ProRodeo Sports News - September 1, 2023

GOODING, IDAHO

GOODING PRO RODEO Griffin staying alive for NFR spot Key Win

BY JOLEE JORDAN, Special to ProRodeo Sports News N ew Mexico saddle bronc rider Ross Griffin came to the Gooding (Idaho) Rodeo in 2022 on the bubble for his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and needing a big win. But a match-up with Macza Pro Rodeo’s Get Smart, the 2019 Pendleton Whiskey Let ‘er Buck Saddle Bronc of the Year, did not go Griffin’s way and, despite going on to win more than $22,000 in the final five weeks of the season, Griffin finished the year 19th in the PRCA | RAM World Standings. A year later, Griffin traveled to central Idaho again, on the bubble once more, but this time without a marquee match-up. But King Rodeo and Wentz Bucking Bulls’ bay horse Blood Tracks proved more than enough with a salty ride from Griffin to take the victory lap as the most “Beer Worthy” in the saddle broncs in Gooding in 2023. “I knew a little about him,” said Griffin, 26. “I had decent expectations and honestly, it went better than I thought it would.” Griffin’s 85-point ride was good enough to earn a pile of Playoff Series points and $5,753. That was in addition to the cold beer from the rowdy Gooding fan section, who choose their most “Beer Worthy” contestants each night for the freebie. “I held my feet until he broke and then just tried to get ahead of him,” Griffin said. “He started jumping higher and higher, he liked it. It was a good day.” The win landed him 22nd in the world standings, playing catch up again but with a couple of key differences this time around. “I have never gotten into those Playoff (Series) rodeos in the past, I’ve always been a little short,” he explained, referencing the Washington State Fair in Puyallup and Governor’s Cup in Sioux Falls, S.D., lucrative championship events in the final weeks of the season. The first stop, Puyallup, will take 23 from the Playoff Series standings, where Griffin is 14th. He’s got a little work to do to climb into the top 8, which is the cut-off for Sioux Falls but a top 4 finish in Puyallup would clinch it. Joking that after seven years of rodeoing he was “bound to learn what to do,” Griffin notes that he and hauling buddy and lifelong friend Leon Fountain, who is also on the bubble at 19th, saved room in the schedule to be able to enter more at the end of the year. “We skipped some of the smaller winter rodeos to free up room in our schedule for this time of year,” he said. “We’ve been learning that, so we are where we want to be this time of year as far as rodeo count goes.” Griffin acknowledges not only the inherited love of the sport but also the encouragement and support provided by his large, extended family. “My whole family is very supportive — it’s taken a bunch of people to buck horses and we just had to make a couple of calls and we’d have more help than we needed,” Griffin said. With the season winding down, and opportunities shrinking, Griffin is relying on a few key ingredients to make the final sprint. “Try to eat decent, rest when you can and be sure to wake up with a good attitude each and every day,” he said. “Winning checks helps a lot and being around other people with a good attitude instead of a bunch of grumpy rascals.”

TOP SCORES

TOP MONEY EARNER Jeff Askey ($5,945, bull riding) BAREBACK RIDING

Askew

1. Jess Pope................................87 pts. (Tie) Ty Pope .................................87 3. Kade Berry......................................86 STEER WRESTLING 1. Don Payne.............................3.6 sec. (Tie) Dirk Tavenner........................3.6 3. Two tied at.....................................3.7 TEAM ROPING 1. J. Clay/K. VonAhn..................3.8 sec. 2. E. Rogers/P. Eaves.........................4.2 (Tie) A. Ward/B. Hawkins II............4.2 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Ross Griffin.............................85 pts. 2. Wade Sundell...............................84.5 (Tie)Stetson Wright.....................84.5 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Shane Hanchey......................7.9 sec. (Tie) Cash Hooper..........................7.9 3. Cody Craig.....................................8.2 BARREL RACING 1. Dona Kay Rule...................16.76 sec. 2. Ashley Castleberry.....................16.79 3. Sue Smith..................................16.84 BULL RIDING 1. Jeff Askey.............................88.5 pts. 2. Canyon Bass................................85.5 3. Robbie Taylor..................................85

Complete results/Page 122

W.T. Bruce photo Ross Griffin had an 85-point trip on King Rodeo and Wentz Bucking Bulls’ Blood Tracks to win the Gooding (Idaho) Rodeo, a stop on the Playoff Series.

ProRodeo Sports News 9/1/2023

ProRodeo Sports News 9/1/2023

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