PublicationProRodeo Sports News - February 22, 2019

on nine head. Bennett, who has qualified for the last sevenWrangler NFRs, is more determined in 2019. “That (what happened in Round 10) is a driving force,” Bennett said. “That helps you realize, what do I need to work on? What do I need to pick apart? Something is not right. I do that after each year anyway, but I was more focused on it after last season.” BETTERTHAN EVER IN SANANGELO Bennett had everything clicking at the San Angelo (Texas) Rodeo. He won the average with a rodeo-record 178.5 points on two head. The previous record was 177.5 points set by Jake Vold in 2016. “Being able to be that many points on two (head) was awesome,” Bennett said. Bennett set in motion his record average effort with one of the top bareback rides in PRCA history in the finals Feb. 15. Bennett had a 93-point ride on Northcott Macza’s Spilled Perfume, a 2018Wrangler NFR horse. The record was 91.5 points by Chad Rutherford in 2017. The highest scored bareback ride in the PRCA is 94 points, shared by Wes Stevenson (2002), Will Lowe (2003), Ryan Gray (2009) and Tilden Hooper (2010). Bennett joins Joe Alexander (1974), Bobby Mote (2002), Wes Stevenson (2002), Andy Martinez (2004), Ryan Stutes (2007) and Clayton Biglow (Round 5, Dec. 10 at the 2018Wrangler NFR and Feb. 16 at the San Angelo Cinch Chute-Out Rodeo) as the only cowboys to have 93-point bareback rides. “I take a lot of pride in breaking rodeo records,” Bennett said. “I had that horse (Spilled Perfume) one other time, at the Canadian Finals in 2017, and I was 86,” Bennett said. “That ride (in San Angelo) was unbelievable. That horse really turned a new leaf here lately. She is a true eliminator and a bucker. She’s strong and powerful and has a couple of change-ups. There’s a lot going on to her now. I got off her and I told some guys that’s not the same horse I climbed off almost two years ago. She’s 10 times the horse now. If you can do your job on a horse like that you will be rewarded for it.” As good as Spilled Perfume was, Bennett acknowledged he was taken aback to see 93 points on the scoreboard, his best ride at any level of competition. “I was in shock for a little while,” Bennett said. “It is kind of hard to put that one in full perspective because that’s the caliber horse I would much rather go 90 on than an easier horse to ride, because when you slay a dragon like Spilled Perfume it means something. It was a fist fight from the time I nodded my head. It comes down to how bad you want it or don’t want it, because if you don’t want it you will end up on the ground. That ride is probably No. 1 for me in terms of one I will think about and reflect on and drive from.” For his effort in San Angelo, Bennett earned $10,289 and moved up to 11th in the Feb. 20 PRCA | RAMWorld Standings with $15,237. SEEING GOLD Bennett, who joined the PRCA in 2007, has one rodeo goal in mind – capturing a gold buckle. He finished a career-best fourth in 2016. SAN ANGELO STOCK SHOW

“Everything has to line up, and you have to put everything together when it comes down to it,” Bennett said. “You can sit and overthink it and dwell on situations, but it gets you nowhere. You have to keep smiling and keep nodding your head and take it one horse at a time. FromDay 1, this is what I wanted to do (be a PRCA cowboy). It’s who I am and who I want to be.” Bareback rider Richmond Champion, a four-time Wrangler NFR qualifier (2014, 2016-18), praised his traveling partner. “What I see in his (Bennett’s riding ability) is a lot of hard work,” Champion said. “That guy is a grinder. He’s always doing something, constantly trying to improve himself. He puts the work in and expects good things to happen, and that’s exactly what happened in San Angelo. He’s definitely capable of winning a gold buckle, I just hope to beat him to it first.” Although Bennett’s rodeo skills have stayed strong, he has had some changes outside the arena. He’s engaged to Savannah Hull, and the couple moved to Corvallis, Mont., in October. “We’re leaning toward October,” Bennett said about a wedding date. “This is a new leaf I’m fixing on turning over, and that’s exciting. Hopefully, eventually I’ll start a family of my own and start passing on things I know to my kids.”

Saddle bronc rider Rusty Wright had an 89.5-point ride on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Hometown Girl, propelling him to the average title. He tied the two-head average record at San Angelo with 177 points, equaling Wade Sundell’s 2015 record. Ric Andersen photo

Complete results on Page 46

SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Rusty Wright .............. 177 pts. on two 2. Zeke Thurston ............................ 172.5 3. Ryder Wright ................................. 172 4. Two tied at ..................................... 170

TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Michael Otero ......... 23.0 sec. on three 2. Jake Pratt ..................................... 24.0 3. Matt Shiozawa .............................. 25.2 4. Trevor Brazile ................................ 26.0

BARREL RACING 1. Jill Tanner ............. 44.36 sec. on three 2. Nicole Love ................................. 44.50 3. Jimmie Smith ............................. 44.54 4. Alex Lang .................................... 44.81

BULL RIDING 1. Jordan Spears .......... 175 pts. on three 2. Aaron Pass .................................... 170 3. Jeff Askey ................................... 169.5 4. Chase Dougherty ........................... 167

ProRodeo Sports News 2/22/2019

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