ProRodeo Sports News - October 1, 2021

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.

Strong Finisher BY JOLEE JORDAN, Special to ProRodeo Sports News T he NewMexico State Fair & Rodeo in Albuquerque is usually filled with plenty of drama, loaded with contestants fighting for a spot inside the Top 15 of the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings and a corresponding place at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo thanks to its spot on the calendar in the final two weeks of rodeo’s regular season. Albuquerque served as a finish line for saddle bronc rider Damian Brennan as well, though the Australian isn’t in the race for a berth at the NFR. At least not yet. Instead, Albuquerque was Brennan’s final rodeo on his permit, and he closed out a stellar permit season with a bang, winning the rodeo by three and half points over a field of NFR cowboys. Riding on Sept. 16, he earned the victory thanks to an 85-point ride on NFR bucking horse Garden City Gal fromHi Lo Pro Rodeo. “I was talking to K’s Thomson andWyatt Casper in Pendleton,” Brennan, 22, said of his match up. “They said she was an awesome one. I knew it was going to be good and I was glad to get by her and do my job.” In addition to carrying cowboys to wins at the NFR, Garden City Gal has a solid record in Tingley Coliseum as well. She took Bradley Harter to the title in Albuquerque back in 2019. Brennan’s ride was just the second time in 2021 a cowboy had earned a score on her. Brennan earned $3,638 for the win and added the victory to others earned this year inWichita Falls (Texas), Burke (S.D.), and Granite Falls (Minn.). “It was the most I’d won at one rodeo anyway,” Brennan said of a season where he won nearly $20,000 at PRCA rodeos. “It was a fun rodeo, and the crowd was good.” Brennan grew up around rodeo back in

Brennan closes out PRCA permit season with victory

TOP MONEY WINNER Richard Newton TOP SCORES

($5,259, tie- down roping) BAREBACK RIDING

Newton

1. Cole Franks ............................ 89 pts. 2. Richmond Champion .................... 88 3. Tanner Aus ................................. 84.5 STEER WRESTLING 1. Rowdy Parrot ................ 7.9 sec. on 2 2. Clayton Hass ................................ 8.3 3. Luke Branquinho .......................... 8.6 TEAM ROPING 1. Kirchenschlager/Davison ...... 4.5 sec. 2. A. Tsinigine/S. Carroll ................... 5.2 3. Two tied at ................................... 5.3 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Damian Brennan ..................... 85 pts. 2. Mitch Pollock ............................. 81.5 3. Two tied at .................................... 78 TIE DOWN ROPING 1. Richard Newton .......... 17.0 sec. on 2 2. Ryan Jarrett ............................... 17.8 3. Kyle Lucas ................................. 19.9 BARREL RACING 1. Dona Kay Rule .................. 15.07 sec. 2. Sissy Winn ............................... 15.16 3. Kaitlin Schuck .......................... 15.18 BULL RIDING 1. Cullen Telfer ........................ 86.5 pts. 2. Jeff Askey ..................................... 81 3. Andy Guzman ................................ 80

Queensland where his dad, Peter, is a pickup man. Having three older sisters helped get him tough and riding broncs just fell into place. “I had a heap of mates that were riding,” he said. “Then I went to a Cody Angland School and that kick started things.” A buddy introduced Brennan to Greg Rhodes, coach of the rodeo team at Western Texas College in Snyder, who offered him a scholarship. Soon, Brennan was packing his bags. As a freshman, Brennan finished second in the Southwest Region and competed at the College National Finals Rodeo in June 2021. Two rodeos into his sophomore season in the fall of 2021, Brennan is ranked third and has helped put his team on top of the regional standings. Brennan has been hauling with fellow Aussie Locky Sheppard and 2021 CNFR champ Dylan Schofield and Rhett Fanning, a group he says helps keep the road lively. “We pick each other up, give a laugh or two,” he said. “If one guy misses a horse out, we give him a hard time. It helps to keep you up.” He also relies on advice from his coach. “Greg is good to talk to, he’s very good on the mental stuff,” Brennan said. “Going down the road can sure be draining so you’ve got to keep your head right.”

MORE WINNERS • Portales, N.M., tie- down roper Richard Newton was the picture of consistency in Albuquerque, making runs in 8.4 and 8.6 seconds to win second in both rounds, collecting the win at his home state rodeo. • Tate Kirchenschlager/ Cole Davison kept their NFR dreams alive with a win at the New Mexico State Fair and Rodeo. Their 4.5 second run claimed the win and $3,604; both cowboys are within the top 20 of the PRCA | RAM World Standings.

Complete results/Page 56

ProRodeo Sports News 10/1/2021

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