Strong Start for Thurston at WNFR
It didn’t take long for three-time World Champion saddle bronc rider, Zeke Thurston, to make a statement. That statement was simple—'look out bronc riders I’m lookin’ for number four’.
The three-time Canadian titleist rode Legacy Pro Rodeo’s 368 Vein Reflections for 86.5 points to split the round with Kade Bruno. Both men moved up in the standings. Bruno, the Challis, Idaho NFR sophomore, moved to the lead in the world standings with $262,746 while Thurston, the pride of Big Valley, Alberta climbed to 3rd spot just $3300 back of Bruno.
“That little horse had me hustling,” Thurston noted of Vein Reflections. “She was electric and it was a lot of fun”.
It’s hard to think of Dalton Massey as a rookie. The 30-year-old cowboy came to Las Vegas as the number one ranked steer wrestler in the world after setting an all-time season earnings record. And he was the season leader in Canada as well, appearing at his first CFR a few weeks ago. The Oregon cowboy was a picture-perfect 3.5 seconds on Tanner Milan’s World and Canadian Steer Wrestling Horse of the Year, Eddie for the go-round win to increase his lead in the race for the for the world title. BC cowboy and NFR rookie, Stephen Culling made a solid run with a 4.9 to finish just out of the money.
In the bareback riding, 19-year-old Rocker Steiner celebrated his second WNFR appearance by winning the first round with an 87 score on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s 17 Risky Business. Canada’s Orin Larsen was out of the money as he kicked off his 8th WNFR with a 78.5 on JBarJ’s FT15 Straight Stick.
A fast night of team-roping was highlighted by a 4.2 second run by Jake Long and Clint Summers for the win while 2016 World Champion from Arrowwood, Alberta, Jeremy Buhler, and Utah partner, Rhen Richard, caught a leg for 9.5 seconds and finished 9th in the round.
John Douch posted a 7.7 second run for the tie-down roping round win while Canada’s Beau Cooper struggled in his first ever WNFR run and took a no-time.
Chapman, Texas cowgirl, Sissy Winn, was the barrel racing go round winner with a solid 13.71 run to edge season leader and two-time World Champion Brittany Pozzi Tonnozi, another Texan who was 13.75 on the top of the ground.
In the bull riding, it was the Australian Ky Hamilton who rode Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Vitalix Theodore to 86.5 points for the round win. Maple Creek, Saskatchewan hand, Jared Parsonage, put up an 80.5 score to finish one spot out of the money while travelling partner, Jordan Hansen from Amisk, Alberta bucked off his bull in the first round.
One storyline that wasn’t expected was an injury to the man who leads the world in bronc riding, bull riding and the all-around race. Stetson Wright appeared to be hampered by the torn hamstring he suffered just weeks ago. The Utah superstar bucked off in both the bronc riding and bull riding and fans will be holding their breath to see how the superstar fares heading into round two at WNFR 65.
