Down to the Wire at WNFR ‘65
Zeke Thurston’s quest for a fourth world title is a whole lot closer to reality after another go round win for the man from Big Valley, Alberta. The Canadian superstar has won or shared the win in three rounds, placed in seven of nine and leads the average by a bunch. And Zeke Thurston is one round away from that fourth gold buckle. Tonight he had the Calgary Stampede’s outstanding Zaka Kibitz for 88.5 points and another $30,706 first place payday. “I had to get a little redemption on that horse; he bucked me off earlier this year at Hermiston,” Thurston commented. And as for the gameplan heading into Championship Saturday, he added, “I’m gonna go out there and ride my bronc and do what I do.”
Fellow Canadian Dawson Hay split ¾ on former World Champion Miss Ellie from the Frontier Rodeo firm. Ben Anderson was just out of the money and it continues to be a frustrating finals for 2017 Canadian Champion, Layton Green. Neither Green nor Ben Andersen have cashed in so far at the 6fth WNFR.
Haven Meged is not about to go quietly into the night. The reigning Canadian Champion tie-down roper and 2019 World Champion kept the pressure on season leader, Riley Webb as the Miles City cowboy placed in the round and remains in second place overall, $56,000 back of Webb. And Meged who has already set one record at this WNFR, his 6.4 in round seven, a new arena record, could become the all-time aggregate record holder (fastest total over the ten rounds) with even a solid run tomorrow. But Webb, the sophomore sensation hasn’t blinked. Though he did not place in round nine, he has roped all nine of his calves, is second in the average and is twenty-four hours and one more solid run away from his first world title. Canadian Beau Cooper’s solid ninth round run was negated by a broken barrier that kept him from cashing his first cheque at his first NFR.
Orin Larsen enjoyed his best moment at the 2023 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo with a solid 85 point ride on Hot Mocha from Muddy Creek Pro Rodeo. The 2019 Canadian Champion bareback rider has had a tough week and has taken a physical pounding most nights. But the likable nine-time NFR qualifier reached deep for his first cheque—a 5/6 split and $6438. Crowd favourite Rocker Steiner won his third round of the Finals with an 87 pointer on Land of Fancy from Sankey Pro Rodeo and Phenom Genetics. World standings leader, rookie Keenan Hayes continues to enjoy a comfortable lead with only the decisive final round remaining.
Veteran Texas bull rider, Jeff Askey, at his 5th Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, topped the field in the bull riding with an 89 point effort on Salt River Rodeo’s Belly Dump. But the story on this night was those who didn’t ride, among them World leader Ky Hamilton who made his second trip to the Sport Medicine area after being thrown to the ground, seven-time World Champion and both Canadian bull riders, both of them former Canadian Champions, Jared Parsonage and Jordan Hansen. Heading to the final round, Hamilton the Australian talent extraordinaire, is comfortably atop the world standings.
The team roping will go right down to the final throw of the rope as Tyler Wade and Wesley Thorp are in the driver’s seat heading to the final round. But the Texans, who won round nine with a 3.5 second run, cannot afford even a minor slipup in the tight team roping race. Among the teams that are still in the running are Clint Summers and Jake Long who have won three rounds and split first in another, and Andrew Ward and partner Buddy Hawkins who are 4th in the aggregate and third overall. Canadian Jeremy Buhler and partner Rhen Richard struck for a share of second place in round nine. The cheque was the team’s third of the finals and they sit seventh in the aggregate and fifth overall.
The steer wrestling race tightened further in round nine and will come down to the final day as well before the champion is decided. Cody Devers jumped out and won his first cheque of the week ($30,706) for a 3.5 second run. But it’s still season leader Dalton Massey who holds down first with $264,677 and sixth in the aggregate. Tyler Waguespack and Jesse Brown are Massey’s closest contenders with solid season earnings and aggregate rankings going into round ten. Only Brown earned a cheque on Friday night where he was 3.9 for fourth (riding Curtis Cassidy’s legendary Tyson) and $10,401. Canadian Stephen Culling continued to capitalize on his first trip to the Thomas and Mack. The British Columbia cowboy was 4.0 seconds for the sixth place payoff – his sixth placing to date.
Kassie Mowry and Force The Goodbye (Jarvis) were on fire for the second consecutive night as they clocked 13.37 for top money and another round win. And tonight was momentous for the stand-out Lisa Lockhart who posted a 13.41 for second place – and enough of a payoff to see her break the record for All Time Career Earnings (previously held by Sherry Cervi). Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi shone brightly once again as well. The two time world champion – who enjoyed top spot all season long ran a 13.68 for sixth and came a step closer to formally earning her third world title.
