Contributed and Photography Courtesy PRCA

Saddle bronc rider Ryder Wright wins Round 6

Reigning world champion saddle bronc rider Ryder Wright has found his groove.

The Milford, Utah, cowboy won Round 6 with an 89.5-point ride on Hi Lo Pro Rodeo’s Border Town at the 2021 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge Tuesday night at the Thomas & Mack Center.

It was Wright’s second consecutive round win and upped his 2021 NFR earnings to $84,459. He leads the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $266,353. Wright owns the Round 6 record with his 90.5-point trip on Hi Lo Pro Rodeo’s Billie last year at the NFR at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

“It’s one of Hi Lo’s (Pro Rodeo) best horses and, shoot, he jumped out of there and did just about what I thought he was going to do,” Wright said. “I had that horse in Kissimmee (Fla.) earlier this year and I scored 88 points on him, so I knew he was going to go out and give me a shot. All I had to do was my part and luckily it worked out. I want to keep it one horse at a time. One jump at a time. Just keep it simple.”

The Wright family had a memorable round as Ryder won, Stetson was second and Spencer was third.

“Oh, it’s super awesome. We got the draw last night and we were standing out in the parking lot, and I told them we were going to be one, two, and three tonight (Tuesday) and it worked out.”

Bareback rider Larsen gets first payday with record ride

Bareback rider Orin Larsen had not collected a check at the Wrangler NFR before Tuesday night.

That changed in Round 6.

The Inglis, Manitoba, cowboy had a 91-point ride on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Night Gazer to win Round 6. The ride broke the Round 6 bareback riding record shared by Cimmaron Gerke (2004) and Kaycee Feild (2008)   

“I didn’t realize I broke the record,” Larsen said. “Any time you can break a record it feels great and if you can do it at the NFR it is even better.”

Larsen, an NFR veteran, was making his ride on Night Gazer.

“No, I had never seen him,” he said. “Anytime you are 90 or more at any rodeo, but especially at the NFR it is dang sure pretty special. He was very exotic. It was very exciting. It is better late than never to get a check. It’s funny how Vegas will just turn around and kind of go your way when you let it. This is a huge game changer for me. I can start getting momentum shifted my way and look for a better second half.”

Bull rider Creek Young collects another round win

Bull rider Creek Young is only a rookie, but he is riding like a savvy veteran.

Young won Round 3 and then added the Round 6 victory with a 90.5-point ride on Macza Pro Rodeo’s Ugly Wish.

“It feels great. I got on a bull, Ugly Wish, from Macza Pro Rodeo that Parker Breding rode in the first round and they’ve won several rodeos in the summer,” Young said. “I knew I had a really good bull that should fit me really well and I got it done for 90.5.”

This is a time Young relishes being a part of.

“Well, it’s been like nothing I’ve experienced before,” Young said. “Being a rookie, I just decided to take it all in and have as much fun as possible. I feel like when you’re doing that, that’s when you’re riding your best and I got another round win doing that. So, I think I’m going to keep doing that.”

Tavenner stays hot, wins steer wrestling in Round 6

Dirk Tavenner is having a memorable Wrangler NFR.

The Rigby, Idaho, cowboy split the Round 1 win, won Round 2 outright and added the Round 6 win with a 3.4-second run Tuesday night.

“Yes, I got a great start, my horse worked well,” Tavenner said. “I’ve done well on sleeper steers like that one. I have won a lot of rodeos; it’s been my bread and butter.”

Tavenner, who also split third in Round 4, has moved up to the second in the world standings with $170,926. He has earned an event-best $101,877 at this year’s NFR.

Tavenner is riding Oscar, a converted steer wrestling horse.

“He was a barrel horse, they tried roping steers on him and he hated his job, so I bought him, and he fits me well and has just been awesome,” Tavenner said. “When you have a great horse and a hazer you trust, it takes so much pressure off me to just do my job. I just have to keep this rolling and see what happens at the end.”

Cory Solomon captures top honors in tie-down roping

Cory Solomon set the pace in tie-down roping with a 7.1-second to claim the Round 6 title.

“That’s the one Caleb Smidt went 7.1 on so I knew it was a great calf so I just decided I would go for the go round win,” Solomon said.

Solomon was quick to credit his horse Cisco.

“He came into my life a couple of years ago, I never dreamed he would get to this stage,” Solomon said. “I bought him to be a jackpot horse, took me couple of years to get him to where we are now. If anyone knows about south Texas calves, that calf tonight was just like being at home going to jackpots and just thankful to get a win on a good calf.”

