ProRodeo Sports News - September 2, 2022

CANBY, ORE.

CANBY RODEO

Keenan Hayes continues record-setting Permit season Memorable TOP SCORES

BY JOLEE JORDAN, Special to ProRodeo Sports News K eenan Hayes acknowledged he might have done things differently if he’d had the power of foresight. Canby (Ore.) Rodeo, a stop on the NFR Playoff Series presented by PendletonWhisky on Aug. 16. Hayes had an 89.5-point ride aboard Soap Bubbles from the Calgary Stampede. The win, worth $4,265, along with $1,886 won at other rodeos that weekend, added to a record Hayes had already claimed this season. He is now the PRCA record holder for both career permit earnings as well as for a single season. The Hayden, Colo., bareback rider has collected more than $100,000 in ProRodeo this year, after taking home nearly $25,000 last season. “I always planned to wait,” Hayes said, acknowledging that his earnings this year would have him near the top 10 of the PRCA | RAM World Standings and knocking on the door to his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo had he purchased his card after winning the Mountain States Circuit Finals Rodeo last October. “I talked to a lot of older guys, and they all said they wished they’d waited, rodeoed on their permit a bit longer,” Hayes said. “I didn’t want to rush the process.” Hayes hasn’t let disappointment in the lost Wrangler NFR opportunity creep into his thinking, however, choosing only to see the positives he’s accumulated during this epic season. “I just continue to have fun,” he said. “I’m trying to win as much as I can (toward the record) and make sure I’m set up for next year to make a run for the Finals.” The new year isn’t that far off with 2023 beginning on the ProRodeo calendar on Oct. 1. He’ll start off, as he did a year ago, at the Mountain States Circuit Finals, where he again leads for the year-end title, another goal checked off his list. Hayes will hit his rookie season in full stride having gained valuable knowledge during his busy year. “This year, I’ve gone and entered as much as I can, entering everywhere,” he said. Hayes will likely be one of the most experienced rookies on the trail next year. “Now, I know where to enter and where not to, so I can be smarter about where I enter,” he said. “And I’ve made a lot of good contacts, so I hope to get in with someone who has the same goals as I do for next year.” He’s also had the opportunity to ride some of ProRodeo’s best horses, including the veteran Soap Bubbles, who has bucked at several Wrangler NFRs. “They’ve continued to run awesome horses under me all year,” Hayes said. As for the match-up with Soap Bubbles in Canby, he said he’s not one to seek out videos, but he was aware of what was in store. “I’ve seen him around a bunch,” he said. “He’s all there. I knew I needed to bear down.” “I had two Calgary horses drawn back-to-back and I knew they were both tough. I just kept telling myself that they’re both hoppers,” he laughed. “He (Soap Bubbles) felt really good. It was a fight the entire time and I kept gassing it because I knew if I didn’t, he’d jerk me down. So, I had to keep going.” “I wish I could have seen the future,” Hayes, 19, admitted with a laugh after picking up another win, this time at the

Smith

Long

TOP MONEY EARNERS Clay Smith/Jake Long ($6,160 each, team roping) BAREBACK RIDING

1. Keenan Hayes.......................89.5 pts. 2. Tim O’Connell................................ 89 3. Tilden Hooper................................ 88 STEER WRESTLING 1. Hunter Cure................... 7.8 sec. on 2 (Tie) Taz Olson.............................. 7.8 (Tie) Cash Robb............................ 7.8 TEAM ROPING 1. C. Smith/J. Long.......... 10.8 sec. on 2 2. M. Egusquiza/D. Pearce.............. 11.9 3. C. Kidd V/L. Mitchell................... 12.5 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Ryder Wright........................90.5 pts. 2. Four tied at .. ................................. 88 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Shad Mayfield.............. 16.1 sec. on 2 2. Riley Webb. ................................ 16.4 3. Tyler Milligan.............................. 16.6 BARREL RACING 1. Shannon McReynolds........ 16.42 sec. 2. Bailey Cline............................... 16.50 3. Margo Crowther. ...................... 16.61 BULL RIDING 1. Josh Frost.............................88.5 pts. 2. Trey Kimzey................................... 83 3. Ouncie Mitchell.............................. 81

Kent Soule photo Bareback rider Keenan Hayes, 19, added to his stellar season by winning the Canby (Ore.) Rodeo with an 89.5-point ride on Calgary Stampede’s Soap Bubbles.

Complete results/Page 51

ProRodeo Sports News 9/2/2022

ProRodeo Sports News 9/2/2022

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