LAS VEGAS – Corvallis resident Caleb Bennett came into Thursday as the No. 1 bareback rider in the world and after Round 8 of the NFR, and he remains there.
Bennett notched a 78 in Round 8 and, while he did not earn a paycheck, he did not lose any ground. Tim O’Connell, currently second in the world, registered an 84.5 and just missed out on the money himself.
Shane O’Connell won the round with an 89 and sits fifth in the average race. He is currently 11th in the world standings.
Round 8 was also kind to Butte resident Bridger Chambers in the steer wrestling. He notched a 3.8 on Wednesday and he repeated that performance again on Thursday. Wednesday’s 3.8 earned him a 5/6th paycheck, and Thursday’s run vaulted him all the way to second. Chambers is currently sixth in the world, but now sits third in the average.
Helena native Ty Erickson has had a rough few days. He didn’t earn any money on Thursday, but he did put together a solid run of 4.50.
World leader Tyler Waguespack took home the round win with a time of 3.7.
In the team roping, it was another Montana cowboy who stole the show. Helena’s own Chase Tryan and partner Bubba Buckaloo notched their first round win with a blazing time of 3.6. The two cowboys have now earned checks in four of the eight rounds, and Tryan sits at No. 4 in the world rankings.
The NFR has not been so kind for cousin Clay Tryan. The Billings native received a no time for the fifth straight night. Clay is now 15th in the average and 11th in the world.
The good times kept on rolling for the Montana cowboys in the saddle bronc. It took Deer Lodge native Chase Brooks four rounds to get comfortable, but he is now on fire. Brooks tied for the Round 7 win with a 90-point ride. He did not have to share that money on Thursday as he won Round 8 by himself with another 90-point ride. Brooks has now earned paychecks the last four rounds and has moved up to seventh in the average.
Former Montana State Bobcat Cort Scheer did not disappoint, either. Scheer followed up a sixth-place finish on Wednesday night with an 86-point ride Thursday. That score was good for fifth place in the round. Scheer is No. 4 in the average and the world.
Circle native Lisa Lockhart has run into tough luck in Vegas and that continued in Round 8. Lockhart finished .03 out of the money after a time of 13.87.
Parker Breding didn’t have any better luck in the bull riding as he failed to enter a qualifying ride, but there was good news for the Montana man. Breding remains No. 2 in the world standings.
The NFR continues Friday night with Round 9 beginning at 8 p.m. Mountain time.
Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nev.
Bareback riding: 1. Shane O’Connell, 89 points on Powder River Rodeo’s Black Leg, $26,231; 2. Mason Clements, 88.5, $20,7301; 3. Orin Larsen, 87, $15,654; 4. Richmond Champion, 86, $11,000; 5. (tie) Kaycee Feild and Clayton Biglow, 85.5, $5,500 each; 7. Tim O’Connell, 84.5; 8. Steven Dent, 84; 9. Tilden Hooper, 79; 10. Caleb Bennett, 78; 11. Ty Breuer, 77.5; 12. Jake Brown, Wyatt Denny and Will Lowe, NS; 15. Bill Tutor, INJ. Average standings: 1. Steven Dent, 681 points on eight head: 2. Tilden Hooper, 673.5; 3. Tim O’Connell, 672.5; 4. Kaycee Feild, 669.5; 5. Shane O’Connell, 668; 6. Richmond Champion, 666.5; 7. Caleb Bennett, 651.5; 8. Orin Larsen, 598 on seven. World standings: 1. Caleb Bennett, $240,390; 2. Tim O’Connell, $227,147; 3. Orin Larsen, $207.501; 4. Clayton Biglow, $206,935; 5. Steven Dent, $193,811; 6. Richmond Champion, $184,114; 7. Tilden Hooper, $176,199; 8. Kaycee Feild, $176,022; 9. Mason Clements; $170,318; 10. Bill Tutor, $154,162; 11. Shane O’Connell, $133,951; 12. Ty Breuer, $127,789; 13. Jake Brown, $119,300; 14.Wyatt Denny, $113,728; 15. Will Lowe, $91,517.
