ProRodeo Sports News - Dec. 21, 2018

WRANGLER TOUR RECAP

you can, but to watch his (Kimzey’s) lead grow,” Breding said. “He’s an outstanding bull rider. I would love to see him beat Donny Gay’s record (of eight bull riding titles). I just wouldn’t mind to be there in the middle in one of those years. All I can do is keep doing what I’m doing and try to ride every bull I get on. Hopefully, that will work out one of these days.” RYDER WRIGHT HAULS IN FIRST PUYALLUP CROWN Ryder Wright looked every bit the defending saddle bronc riding world champion making a move to keep his gold buckle. The 20-year-old fromMilford, Utah, from

situations and that’s what that was.”

PUYALLUPWINNERS BAREBACK RIDING Richmond Champion, The Woodlands, Texas STEER WRESTLING Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta TEAM ROPING

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).’” Champion 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. DURFEY TAKES HOME MORE THAN $15,000 Tyson Durfey was in a battle all season

Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont. Travis Graves, Jay, Okla. SADDLE BRONC RIDING Ryder Wright, Milford, Utah TIE-DOWN ROPING Tyson Durfey, Brock, Texas BARREL RACING Jimmie Smith, McDade, Texas BULL RIDING Parker Breding, Edgar, Mont.

the famedWright family, took home $17,350 from the Justin Finale in Puyallup, Wash., after winning the Wrangler PRORODEO Tour with his victory at the Washington State Fair Pro Rodeo. The victory had him in second place in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings as of Sept. 11, a little more than $4,000 behind leader Jacobs Crawley. “I’ve had good luck at all the Tour rodeos this year,” saidWright, who won $185,577 at the 2017Wrangler NFR, paving the way for his world title. “To be able to get in here and win it is awesome.” CLAY TRYAN, TRAVIS GRAVES NOTCH BIG WIN Winning the team roping competition in Puyallup, Wash., was nothing new for header Clay Tryan or heeler Travis Graves. Tryan had won three times in Puyallup, while Graves had won twice. After some traveling troubles elsewhere, they leaned on that experience and went out and roped their steer in the finals in 4.6 seconds. “We’ve had kind of a long

with Tuf Cooper and Shane Hanchey to claim the regular-season tie-down roping crown and be the front-runner headed to the Wrangler NFR in Las Vegas in December. Durfey closed the gap on the top spot after winning the Justin Finale, 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 2016World 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.”

weekend getting over here,” Graves said. “We were entered in Lewiston (Idaho) but didn’t get to go because our flight got canceled. But we made it for Puyallup.” With so much money on the line, the pair wanted to make sure they didn’t miss. “I’ve been telling him, lately, I’ve roped good at the little stuff, but not good at the big stuff,” Tryan said. “It used to be the other way around. Hopefully I’m back to winning at the big stuff, because that’s what matters.” CHAMPION IGNORES SPIRITED TALK FROM FRIEND TO WIN TOUR As Richmond Champion tried to get settled astride Bridwell Pro Rodeo’s Wild N Blue in the finals of the Justin Finale, fellow bareback rider Caleb Bennett sidled up to him. “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

Curtis Cassidy, second from left, accepts his Justin Finale buckle after winning the Wrangler PRORODEO Tour. PRCA ProRodeo photo by Kent Soule

ProRodeo Sports News 12/21/2018

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