(Editor’s note: Story by Susan Kanode/Frontier Days)
CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Rodeo fans at the third performance of the 123rd Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo got to see the best bull riding that this year’s rodeo has offered so far.
After two days when just one or two riders made it the full eight seconds, on Monday, there were a total of six successful contestants and some exciting action. At the top of the board was Foster McCraw, a 21-year-old from Navasota, Texas. He rode Harper Morgan Rodeo Company’s bull named Woody for 87.5 points.
McCraw got his 2019 year off to a good start with a win at the Bulls Night Out last January at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo. Just last week, he got a big win at the Snake River Stampede in Nampa, Idaho. He won both rounds of competition and the title there, earning over $10,000. It jumped him up to 27th in the world standings.
With McCraw’s win here today, he advances to the semifinals. If he is successful again, he will be riding for the Cheyenne Frontier Days bull riding championship. Right behind McCraw was Dakota Louis from Browning, Montana. The three-time Indian National Finals Rodeo bull riding champion scored 86 points on United Pro Rodeo’s Meeko. He is part of the Blackfeet Nation, which is also represented here in the team roping with Dustin Bird who competed here on Monday.
Bird, who lives near Cut Bank, Montana, is heading for Trey Yates from Pueblo, Colorado. Unfortunately, they didn’t have any luck on Monday but will have another opportunity Tuesday. Bird and Louis are cousins, so if Bird were to advance, the cousins might end up in the Championship Finals.
Other bull riders that were successful on Monday were Nic Lica from Garden City, Michigan and Tim Bingham from Honeyville, Utah who both scored 83.5 points. Then Parker McCown from Montgomery, Texas was 82.5 and Clayton Sellars, Fruitland Park, Florida was 79. They all will be riding again during the semifinals.
Rodeo action gets underway for the fourth performance at Frontier Park on Tuesday at 12:45.
Unofficial results from Monday, July 22, at the 123rd Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. Money earned is subject to change.
Bareback riding: 1, Pascal Isabelle, Okotoks, Alberta, 89 points on United Pro Rodeo’s Pow Wow Rocks, $2,364. 2, Gavin DeRose, Kamloops, B.C., 86.5, $1,788. 3, Richmond Champion, The Woodlands, Texas, 86, $1,192. 4, (tie) Mason Clements, Draper, Utah, and Kaycee Feild, Genola, Utah, $298 each.
Breakaway Roping: 1, Taryn Stippel, Pierpont, S.D., 4.13 seconds, $2,403. 2, Tiada Gray, Portales, N.M., 5.26, $1,802. 3, Sydney Graff, Lone Pine, N.D., 5.84, $1,202. 4, Kimberlyn Fitch, Arbon, Idaho, 6.20, $601.
Tie-down Roping: 1, Clint Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 12.4, $1,954. 2, (tie) Shad Mayfield, Clovis, N.M., and Raulie Hurtado Jr., Buhl, Idaho, 12.6, $1,221 each. 4, Colt Papy, Henrietta, Texas, 12.7, $488.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1 (tie), Sam Harper, Paradise Valley, Nev., on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Sabre; Wyatt Hageman, Jay Em, Wyo., on Dakota Rodeo’s Carney Girl, and Cameron Messier, Herald, Calif., on Dakota Rodeo’s Watch This, $1,713 each. 4 (tie), James Greeson, Okeechobee, Fla., and Kolby Wanchuk, Sherwood Park, Alberta, 78, $286 each.
Team Roping: 1, Brenten Hall, Stephenville, Texas, and Chase Tryan, Helena, Mont., 8.8 seconds, $2,233 each. 2, Cody Tew, Belgrade, Mont., and Jerren Johnson, Casper, Wyo., 10.1, $1,674 each. 3, Bubba Buckaloo, Kingston, Okla., and Shay Carroll, La Junta, Colo., 10.4, $1,116 each. 4, Braden Pirrung, Hartford, S.D., and Matt Zancanella, Aurora, S.D., 12.4, $558 each.
Steer Wrestling: (two times) 1, Riley Wakefield, O’Neill, Neb., 12.1 seconds, $1,940. 2, Del Ray Kraupie, Bridgeport, Neb., 13.9, $1,587.
Barrel Racing: 1, Megan Champion, Ukiah, Calif., 17.39 seconds, $2,611. 2, Shali Lord, Lamar, Colo., 17.65, $1,958. 3, Karson Bradley, Big Piney, Wyo., 17.71, $1,305. 4, Mimi Argyle, Blackfoot, Idaho, 17.83, $653.
Bull Riding: 1, Foster McCraw, Navasota, Texas, 87.5 points on Harper & Morgan Rodeo Co.’s Woody, $2,831. 2, Dakota Louis, Browning, Mont., 86, $2,123. 3 (tie), Nic Lica, Garden City, Mich., and Tim Bingham, Honeyville, Utah, 83.5, $1,062. 5, Parker McCown, Montgomery, Texas, 82.5. 6, Clayton Sellars, Fruitland Park, Fla., 79.
Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: (first round leaders) 1 (tie), Jacob Kammerer, Philip, S.D., and Carter Elshere, Elm Spring, S.D., 78 points each. 3, (tie) Jade Taton, Goodwell, Okla., and Trent Burd, Fort Scott, Kan., 76. 5, Will Reynolds, Goodwell, Okla., 74. 6, Brett Fanning, Martin, S.D., 70. (second round leaders) 1, Rowdy Chesser, Goodwell, Okla., 75 points. 2, Kammerer, 74. 3, Jake Foster, Meadow, S.D., 68. 4, Cody Trump, Chadron, Neb., 64. (total on two) 1, Kammerer, 152 points. (on one) 2, Elshere, 78, 3, (tie) Jade Taton and Trent Burd, 76. 5, Chesser, 75. 6, Fanning, 70.
Wild Horse Race: 1, Shockers, $644. 2, Davis Dental, $483. 3, S-WA.GIMA, $322. 4, CH Yarber, $161. (total money leaders) 1, Copper State Cowboys, $1127. 2 (tie), Shockers and Outlaw Liquors, $644 each. 4 (tie), Preston Painter and Davis Dental, $483 each.