Cisco gives Solomon confidence moving forward.

“He allows me to go fast or to stay in the average, he doesn’t make a mistake,” he said. “When I first started, I didn’t have the money to get a horse like that, so I am so blessed and lucky to know that now 10 years after making my first NFR, I can know my horse is going to help me do whatever I need to do to be one of the top (tie-down) ropers in the PRCA.”

Solomon has now placed in three rounds and earned $68,348 at the NFR. He’s sixth in the world standings with $167,500.

Team ropers Rahlmann/Rich take Round 6 crown

After a rough start to the 2021 Wrangler NFR, team ropers Coy Rahlmann and Douglas Rich changed their fortunes in Round 6.

The duo stopped the clock in 3.6 second to take the Round 6 victory.

“We are pretty far down in the average so now we are just shooting at the rounds,” Rahlmann said. “I knew this was going to be a pretty tough round so I just tried to get a really good start and go as fast as I could without missing. This a great confidence builder knowing we can do it and hopefully we can get some more money out of the rounds.”

Rich echoed his partner.

“We just had a great steer and Coy hit the barrier good and I had a good start and it all worked out and we made a good run. This is a dream come true.”

After earning $26,997 each, Rahlmann and Rich are 11th in their respective world standings.

Barrel racer Ivy Saebens is Round 6 champ

Ivy Saebens had a tough start to the 2021 Wrangler NFR, placing in just one of the first five rounds.

Saebens turned it around in Round 6 winning with a time of 13.43 seconds.

“It has just been a rough week. Definitely not the way I thought this was going to play out, even last night was not what I had planned and no idea it was going to go that way. I am just glad I could get this done for JLo and her owners. I have just been in her way.”

Saebens was thrilled to get back on track at the Thomas & Mack.

“It is all a mental game on what we are doing. Our horses are just so good and the ground has been amazing. We can’t thank Las Vegas Events, Allen (Rheinheimer – Wrangler NFR General Manager) for their effort this year to make the ground so good. I was trying to force it too much and decided if it was meant to be it would be.”

2021 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Results

Round 6, Dec. 7

Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nev.

Bareback Riding: Sixth round: 1. Orin Larsen, 91 points on Pickett Pro Rodeo Company’s Night Gazer, $26,997; 2. Jess Pope, 87.5, $21,336; 3. (tie) Tim O’Connell, Garrett Shadbolt and Cole Franks, 85.5, $11,466; 6. (tie) Cole Reiner and Tanner Aus, 85, $2,177; 8. Kaycee Feild, 84.5; 9. (tie) Caleb Bennett and Richmond Champion, 84 each; 11. Clayton Biglow, 82.5; 12. R.C. Landingham, 78; 13. Tilden Hooper, 75; 14. (tie) Zach Hibler and Taylor Broussard, NS. Average leaders: 1. Jess Pope, 526.5 points on six head; 2. Kaycee Feild, 524; 3. Cole Franks, 516; 4. Cole Reiner, 513.5; 5. Richmond Champion, 508.5; 6. Orin Larsen, 507.5; 7. Tim O’Connell, 506.5; 8. R.C. Landingham, 502; 9. Clayton Biglow, 498.5; 10. Tanner Aus, 497.5; 11. Garrett Shadbolt, 492; 12. Tilden Hooper, 489; 13. Caleb Bennett, 387.5 points on five head; 14. Zach Hibler, 308 points on four head; 15. Taylor Broussard, 247 points on three head. World standings: 1. Kaycee Feild, $230,127; 2. Jess Pope, $212,917; 3. Tilden Hooper, $192,418; 4. Tim O’Connell, $191,456; 5. Cole Reiner, $168,850; 6. Clayton Biglow, $162,599; 7. Caleb Bennett, $150,213; 8. Garrett Shadbolt, $148,504; 9. Cole Franks, $147,955; 10. Richmond Champion, $139,970; 11. Orin Larsen, $134,841; 12. R.C. Landingham, $132,784; 13. Tanner Aus, $100,029; 14. Taylor Broussard, $82,381; 15. Zach Hibler, $75,381.

