Stevensville bareback rider Richmond Champion made a splash on the opening day of the National Finals Rodeo with a first-round win on Thursday at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
Champion rode Blessed Assurance to an 87.5 score to edge Mason Clements and Jess Pope, who both scored an 87, to win the first go-round. Champion pocketed $26,231 for his victory.
Champion, who moved to Stevensville from Texas in May of 2019, came into the 2020 NFR seventh in the world standings with $64,149.08. His win on Thursday vaulted him up to third in the standings with $100,379.85 earned.
“Whenever you can win a round it is a great feeling," Champion told the media afterward. "To know that you have nine more opportunities and you already have a buckle under your belt it’s a great feeling. This rodeo is all about momentum, so if you get it don’t let off the gas.”
A year ago, Champion won with an opening-round record ride of 91.5 points on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Night Crawler at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Champion knew he had a great opportunity with Blessed Assurance.
“She has been a great horse here for a long time and won multiple rounds here in the TV pens and I was really pumped to have her in Round 1,” Champion said. “She was a little fractious in the bucking chute, but that’s always her, and when she’s outside she’s awesome and it worked out really well.”
With the effort, the Montana cowboy is the first competitor to win an NFR round in Texas since 1961.
“I don’t know that doing (it) has sunk in,” he said. “There are so many blessings just to come and have an NFR and to be able to ride for this kind of money in a rough year for everybody. Then, to start on top feels really good. This was exciting and the kind of stuff you dream about when you think about the NFR and here I am living it.”
Tim O'Connell of Zwingle, Iowa, leads the bareback field with $132,927.22.
Chase Brooks of Deer Lodge and Brody Cress of Hillsdale, Wyoming, both finished tied for fifth in the saddle bronc on Thursday. Both scored an 84.5, Brooks aboard Son Of Sadie and Cress riding Maria Bartiromo. Both pocketed $5,500 for their performance. Cress ranks third in the world standings with $115,038.97 while Brooks ranks eighth with $66,899.74 pocketed.
Wyatt Casper of Pampa, Texas, leads the saddle bronc standings with $166,138.01 earned.
Helena's Chase Tryan and partner Brenten Hall of Jay, Oklahoma, finished fifth on the first day in the team roping with a run of 5.2 seconds to earn $6,769. Clay Tryan of Billings and partner Jake Long of Coffeyville, Kansas, also competed in the team roping but failed to earn a time.
Clay Tryan ranks eighth with $67,629.29 earned among team roping headers while Chase Tryan ranks 11th among team roping heelers with $63,914.15 earned. Joseph Harrison of Marietta, Oklahoma, leads the team roping heeler field with $98,491.31 earned while Luke Brown of Rock Hill, South Carolina, leads the header field with $117,857.28 earned.
Reigning tie-down roping world champion Haven Meged of Miles City finished out of the money in the first round with a run of 10.9 seconds. Meged ranks fifth in the world standings with $76,747.95 earned.
Shad Mayfield of Clovis, New Mexico, leads the tie-down roping with $187,399.13 earned.
Barrel racer Lisa Lockhart, who lives in Oelrichs, South Dakota but was born in Wolf Point and went to high school in Circle, finished with a ride of 22.11 seconds to finish the first round out of the money. Lockhart entered the NFR ranked 13th in the world standings with $40,904.14 earned.
The NFR runs Dec. 3-12 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
2020 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Results
Round 1, Dec. 3
Globe Life Field, Arlington, Texas
Bareback Riding: 1. Richmond Champion, 87.5 points on J Bar J’s Blessed Assurance, $26,231; 2. (tie) Mason Clements and Jess Pope, 87, $18,192 each; 4. (tie) Clayton Biglow and Cole Reiner, 85, $8,885 each; 6. Chad Rutherford, 84.5, $4,231; 7. (tie) Tanner Aus and Jake Brown, 83; 9. Tim O'Connell, 82.5; 10. Tilden Hooper, 82; 11. Kaycee Feild, 81.5; 12. Orin Larsen, 81; 13. Leighton Berry, 80.5; 14. Jamie Howlett, 80; 15. Winn Ratliff, 60. World standings: 1. Tim O'Connell, $132,927; 2. Kaycee Feild, $104,892; 3. Richmond Champion, $100,380; 4. Orin Larsen, $91,391: 5. Clayton Biglow, $89,858; 6. Tilden Hooper, $87,549; 7. Mason Clements, $86,694; 8. Jess Pope, $77,804; 9. Jamie Howlett, $76,583; 10. Tanner Aus, $71,726; 11. Cole Reiner, $63,928; 12. Leighton Berry, $63,386; 13. Jake Brown, $52,778; 14. Chad Rutherford, $51,643; 15. Ty Breuer, $49,334; 16. Winn Ratliff, $45,512.
