ProRodeo Sports News - Sept. 29, 2023

PENDLETON, ORE.

PENDLETON ROUND-UP

Begay

Todd

TOP SCORES

TOP MONEY EARNER Derrick Begay/Colter Todd ($16,932, team roping) BAREBACK RIDING 1. Dean Thompson ....... 171.5 pts. on 2 2. Jess Pope ................................... 171 3. Keenan Hayes .......................... 170.5 STEER WRESTLING 1. Cameron Morman ....... 18.4 sec. on 3 2. Clayton Morrison ....................... 19.6 3. Traver Johnson .......................... 20.2 TEAM ROPING 1. D. Begay/C. Todd ........ 17.6 sec. on 3 2. J. Clay/T. Worley ........................ 18.1 3. C. Rahlmann/J. Torres ............... 18.5 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Layton Green ............ 173.5 pts. on 2 2. Zeke Thurston ............................. 173 3. Dawson Dahm ......................... 171.5 (Tie) Stetson Wright ................ 171.5 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Blane Cox ................... 27.1 sec. on 3 2. Kincade Henry ........................... 28.1 3. Preston Pederson ...................... 28.4 STEER ROPING 1. Pake Sorey ................. 40.2 sec. on 3 2. Trent Sorey ................................ 43.4 3. Todd Dickson ............................. 48.7 BULL RIDING 1. Stetson Wright ............ 177 pts. on 2 2. Ky Hamilton ................................ 171 3. Clayton Sellars ............................ 167

Gini Roberge photo

Blane Cox’s nostalgic run at Pendleton vaults him into prime position for another NFR bid Deja Vu BY ALEX RILEY, Special to ProRodeo Sports News B lane Cox couldn’t help but notice the similarities between 2016 and now. As the Cameron, Texas, tie-down roper got ready for his runs at the Pendleton (Ore.) Round-Up, there was a strong sense of familiarity, like he’d been in this exact moment before. And, once again, that turned out to be a good thing. “This year, going into Pendleton, it’s one of my favorite rodeos. I always seem to do really good there,” Cox said with a laugh. Over the course of three runs in Oregon, Cox cobbled together an average time of 27.1 seconds to earn his first Pendleton title by a full second over Kincade Henry. The importance of the win can’t be understated as Cox was floating around 14th in the PRCA | RAM World Standings, putting him dangerously close to the cutoff line for qualifying for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Thanks to placing fourth in the second round and first in the short go, Cox earned more than $12,000 at Pendleton, putting him just a few hundred dollars shy of being among the top 10 in the standings, as the regular season quickly draws to a close. It’s an eerily similar outcome to his 2016 run through Pendleton. That year, Cox was sitting just outside the Top 15 in the world standings prior to the rodeo but went on to place second in the average and earn enough money to catapult himself up the standings. It was the money from Pendleton that ultimately led to his first and thus far only NFR

Tie-down roper Blane Cox earned more than $12,000 in winning the average at the Pendleton (Ore.) Round-Up. The victory put him in the mix to qualify for the Wrangler NFR.

qualification. “I’m always excited to rope there, I always seem to do good there – and now I have another memorable moment there,” Cox said. “I’m sure it’s just like on every cowboy’s bucket list, we’re all wanting to win the big ones, and Pendleton was on my bucket list. And it couldn’t have come at a better time for me.” While the win certainly puts Cox in position to return to Las Vegas in December, it is not a guarantee. But the success in Pendleton is certainly helping his chances. Along with several other rodeos in Texas and elsewhere to close out the regular season, Cox’s most recent victory provided him with the numbers needed to qualify for the Cinch Playoffs Governor’s Cup in Sioux Falls, S.D., at the end of the month, giving him another opportunity to bolster his earnings and position in the standings. Getting back to rodeo’s season-culminating event has been his focus over the last several years and Cox has certainly come close, finishing top 20 three times since 2017, including 16th twice. To be on the cusp of reaching the NFR once again is certainly noteworthy. And, if all goes right, Cox is looking forward to celebrating with those who helped him get back to where he longs to be. “It’s going to mean everything. It’s a group effort, so it’s going to mean a lot to a lot of people that are close to me,” Cox said.

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