Times were fast and the competition was tough during the RODEOHOUSTON Wild Card Round, Friday, March 16. After tonight, the final 16 cowboys and cowgirls advanced to the RODEOHOUSTON Super Series Championship set for March 17.
TIE-DOWN ROPING
JC Malone of Plain City, Utah, advanced to the RODEOHOUSTON Super Series Championship in Tie-Down Roping after having the fastest time in the Wild Card Round with a time of 8.2 seconds. Malone said he is thankful to compete here at RODEOHOUSTON.
“I’ve always wanted to be here,” Malone said. “So, it’s [advancing to the Championship] a dream come true.”
Advancing to the Championship Round:
JC Malone: Plain City, Utah — $6,000
Caleb Smidt: Bellville, Texas — $9,000
BAREBACK RIDING
Kaycee Feild of Genola, Utah, advanced to the RODEOHOUSTON Super Series Championship with an 86-point ride in the Bareback Riding Wild Card Round. He has won RODEOHOUSTON four times already, and said he’ll be riding strong tomorrow night.
“It would be icing on the cake to win again,” Feild said. “To win five times would be amazing.”
Advancing to the Championship Round:
Kaycee Feild: Genola, Utah — $7,500
Clint Laye: Pocatello, Idaho — $7,250
TEAM ROPING
Cody Snow and Wesley Thorp, both of Stephenville, Texas, had the fastest time in the Team Roping during the Super Series Wild Card Round, and secured a spot in the Championship with a time of 4.8 seconds.
Advancing to the Championship Round:
Cody Snow: Stephenville, Texas, and Wesley Thorp: Stephenville, Texas — $13,500
Matt Sherwood: Pima, Arizona, and Walt Woodard: Stephenville, Texas — $12,000
SADDLE BRONC RIDING
Zeke Thurston of Big Valley, Alberta, Canada, advanced to the Super Series Championship after an 87-point ride in the Saddle Bronc Riding during the Super Series Wild Card Round. Thurston said he used to eat, breathe, and sleep Rodeo as a kid, and he’s used to high pressure situations.
“Do what you can [to] control [your nerves], let it all hang out, and do what you can,” he said.
Advancing to the Championship Round::
Zeke Thurston: Big Valley, Alberta, Canada — $7,375
Jade Blackwell: Piedmont, South Dakota — $4,750
STEER WRESTLING
One-tenth of a second separated the two steer wrestlers advancing to the RODEOHOUSTON Championship after tonight’s Wild Card Round. Ty Erickson, of Helena, Montana, came out on top with a time of 3.8 seconds, the fastest run in Steer Wrestling during RODEOHOUSTON 2018.
“It’s never easy to make it on a short run in Helena or Houston, but it feels good knowing you can be at RODEOHOUSTON and make a run like that,” he said.
Advancing to the Championship Round:
Ty Erickson: Helena, Montana — $6,000
Scott Guenthner: Provost, Alberta, Canada — $6,000
BARREL RACING
Kelly Bruner of Millsap, Texas, won the Wild Card Round in Barrel Racing with a time of 14.54 seconds — the fastest time in this event so far at RODEOHOUSTON 2018.
Advancing to the Championship Round:
Kelly Bruner: Millsap, Texas — $6,000
Sabra O’Quinn: Ocala, Florida — $6,000
BULL RIDING
Bull rider Jeff Askey of Eustace, Texas, scored an 86-point ride tonight. He is one of two bull riders who earned a time in the Wild Card Round, and advances to the RODEOHOUSTON Championship with Cole Melancon of Hull, Texas. Melancon received a score of 80 in the Wild Card.
Advancing to the Championship Round:
Jeff Askey: Eustace, Texas — $5,875
Cole Melancon: Hull, Texas — $6,000
The top two from each event in the Wild Card advanced to the RODEOHOUSTON Super Series Championship, Saturday, March 17. Each event champion will walk away with a $50,000 payout, in addition to previous winnings. The RODEOHOUSTON Super Shootout: North America’s Champions® presented by Crown Royal, will conclude the RODEOHOUSTON events on Sunday, March 18.
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™ promotes agriculture by hosting an annual, family-friendly experience that educates and entertains the public, supports Texas youth, showcases Western heritage and provides year-round educational support within the community. Since its beginning in 1932, the Rodeo has committed more than $450 million to the youth of Texas. For more information, visit rodeohouston.com and connect with #RODEOHOUSTON online via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for all of the latest news. The 2018 Rodeo continues through March 18.