Steer Wrestling: 1. (tie) Dakota Eldridge, Blake Knowles and Jesse Brown, 3.9 seconds, $20,872 each; 4. (tie) Stetson Jorgensen, Jacob Edler, 4.0, $8,885 each; 6. Jace Melvin, 4.1, $4,231; 7. Tyler Waguespack, 4.3; 8. Jule Hazen, 4.4; 9. Tanner Brunner, 4.6; 10. Jacob Talley, 5.2; 11. Bridger Anderson, 5.7; 12. Matt Reeves, 6.3; 13. Will Lummus, 14.5; 14. (tie) Curtis Cassidy and Clayton Hass, NT. World standings: 1. Matt Reeves, $96,944; 2. Dakota Eldridge, $80,957; 3. Blake Knowles, $73,355; 4. Jacob Talley, $71,623; 5. Jesse Brown, $70,366; 6. Stetson Jorgensen, $64,927; 7. Jacob Edler, $64,491; 8. Tyler Waguespack, $62,678; 9. Jace Melvin, $60,456; 10. Curtis Cassidy, $60,047; 11. Tanner Brunner, $56,885; 12. Bridger Anderson, $53,877; 13. Clayton Hass, $51,840; 14. Will Lummus, $50,279; 15. Jule Hazen, $49,730.
Team Roping: 1. Erich Rogers/Paden Bray, 4.8 seconds, $26,231 each; 2. (tie) Luke Brown/Joseph Harrison and Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, 4.9, $18,192 each; 4. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 5.1, $11,000; 5. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 5.2, $6,769; 6. Cody Snow/Junior Nogueira, 5.7, $4,231; 7. Levi Simpson/Shay Dixon Carroll, 6.1; 8. Jeff Flenniken/Tyler Worley, 6.7; 9. Nelson Wyatt/Levi Lord. 6.8; 10. (tie) Colby Lovell/Paul Eaves, Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, Clay Tryan/Jake Long, Charly Crawford/Logan Medlin, Chad Masters/Wesley Thorp and Kolton Schmidt/Hunter Koch, NT. World standings (headers): 1. Luke Brown, $117,857; 2. Dustin Egusquiza, $92,368; 3. Clay Smith, $90,704; 4. Erich Rogers, $88,772; 5. Cody Snow, $83,459; 6. Colby Lovell, $75,509; 7. Andrew Ward, $73,872; 8. Clay Tryan, $67,629; 9. Charly Crawford, $65,229; 10. Brenten Hall, $63,914; 11. Chad Masters, $62,682; 12. Kolton Schmidt, $61,022; 13. Nelson Wyatt, $60,692; 14. Levi Simpson, $60,398; 15. Jeff Flenniken, $59,391. World standings (heelers): 1. Joseph Harrison, $98,491; 2. Jade Corkill, $90,704; 3. Paden Bray, $88,772; 4. Travis Graves, $84,706; 5. Buddy Hawkins II, $73,872; 6. Jake Long, $73,227; 7. Junior Nogueira, $72,315; 8. Shay Dixon Carroll, $66,267; 9. Paul Eaves, $66,159; 10. Logan Medlin, $64,621; 11. Chase Tryan, $63,914; 12. Wesley Thorp, $62,682; 13. Levi Lord, $61,890; 14. Tyler Worley, $61,138; 15. Hunter Koch, $61,022.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1.(tie) Rusty Wright, on Bailey Pro Rodeo’s Rip Cord and Lefty Holman, on Brookman Rodeo’s Flirtacious, 86 points, $23,481 each; 3. Ryder Wright, 85.5, $15,654; 4. Wyatt Casper, 85.0, $11,000; 5. (tie) Brody Cress and Chase Brooks, 84.5, $5,500 each; 7. Stetson Dell Wright, 84; 8. Sterling Crawley, 83.5; 9. (tie) Shorty Garrett and Jacobs Crawley, 82; 11. Zeke Thurston, 81.5; 12. Isaac Diaz, 81; 13. Taos Muncy, 80.5; 14. (tie) Allen Boore and Cole Elshere, NS. World standings: 1. Wyatt Casper, $166,138; 2. Ryder Wright, $136,990; 3. Brody Cress, $115,039; 4. Shorty Garrett, $100,005; 5. Rusty Wright, $83,426; 6. Allen Boore, $83,269; 7. Lefty Holman, $83,151; 8. Chase Brooks, $66,900; 9. Cole Elshere, $64,351; 10. Sterling Crawley, $61,608; 11. Jacobs Crawley, $60,930; 12. Zeke Thurston, $60,523; 13. Stetson Dell Wright, $57,498; 14. Isaac Diaz, $54,832; 15. Taos Muncy, $52,303.