Steer Wrestling: Sixth round: 1. Dirk Tavenner, 3.4 seconds, $26,997; 2. (tie) Tyler Waguespack and Stockton Graves, 3.8, $18,724; 4. Stetson Jorgensen, 3.9, $11,321; 5. Jacob Talley, 4.0, $6,967; 6. Jesse Brown, 4.5, $4,354; 7. Rowdy Parrott, 4.6; 8. Riley Duvall, 4.8; 9. (tie) Dakota Eldridge and Tristan Martin, 4.9 each; 11. Will Lummus, 5.3; 12. Tyler Pearson, 5.6; 13. Curtis Cassidy, 5.8; 14. Scott Guenthner, 13.5; 15. Cody Devers, out. Average leaders: 1. Tristan Martin, 25.8 seconds on six head; 2. Will Lummus, 26.8; 3. Rowdy Parrott, 29.6; 4. Tyler Waguespack, 33.1; 5. Dirk Tavenner, 33.6; 6. Dakota Eldridge, 34.7; 7. Scott Guenthner, 36.0; 8. Jesse Brown, 36.7; 9. Stetson Jorgensen, 37.0; 10. Curtis Cassidy, 38.9; 11. Tyler Pearson, 39.9; 12. Jacob Talley, 20.6 seconds on five head; 13. Riley Duvall, 20.8; 14. Stockton Graves, 31.4; 15. Cody Devers, 17.8 seconds on three head. World standings: 1. Jacob Talley, $179,944; 2. Dirk Tavenner, $170,926; 3. Tyler Waguespack, $150,234; 4. Riley Duvall, $141,165; 5. Will Lummus, $131,907; 6. Tyler Pearson, $129,927; 7. Tristan Martin, $125,146; 8. Jesse Brown, $121,518; 9. Dakota Eldridge, $116,604; 10. Stockton Graves, $111,268; 11. Rowdy Parrott, $98,155; 12. Stetson Jorgensen, $92,989; 13. Scott Guenthner, $92,791; 14. Curtis Cassidy, $78,902; 15. Cody Devers, $77,715.

Team Roping: Sixth round: 1. Coy Rahlmann/Douglas Rich, 3.6 seconds, $26,997 each; 2. (tie) Clay Tryan/Jake Long and Quinn Kesler/Joseph Harrison, 3.9, $18,724; 4. Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler, 4.0, $11,321; 5. Derrick Begay/Brady Minor, 4.1, $6,967; 6. Erich Rogers/Paden Bray, 4.2, $4,354; 7. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 4.3; 8. (tie) Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira and Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, 4.8 each; 10. Clint Summers/Ross Ashford, 5.2; 11. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 8.8; 12. Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, 9.0; 13. (tie) Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, Tyler Wade/Trey Yates and Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, NT. Average leaders: 1. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, 33.6 seconds on six head; 2. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 37.7; 3. Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler, 43.7; 4. Erich Rogers/Paden Bray, 46.6; 5. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 32.7 seconds on five head; 6. Quinn Kesler/Joseph Harrison, 35.0; 7. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 39.1; 8. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 39.6; 9. Clay Tryan/Jake Long, 20.1 seconds on four head; 10. Derrick Begay/Brady Minor, 22.3; 11. Coy Rahlmann/Douglas Rich, 27.3; 12. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 16.8 seconds on three head; 13. Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, 24.3; 14. Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, 33.2; 15. Clint Summers/Ross Ashford, 50.1. World standings (headers): 1. Kaleb Driggers, $183,760; 2. Dustin Egusquiza, $176,239; 3. Erich Rogers, $164,675; 4. Clay Smith, $163,678; 5. Rhen Richard, $152,521; 6. Clay Tryan, $148,229; 7. Tyler Wade, $126,035; 8. Quinn Kesler, $125,526; 9. Coleman Proctor, $125,443; 10. Derrick Begay, $120,518; 11. Coy Rahlmann, $112,244; 12. Andrew Ward, $111,064; 13. Cody Snow, $100,999; 14. Brenten Hall, $87,860; 15. Clint Summers, $84,483. World standings (heelers): 1. Junior Nogueira, $198,145; 2. Jade Corkill, $163,678; 3. Paden Bray, $159,595; 4. Travis Graves, $155,593; 5. Jeremy Buhler, $151,488; 6. Jake Long, $149,205; 7. Logan Medlin, $132,023; 8. Joseph Harrison, $124,812; 9. Wesley Thorp, $123,358; 10. Trey Yates, $121,179; 11. Douglas Rich, $112,167; 12. Brady Minor, $111,503; 13. Buddy Hawkins II, $111,064; 14. Chase Tryan, $89,130; 15. Ross Ashford, $81,822.