Steer wrestling: 1. Tyler Waguespack, 3.7 seconds, $26,231; 2. Bridger Chambers, 3.8, $20,731; 3. Scott Guenthner, 4.0, $15,654; 4. (tie) Will Lummus, Jacob Talley, 4.1, $8,885 each; 6. Curtis Cassidy, 4.2, $4,231; 7. Kyle Irwin, 4.3; 8. (tie) Ty Erickson, Riley Duvall and Tyler Pearson, 4.5; 11. Hunter Cure, 4.6; 12. Blake Knowles, 5.1; 13. Tanner Brunner, 8.2; 14. Nick Guy, 10.7; 15. Blake Mindemann, NT. Average standings: 1. Will Lummus, 33.0 seconds on eight head; 2. Tyler Waguespack, 34.3; 3. Bridger Chambers, 47.0; 4. Riley Duvall, 53.4; 5. Blake Knowles, 54.6; 6. Nick Guy, 77.6; 7. Tanner Brunner, 89.5; 8. Scott Guenthner, 29.4 on seven. World standings: 1. Tyler Waguespack, $192,744; 2. Curtis Cassidy, $188,355; 3. Will Lummus, $178,682; 4. Scott Guenthner, $166,419; 5. Tyler Pearson, $157,337; 6. Bridger Chambers, $146,390; 7. Hunter Cure, $145,749; 8. Kyle Irwin, $139,416; 9. Ty Erickson, $128,854; 10. Jacob Talley, $125,832; 11. Blake Knowles, $119,515; 12. Blake Mindemann, $106,919; 13. Nick Guy, $99,514; 14. Tanner Brunner, $98,193; 15. Riley Duvall, $96,528.
Team roping: 1. Bubba Buckaloo/Chase Tryan, 3.6 seconds, $26,231 each; 2. (tie) Dustin Egusquiza/Kory Koontz, Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp and Clay Smith/Paul Eaves, 4.1, $15,795 each; 5. Erich Rogers/Clint Summers, 4.2, $6,769; 6. Rhen Richard/Quinn Kesler, 4.6, $4,231; 7. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 5.2; 8. Aaron Tsinigine/Trey Yates, 6.1; 9. Lane Ivy/Buddy Hawkins II, 14.6; 10. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 33.9; 11. Clay Tryan/Travis Graves, Riley Minor/Brady Minor, Derrick Begay/Cory Petska, Luke Brown/Jake Long and Tyler Wade/Cole Davison, NT. Average standings: 1. Aaron Tsinigine/Trey Yates, 59.4 seconds on eight head; 2. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Noguiera, 37.3 on seven; 3. Rhen Richard/Quinn Kesler, 54.5; 4. Clay Smith/Paul Eaves, 26.0 on six; 5. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 34.0; 6. Erich Rogers/Clint Summers, 40.3; 7. Derrick Begay/Cory Petska, 46.1; 8. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 70.0. World standings (headers): 1. Clay Smith, $212,921; 2. Kaleb Driggers, $178,964; 3. Bubba Buckaloo, $174,951; 4. Cody Snow, $156,158; 5. Luke Brown, $154,237; 6. Dustin Egusquiza, $145,518; 7. Derrick Begay, $144,549; 8. Riley Minor, $139,361; 9. Aaron Tsinigine, $138,468; 10. Chad Masters, $135,958; 11. Clay Tryan, $122,785; 12. Lane Ivy, $114,688; 13. Tyler Wade, $109,376; 14. Erich Rogers, $105,220; 15. Rhen Richard, $97,020. World standings (heelers): 1. Paul Eaves, $212,921; 2. Junior Nogueira, $179,948; 3. Joseph Harrison, $155,130; 4. Chase Tryan, $154,367; 5. Jake Long, $154,237; 6. Trey Yates, $152,862; 7. Wesley Thorp, $152,468; 8. Cory Petska, $151,006; 9. Kory Koontz, $145,518; 10. Brady Minor, $138,169; 11. Travis Graves, $118,928; 12. Clint Summers, $116,332; 13. Buddy Hawkins II, $111,682; 14. Cole Davison, $102,482; 15. Quinn Kesler, $93,137.