Tie-down Roping: 1. Marty Yates, 7.1 seconds, $26,231; 2. Shad Mayfield, 7.5, $20,731; 3. Ty Harris, 7.8, $15,654; 4. Caddo Lewallen, 8.1, $11,000; 5. (tie) Westyn Hughes and Cory Solomon, 8.3, $5,500 each; 7. Shane Hanchey, 8.9; 8. Timber Moore, 9.8; 9. (tie) Tuf Cooper and Adam Gray, 10.4 each; 11. Haven Meged, 10.9; 12. Hunter Herrin, 14.8; 13. Ryan Jarrett, 19.3; 14. Tyler Milligan, 20.6; 15. Tyson Durfey, NT. World standings: 1. Shad Mayfield, $187,399; 2. Marty Yates, $92,399; 3. Ty Harris, $84,068; 4. Tuf Cooper, $77,189; 5. Haven Meged, $76,748; 6. Westyn Hughes, $75,891: 7. Tyler Milligan, $70,919; 8. Caddo Lewallen, $68,141; 9. Caleb Smidt, $64,595; 10. Timber Moore, $63,168; 11. Shane Hanchey, $62,299; 12. Ryan Jarrett, $62,080; 13. Cory Solomon, $61,374; 14. Tyson Durfey, $57,293; 15. Adam Gray, $56,851; 16. Hunter Herrin, $56,049.
Barrel Racing: 1. Hailey Kinsel, 17.18 seconds, $26,231; 2. Tiany Schuster, 17.25, $20,731; 3. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 17.32, $15,654; 4. Cheyenne Wimberley, 17.37, $11,000; 5. Stevi Hillman, 17.50, $6,769; 6. Shelley Morgan, 17.56, $4,231; 7. Jessica Telford, 17.59; 8. Brittney Barnett, 17.65; 9. Jessica Routier, 17.74; 10. Jill Wilson, 17.81; 11. Wenda Johnson, 17.96; 12. Emily Miller, 18.06; 13. Ryann Pedone, 18.32; 14. Jimmie Smith, 18.81; 15. Lisa Lockhart, 22.11. World standings: 1. Hailey Kinsel, $114,692; 2. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, $112,379; 3. Tiany Schuster, $85,791; 4. Dona Kay Rule, $77,454; 5. Jimmie Smith, $75,022; 6. Stevi Hillman, $69,158: 7. Cheyenne Wimberley, $68,039; 8. Shelley Morgan, $67,306: 9. Jill Wilson, $63,371; 10. Jessica Routier, $61,371; 11. Ryann Pedone, $52,581: 12. Emily Miller, $52,388; 13. Lisa Lockhart, $50,904; 14. Wenda Johnson, $49,953; 15. Brittney Barnett, $49,565; 16. Jessica Telford, $48,477.
Bull Riding: 1. Stetson Dell Wright, 90.5 points on Stockyards ProRodeo’s Silver Lining, $26,231; 2. Ky Hamilton, 90, $20,731; 3. Trevor Kastner, 87, $15,654; 4. Colten Fritzlan, 86.5, $11,000; 5. Clayton Sellars, 86, $6,769; 6. Sage Kimzey, 80.5, $4,231; 7. Tyler Bingham, 79; 8. Brady Portenier, 78; 9. (tie) Dustin Boquet, Roscoe Jarboe, Denton Fugate, Jeff Askey, Boudreaux Campbell, Ty Wallace and Parker McCown, NS. World standings: 1. Ky Hamilton, $120,177; 2. Sage Kimzey, $106,565; 3. Stetson Dell Wright, $96,876; 4. Boudreaux Campbell, $95,746; 5. Dustin Boquet, $91,566; 6. Brady Portenier, $83,105; 7. Trevor Kastner, $80,935; 8. Colten Fritzlan, $79,408; 9. Jeff Askey, $76,227; 10. Roscoe Jarboe, $71,417; 11. Ty Wallace, $70,234; 12. Clayton Sellars, $70,164; 13. Parker McCown, $65,561; 14. Tyler Bingham, $65,558; 15. Denton Fugate, $62,236.
