ProRodeo Sports News - September 21, 2018

JUSTIN FINALE

Durfey takes home more than $15,000 T yson Durfey has been in a battle all season with Tuf Cooper and Shane Hanchey to claim the regular-season tie-down roping crown and be the front-runner headed to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas in December. Durfey closed the gap on the top spot after winning the Justin

Finale at the Washington State Fair Pro Rodeo in Puyallup, claiming his first Wrangler ProRodeo Tour title and his first buckle from Puyallup in the process. Durfey won the final round in 7.4 seconds, edging Cooper Martin by one-tenth of a second. Durfey also took second in the semifinals in 8.1 seconds. The 2016 world champion tie-down roper took home $15,109 for the four-day rodeo. “I had never won the Tour,” Durfey said. “Anytime you win it feels good. But when you win a tour with cumulative points all season that lead to the finale it just means you roped a little bit better, maybe had some good runs and drew some good cattle. Luckily, I did all the above, and I’m very thankful for it.”

As of Sept. 4, Durfey was second in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings with $109,904, trailing only Cooper (the reigning All- Around world champion) by less than $3,000 and holding off Shane Hanchey (the 2013 world champion tie-down roper) by about $2,000. By Sept. 17, the standings had changed again. Durfey was in third place, trailing leader Cooper by nearly $4,000. – Scott Kaniewski Champion ignores pal’s talk to winTour A s Richmond Champion tried to get settled astride Bridwell Pro Rodeo’s Wild N Blue in the finals of the Justin Finale in Puyallup, Wash., fellow bareback rider Caleb Bennett sidled up to him. Tyson Durfey won the tie-down roping in Puyallup, Wash., with this 7.4-second run in the finals. PRCA ProRodeo photo by Kent Soule

“Caleb was right there in my ear,” Champion said. “He said, ‘You look awfully serious to be winning Puyallup right about now.’ He was right. That was fun. I love the high- pressure situations and that’s what that was.” The bareback riders enjoy trying to throw each other off, Champion said. He wasn’t the only one to hear from Bennett. “He came over and just kind of removed me frommy thoughts for a minute, joking around,” Champion said. “As he walked away, he said, ‘OK, I’m going to go mess with Orin (Larsen).’ “He made his rounds. That’s what we do. We’re

Bareback rider Richmond

Champion had 90 points on Bridwell Pro Rodeo’s Wild N Blue. PRCA ProRodeo photo by Kent Soule

around each other all the time, helping each other getting on horses. It’s fun to mess with each other, because at the end of the day, you’re just riding.” Champion laughed off Bennett’s remark and turned his focus toWild N Blue. Then he shot out of the chute and rode the bucker for 90 points and the win, claiming his first Puyallup buckle and his first Wrangler ProRodeo Tour title. “It’s awesome that it’s back to a tour because it feels like it’s an accumulation of that hard work we’ve put in,” he said. “To be on top at the end,

I’m super thankful.” Champion won $17,350, helping him climb to sixth in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings with $113,792. – Scott Kaniewski

ProRodeo Sports News 9/21/2018

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