Saddle bronc riding: 1. (tie) Rusty Wright, 90 points on Rosser Rodeo’s Floodtide, Chase Brooks, 90 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Bartender, $23,481 each; 3. CoBurn Bradshaw, 89, $15,654; 4. Clay Elliott, 87.5, $11,000; 5. Zeke Thurston, 86.5, $6,769; 6. Cort Scheer, 86, $4,231; 7. Wade Sundell, 85.5; 8. Sterling Crawley, 83.5; 9. Jacobs Crawley, Joey Sonnier III, Ryder Wright, Isaac Diaz, Brody Cress, Jake Wright and Taos Muncy, NS. Average standings: 1. CoBurn Bradshaw, 677.5 points on eight head; 2. Wade Sundell, 608 on seven; 3. Rusty Wright, 605; 4. Zeke Thurston, 603.5; 5. Cort Scheer, 602; 6. Clay Elliott, 511.5 on six; 7. Jacobs Crawley, 498.5; 8. Chase Brooks, 444 on five. World standings: 1. Ryder Wright, $243,194; 2. Rusty Wright, $232,819; 3. Jacobs Crawley, $204,331; 4. Cort Scheer, $203,016; 5. Wade Sundell, $194,330; 6. Zeke Thurston, $192,656; 7. Chase Brooks, $168,641; 8. Isaac Diaz, $160,970; 9. CoBurn Bradshaw, $158,979; 10. Clay Elliott, $137,445; 11. Jake Wright, $128,287; 12. Brody Cress, $121,588; 13. Sterling Crawley, $108,748; 14. Joey Sonnier III, $95,883; 15. Taos Muncy, $90,906.
Tie-down roping: 1. Ryan Jarrett, 7.3 seconds, $26,231; 2. (tie) Tyson Durfey and Tuf Cooper, 7.4, $18,192 each: 4. (tie) Jake Pratt, Caleb Smidt, Cory Solomon, and Shane Hanchey, 7.6, $5,500 each; 8. Ryle Smith, 7.7; 9. Reese Riemer, 8.1; 10. Trevor Brazile, 8.3; 11. Matt Shiozawa, 9.1; 12. Rhen Richard, 9.2; 13. Cooper Martin, 17.5; 14. Sterling Smith and Marty Yates, NT. Average standings: 1. Caleb Smidt, 66.3 seconds on eight head; 2. Rhen Richard, 69.9; 3. Ryle Smith, 74.3; 4. Matt Shiozawa, 79.0; 5. Reese Riemer, 84.4; 6. Trevor Brazile, 88.9; 7. Cooper Martin, 90.6; 8. Tuf Cooper, 99.9. World standings: 1. Tuf Cooper, $191,941; 2. Tyson Durfey, $180,941; 3. Shane Hanchey, $169,847; 4. Marty Yates, $166,502; 5. Ryan Jarrett, $163,847; 6. Caleb Smidt, $163,432; 7. Reese Riemer, $159,454; 8. Trevor Brazile, $156,643; 9. Ryle Smith, $153,056; 10. Jake Pratt, $147,588; 11. Sterling Smith, $132,378; 12. Cooper Martin, $128,169; 13. Matt Shiozawa, $122,923; 14. Rhen Richard, $118,053; 15. Cory Solomon, $115,502.