Saddle Bronc Riding: Sixth round: 1. Ryder Wright, 89.5 points on Hi Lo Pro Rodeo’s Border Town, $26,997; 2. Stetson Dell Wright, 89, $21,336; 3. Spencer Wright, 87.5, $16,111; 4. Sage Newman, 87, $11,321; 5. (tie) Layton Green and Kolby Wanchuk, 85.5, $5,661; 7. Wyatt Casper, 85; 8. Brody Cress, 83.5; 9. Chase Brooks, 83; 10. Zeke Thurston, 82.5; 11. Tegan Smith, 81.5; 12. Ben Andersen, 81; 13. Dawson Hay, 80; 14. Cody DeMoss, 79; 15. Wade Sundell, out. Average leaders: 1. Brody Cress, 519 points on six head; 2. Zeke Thurston, 516.5; 3. Spencer Wright, 516; 4. Chase Brooks, 513.5; 5. Cody DeMoss, 491.5; 6. Ryder Wright, 435 points on five head; 7. Layton Green, 408; 8. Dawson Hay, 407.5; 9. Stetson Dell Wright, 353 points on four head; 10. Tegan Smith, 344.5; 11. Kolby Wanchuk, 342; 12. Wyatt Casper, 262.5 points on three head; 13. Sage Newman, 252.5; 14. Ben Andersen, 156 points on two head; 15. Wade Sundell, 89.5 points on one head. World standings: 1. Ryder Wright, $266,353; 2. Stetson Dell Wright, $264,492; 3. Brody Cress, $215,798; 4. Zeke Thurston, $177,948; 5. Chase Brooks, $166,389; 6. Tegan Smith, $136,793; 7. Spencer Wright, $135,878; 8. Dawson Hay, $130,349; 9. Layton Green, $124,874; 10. Wyatt Casper, $120,638; 11. Wade Sundell, $116,157; 12. Kolby Wanchuk, $116,018; 13. Sage Newman, $104,039; 14. Ben Andersen, $92,234; 15. Cody DeMoss, $89,153.

Tie-Down Roping: Sixth round: 1. Cory Solomon, 7.1 seconds, $26,997; 2. Haven Meged, 7.4, $21,336; 3. (tie) Westyn Hughes and Marty Yates, 7.6, $13,716 each; 5. Caleb Smidt, 7.7, $6,967; 6. Marcos Costa, 7.8, $4,354; 7. (tie) Ty Harris and Ryan Jarrett, 7.9 each; 9. Tuf Case Cooper, 8.1; 10. Shane Hanchey, 9.5; 11. Justin Smith, 10.9; 12. (tie) Shad Mayfield, Taylor Santos, John Douch and Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla., NT. Average leaders: 1. Caleb Smidt, 48.4 seconds on six head; 2. Cory Solomon, 53.0; 3. Marty Yates, 55.0; 4. Shane Hanchey, 55.4; 5. Tuf Case Cooper, 57.5; 6. Westyn Hughes, 57.8; 7. Haven Meged, 60.5; 8. Ty Harris, 64.1; 9. Marcos Costa, 66.1; 10. Ryan Jarrett, 69.9; 11. Taylor Santos, 46.2 seconds on five head; 12. Shad Mayfield, 33.1 seconds on four head; 13. John Douch, 33.8; 14. Hunter Herrin, 63.7; 15. Justin Smith, 29.3 seconds on three head. World standings: 1. Caleb Smidt, $217,435; 2. Shane Hanchey, $212,076; 3. Shad Mayfield, $195,910; 4. Westyn Hughes, $189,711; 5. Tuf Case Cooper, $173,147; 6. Cory Solomon, $167,500; 7. Haven Meged, $157,694; 8. Marty Yates, $151,464; 9. Ty Harris, $146,047; 10. John Douch, $145,030; 11. Marcos Costa, $139,417; 12. Justin Smith, $122,951; 13. Ryan Jarrett, $118,044; 14. Taylor Santos, $108,182; 15. Hunter Herrin, $104,133.

