunity to go in first and having the best chance I have ever had is awesome. But, I’m not too dumb to know that it's going to come down to it out there. There’s so much money that changes hands out there and I know I need to go out there and do good and that’s exactly what I plan on doing.”

this in the humblest way, but I plan on winning my sixth world championship this year. I want to be remembered when I’m done a lot like my dad (late ProRodeo Hall of Famer Lewis Feild). Everywhere I go I hear a neat story about my dad. I want to be remembered as a family man and a good guy who was very generous to the sport and gave back to the sport. Right now, where I’m at in my career it is now or never. I’m hungry as I have ever been. I want to have stories be told about me long after the records.”

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Alaina Stangle

ProRodeo Sports News 11/19/2021

WRANGLER NATIONAL FINALS RODEO

DEC. 2-11, 2021

ProRodeo Sports News 11/19/2021

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