Barrel racing: 1. Taci Bettis, 13.57 seconds, $26,231; 2. Carman Pozzobon, 13.70, $20,731; 3. Amberleigh Moore, 13.71, $15,654; 4. Stevi Hillman, 13.72, $11,000; 5. Tammy Fischer, 13.81, $6,769; 6. (tie) Nellie Miller and Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 13.84, $2,115 each; 8. (tie) Lisa Lockhart and Ivy Conrado, 13.87; 10. Jessie Telford, 13.89; 11. Jessica Routier, 18.71; 12. Kylie Weast, 18.73; 13. Hailey Kinsel, 19.50; 14. Tracy Nowlin and Kelly Brunner, NT. Average standings: 1. Carman Pozzobon, 111.61 seconds on eight head; 2. Jessica Routier, 115.23; 3. Jessie Telford, 115.5; 4. Ivy Conrado, 115.89; 5. Stevi Hillman, 116.1; 6. Tammy Fischer, 116.57; 7. Amberleigh Moore, 119.26; 8. Hailey Kinsel, 120.26. World standings: 1. Hailey Kinsel, $313,046; 2. Amberleigh Moore, $209,127; 3. Ivy Conrado, $185,809; 4. Jessica Routier, $179,358; 5. Nellie Miller, $169,941; 6. Taci Bettis, $166,577; 7. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, $162,920; 8. Lisa Lockhart, $159,746; 9. Jessie Telford, $154,188; 10. Stevi Hillman, $153,020; 11. Kylie Weast, $147,253; 12. Kelly Bruner, $129,708; 13. Carman Pozzobon, $121,908; 14. Tracy Nowlin, $116,150; 15. Tammy Fischer, $108,046.
Bull riding: 1. (tie) Chase Dougherty, 89.5 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Record Rack’s Dirty Dan, Joe Frost, 89.5 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Lumberjack, $24,327 each; 3. Roscoe Jarboe, 71.5, $16,500; 4. Tyler Bingham, 67.5, $11,846; 5. Eli Vastbinder, 60.5, $7,615; 6. Sage Kimzey, Parker Breding, Jeff Askey, Dustin Boquet, Boudreaux Campbell, Garrett Tribble, Cole Melancon, Koby Radley, Trevor Kastner, Trey Benton III, NS. Average standings: 1. Joe Frost, 436.5 points on five head; 2. Chase Dougherty, 434; 3. Jeff Askey, 424; 4. Parker Breding, 330.5 on four; 5. Roscoe Jarboe, 318.5; 6. Dustin Bouquet, 262.5 on three; 7. Garrett Tribble, 262; 8. Koby Radley, 259. World standings: 1. Sage Kimzey, $358,853; 2. Parker Breding, $225,232; 3. Chase Dougherty, $223,779; 4. Joe Frost, $197,477; 5. Dustin Boquet, $185,511; 6. Jeff Askey, $182,470; 7. Garrett Tribble, $174,136; 8. Koby Radley, $160,072; 9. Roscoe Jarboe, $159,084; 10. Tyler Bingham, $146,910; 11. Trey Benton III, $141,393; 12. Eli Vastbinder, $139,807; 13. Boudreaux Campbell, $135,469; 14. Cole Melancon, $109,973; 15. Trevor Kastner, $104,396.
All-around world standings: 1. Trevor Brazile, $298,026; 2. Tuf Cooper, $297,030; 3. Rhen Richard, $203,647; 4. Steven Dent, $193,397; 5. Curtis Cassidy, $175,583; 6, Ryle Smith, $153,056.
RAM Top Gun standings: 1. Hailey Kinsel, $120,212; 2. Amberleigh Moore, $120,000; 3. Tyler Waguespack, $113,160; 4. Rusty Wright, $109,212; 5. Chase Dougherty, $105,403; 6. Cort Scheer, $101,173; 7. (tie) Paul Eaves and Clay Smith, 97,577; 9. Joe Frost, $93,135; 10. Chase Brooks, $92,500.