Barrel Racing: Sixth round: 1. Ivy Saebens, 13.43 seconds, $26,997; 2. Hailey Kinsel, 13.55, $21,336; 3. Shelley Morgan, 13.56, $16,111; 4. Emily Miller-Beisel, 13.58, $11,321; 5. Jordon Briggs, 13.63, $6,967; 6. Lisa Lockhart, 13.70, $4,354; 7. Nellie Miller, 13.78; 8. Dona Kay Rule, 13.87; 9. Cheyenne Wimberley, 13.92; 10. Molly Otto, 14.02; 11. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 14.31; 12. Stevi Hillman, 18.51; 13. Amanda Welsh, 18.80; 14. Jessica Routier, 18.99; 15. Wenda Johnson, 23.64. Average leaders: 1. Jordon Briggs, 82.61 seconds on six runs; 2. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 83.13; 3. Hailey Kinsel, 87.07; 4. Emily Miller-Beisel, 87.29; 5. Stevi Hillman, 87.35; 6. Cheyenne Wimberley, 87.65; 7. (tie) Shelley Morgan and Amanda Welsh, 87.84; 9. Nellie Miller, 88.36; 10. Lisa Lockhart, 88.41; 11. Jessica Routier, 89.04; 12. Molly Otto, 89.63; 13. Dona Kay Rule, 92.19; 14. Ivy Saebens, 97.69; 15. Wenda Johnson, 102.19. World standings: 1. Hailey Kinsel, $186,667; 2. Jordon Briggs, $151,372; 3. Dona Kay Rule, $147,242; 4. Emily Miller-Beisel, $144,434; 5. Shelley Morgan, $136,452; 6. Amanda Welsh, $132,422; 7. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, $128,200; 8. Wenda Johnson, $127,024; 9. Ivy Saebens, $123,914; 10. Stevi Hillman, $123,851; 11. Cheyenne Wimberley, $111,299; 12. Lisa Lockhart, $100,734; 13. Jessica Routier, $88,847; 14. Nellie Miller, $85,519; 15. Molly Otto, $74,173.

Bull Riding: Sixth round: 1. Creek Young, 90.5 points on Macza Pro Rodeo’s Ugly Wish, $26,997; 2. Ky Hamilton, 89.5, $21,336; 3. Ruger Piva, 87, $16,111; 4. Josh Frost, 86, $11,321; 5. Sage Kimzey, 83.5, $6,967; 6. Parker Breding, 81.5, $4,354; 7. Dustin Donovan Boquet, 79; 8. Clayton Sellars, 78.5; 9. (tie) Stetson Dell Wright, J.B. Mauney, Trey Benton III, Boudreaux Campbell, Shane Proctor, Roscoe Jarboe and Braden Richardson, NS. Average leaders: 1. Parker Breding, 425.5 points on five head; 2. Boudreaux Campbell, 261 points on three head; 3. Sage Kimzey, 258; 4. Josh Frost, 257.5; 5. Clayton Sellars, 239; 6. Creek Young, 182.5 points on two head; 7. Ky Hamilton, 177; 8. Stetson Dell Wright, 175; 9. Ruger Piva, 173.5; 10. Trey Benton III, 172.5; 11. Shane Proctor, 169; 12. Dustin Donovan Boquet, 163.5; 13. J.B. Mauney, , 87.5 points on one head; 14. Roscoe Jarboe, 80.5; 15. Braden Richardson, NS. World standings: 1. Sage Kimzey, $321,983; 2. Stetson Dell Wright, $256,120; 3. Creek Young, $210,336; 4. Parker Breding, $209,380; 5. Josh Frost, $187,872; 6. Dustin Donovan Bouquet, $165,555; 7. Clayton Sellars, $164,859; 8. Ky Hamilton, $157,250; 9. Boudreaux Campbell, $147,623; 10. J.B. Mauney, $146,466; 11. Trey Benton III, $134,918; 12. Ruger Piva, $133,523; 13. Shane Proctor, $126,869; 14. Braden Richardson, $108,540; 15. Roscoe Jarboe, $105,778.

All-Around: Sixth round: 1. Stetson Dell Wright, $444,197; 2. Caleb Smidt, $212,866; 3. Clay Smith, $179,468; 4. Paden Bray, $177,801; 5. Tuf Case Cooper, $174,233; 6. Rhen Richard, $173,889; 7. Josh Frost, $134,708; 8. Taylor Santos, $132,787; 9. Marty Yates, $128,457; 10. Landon McClaugherty, $68,842.  Top Gun Standings: 1. Kaycee Feild, $104,272; 2. Jess Pope, $102,893; 3. Dirk Tavenner, $101,877; 4. Caleb Smidt, $90,555; 5. Ryder Wright, $84,459; 6. Parker Breding, $81,629; 7. Jeremy Buhler, $80,976; 8. Rhen Richard, $80,976; 9. Zeke Thurston, $78,146; 10. Riley Duvall, $74,444.