ProRodeo Sports News - Sept. 4, 2020

Hall was on the verge of searching for work while

waiting to compete.

“I was looking toward getting a job for the summer, which is no big deal, but luckily everything turned around and we had some rodeos, so I put the job deal on hold,” Hall said. The 2020 season seemed to have fewer rodeos with two or more rounds, and that meant fewer opportunities for strategic competition. “There’s too many variables at the one-headers,” Tryan said. “You have to draw decent and go all out every time.” Strategy is still part of the game, but in a different way. Jarboe is taking the last five months as a learning experience to be smarter with entries and more flexible with scheduling. “There are 100 guys wanting to go to the same rodeos, so you have to figure out a way to make a run at four rodeos in a weekend and get up on the days you want,” Jarboe said. Having a large portion of the 2020 season canceled didn’t sit well with competitors or rodeo committees, but it was something they had to deal with. “The committees did an amazing job,” Jarboe said. “I wasn’t surprised because they work their butts off all year long to have those rodeos.” Committees determined to host their events had to jump through hoops to meet the requirements – and the cowboys took notice. “It opened our eyes to a bunch of smaller rodeos we would have taken for granted with a full year,” Jarboe said. “It was nice to go to them and see what they have to offer.” Hall and Tryan maintained the same approach to competing this season, but 18 of the rodeos they went to weren’t on their usual schedule, Tryan said. “You have to learn to not take every rodeo for granted,” Hall said. “No matter where you go, you still have to do well to win. It’s still rodeoing, just not the same circle we always make.” Cowboy Christmas was good toThurston, pushing him from 23rd to 12th in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings by July 5. “I was just excited to come down (to the U.S.) and go rodeo,” Thurston said. “I know it affected a whole lot of people, and I feel for them and it sucks, but we’ll get it back together and back to normal before long.” Hall and Tryan jumped into the Top 15 on July 26, with Hall going from 24th to 15th and Tryan from 22nd to 15th. “I learned a long time ago that every day is a blessing,” Hall said. “Not everyone gets to go do what they want to do every day. I’ve always been big on living life to the fullest, but now I think your friendships through this year have been bigger than anything.” Jarboe was out with injury for a few months in the 2019 season, which likely cost him a fourth consecutive NFR qualification. Returning to competition just in time for the COVID-19 shutdown wasn’t much help, so he was excited to break into the Top 15 the first week of August, climbing from 22nd to 12th. “Missing the NFR last year soured me up a bit,” Jarboe said. “I’m itching at it now. I can’t slow down now, we only have a month left.” PRORODEO FINDS A SOLUTION

Photo courtesy Zeke Thurston Canadian saddle bronc rider Zeke Thurston was particularly excited to compete again since all rodeos in Canada were canceled for the year.

Joe Duty photo Brenten Hall, right, and Clay Tryan finished what they started in Houston by winning the third round of Bracket 3 at the Super Series Finish in Fort Worth, Texas, May 29.

ProRodeo Sports News 9/4/2020

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