ProRodeo Sports News - September 20, 2024

PENDLETON, ORE.

Finlay nabs coveted Pendleton title Marquee Win BY BRADY RENCK Special to ProRodeo Sports News E ven before saddle bronc rider Jake Finlay opened his mouth, the calendar told the story. It is mid September. He is tired, sore and worn out from competing and traveling. This was supposed to be the year he reached his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge. PENDLETON ROUND-UP

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Trevor Reiste ($14,541, bull riding) BAREBACK RIDING

He will need multiple things to fall into place for that to happen as he sits closer to 25th place than 15th in the PRCA | RAM World Standings. But just when everything feels hard and seems difficult, Pendleton, Ore., shows up on the schedule. Finlay talks about this event practically in exclamation points, and he recently found another reason to love it. The 29-year-old captured the top prize in Oregon, scoring 176.5 points on two head to eclipse Zeke Thurston (174.5) and Brody Cress (173). “I am pinching myself to make sure it really happened,” Finlay said. “Hands down this is the highlight of my season. It’s the Pendleton Round-Up. There are a lot of good rodeos and good events. But Pendleton is my favorite. To win it, it is really special. It is really hard to put into words.” Finlay is enjoying a strong season. By comparison, it is objectively his best. But he wanted more. Even if the NFR is not in the cards, it will not sap his enthusiasm. He has several rodeos coming up. The plan remains the same. It requires consistency, a level head and getting a good draw wouldn’t hurt. Part of the reason Finlay was pleased with his Pendleton outing is because he took advantage of what he called “the two best horses” in Summit Pro Rodeo’s Cowboy Fool and Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics’ The Black Tie. He scored 85.5 points on his first ride and put together a 91-point ride on his second. “You can draw well, but you still have to trust the process and not mess it up,” Finlay said. “And not often do you get horses like that. You can’t really get it any better than Black Tie. His record speaks for itself. He is a former bucking horse of the year for a reason. You can’t miss on those types of horses.” Finlay arrived from Australia in 2014 and has rarely looked back. When he was in college, he would scoot home when he had a chance. But now he and his wife (formerly Janie Johnson) have settled into life in Texas. He embraces the rodeo lifestyle, the chance to compete and in the case of Pendleton, live out a dream. “In my mind, I thought I would have had an NFR berth wrapped up by now. But I am going to keep having fun out here. I love it,” Finlay said. “I used to say I was too lazy to work and too honest to steal. That’s why I do it. But really, it’s the moments like at Pendleton in front of that sellout crowd and coming out of those chutes that make it all worth it.”

Reiste

1. Weston Timberman .. 173.5 pts. on 2 2. Cole Reiner ................................. 173 3. Waylon Bourgeois ................... 171.5 (Tie) Kade Sonnier ................... 171.5 STEER WRESTLING 1. Jesse Brown ............... 18.3 sec. on 3 2. Dalton Massey ........................... 18.4 3. Jace Melvin ................................ 18.9 TEAM ROPING 1. D. Egusquiza/L. Lord .. 17.9 sec. on 3 2. W. Bray/P. Bray .......................... 18.3 3. L. Brown/T. Graves .................... 18.7 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Jake Finlay ................ 176.5 pts. on 2 2. Zeke Thurston .......................... 174.5 3. Brody Cress ................................ 173 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Ty Harris ..................... 30.1 sec. on 3 (Tie) Preston Pederson .............. 30.1 3. Jake Pratt .................................. 30.2 STEER ROPING 1. Trenton Johnson ......... 37.9 sec. on 3 2. Coleman Proctor ........................ 41.2 3. Tuff Hardman ............................. 46.3 BULL RIDING 1. Trevor Reiste ............ 178.5 pts. on 2 2. Jeter Lawrence ........................... 174 3. Trey Kimzey ............................. 160.5

Complete results/Page 70

Gini Roberge photo

Saddle bronc rider Jake Finlay had a 91-point ride on star horse Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics’ The Black Tie to win the Pendleton (Ore.) Round-Up for the first time in his career.

ProRodeo Sports News 9/20/2024

ProRodeo Sports News 9/20/2024

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