2021 Wrangler NFR Round 1
Photo by Phil Kitts
Ardrossan, Alberta - Round one of the 2021 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo is complete, and what a night it was! In the barrel racing, Hailey Kinsel and DM Sissy Hayday were first on the ground and started off strong as expected, running a 13.78. The three-time World Champion has never won the first go round at the finals, and will have to wait for next year to see if she can change that, because it was NFR Rookie, Amanda Welsh on Firefly and 5X WNFR Qualifier, Cheyenne Wimberly on Rocco, who would tie to win the round with a 13.77, just one hundredth of a second faster than Kinsel.
In the Bareback Riding, Jess Pope cashes in three dollars shy of $27,000, winning round one at the 2021 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. He rode Night Crawler of Pickett Pro Rodeo for 90.5 points. Great way to start off the finals. Tim O’Connell is chasing Tilden Hooper for that number one position to take home another world title. Manitoba cowboy, Orin Larsen finished out of the money with 81.00 points.
Last minute, PRCA Steer Wrestling Horse of the Year, Dashing Haze aka Tyson, came up sore, which puts Canadians Curtis Cassidy, and Scott Guenthner, as well as Jesse Brown, on other mounts until Tyson is deemed fit to come back to competition. It was great to see Stockton Graves at the 2021 WNFR. It has been 10 years since he has last been at the T&M and he is now into his 40’s. Riley Duvall and Dirk Tavenner tied for first with a 3.7 second run. Dirk typically rides on the hazing side, so its nice to see him win round one competing at his very first Wrangler NFR. Curtis ran a 5.6 and Scott a 5.0, both out of the money .
In the team roping it was Tyler Wade and Jake Long were 4.0 seconds, tying for first with Trey Yates and Cody Snow, each team winning $26,997. Canadian Jeremy Buhler and Rhen Richard were long with a 9.5 second run.
In the Saddle Bronc Riding Zeke Thurston and Chase Brooks put on a show, each scoring 88.5 points to win the round. Zeke’s ride on Vitalix Wyatt Earp of Cervis was absolutely outstanding, proving why he’s a two-time World Champion (with seven WNFR qualifications) and three-time Calgary Stampede Champion. Tough luck for Canadian, Ben Anderson but he will be back tomorrow to prove why he is in Las Vegas this year. Kolby Wanchuk had a fantastic first out and finished with 84 points. Dawson Hay rode for 82.5 points. Layton Green was an 80.5 points.
Number one man Shane Hanchey had one hell of a run on Canadian, Logan Birds horse, Peso. Two weeks before the finals, Birds great horse TJ, who Shane competed on, passed away suddenly during a practice. Hanchey won the round with a 7.4 second run. Safe to say he is chasing that gold buckle for TJ. Caleb Smidt was unable to compete in the 2020 Wrangler NFR due to a positive Covid test. He is back in 2021 and placed 4/5 in round one with an 8.8 run.
The 2021 Wranger NFR Bull Riding is going to be something else. With 6X World Champion Sage Kimzey, Reigning World Champion Stetson Wright, and PBR World Champion and WNFR ROOKIE JB Mauney all going head to head, it is electric! JB rode, Cocktail Diarreha of Painted Pony Championship Rodeo, and Ky Hamilton, who had just two weeks to get ready for the NFR after a life threatening health scare, spurred Rip, of Hurst & TNT tying for 87.50 points to win the round.
In his interview, Mauney told Janie Johnson, “its been 16 years since I’ve been nervous, and tonight I was nervous.”
Kimzey finished third aboard Grand Slam of Brookmans, a half point behind the go-round winners.
Round number two starts December 3rd at 5:45PM MST.
Full go round results can be found at www.prorodeo.com
Don’t forget to vote for the Jerry Ann Taylor Best Dressed Award.
Guaranteed Prize Money: $1.2 Million
Competition Prize Money: $9,057,048
Each of the 10 Full Go-Rounds: $87,087 each
Go Round Money
1. $26,997, 2. $21,336, 3. $13,716, 4. $11,321, 5. $6,966, 6. $4,354
Average Money
1. $69,234, 2. $56,171, 3. $44,414, 4. $32,657, 5. $23,513, 6. $16,981, 7. $11,756, 8. $6,531
