Several world champions and National Finals Rodeo qualifiers were among the contestants for the final performance of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeo Sunday night at the 86th annual North Texas Fair and Rodeo.
Second generation bronc rider Caine Riddle of Vernon posted the highest score of the eleven contestants in the bareback riding with his mark of 83 on No. 607 Rylee’s Rising.
Placing second with a score of 79 was the Oklahoma cowboy Justin Pollmiller on No. 88 Muskeg. Rounding out the top three was Yance Day, also from Oklahoma, with a 64 on No. 73 Fiddle Faddle.
Freedom, Oklahoma’s Ryan Swayze, had a time of 4.5 seconds to lead the steer wrestling with Paradise’s Paul Melvin right behind him with a time of 4.7. Splitting third and fourth with 6.1 second runs were Oklahoman Mitchell Gardney and Graham’s Brad Loesch.
National Finals Rodeo qualifier Jacobs Crawley won the saddle bronc riding with his mark of 84 aboard No. 45 Buckwheat.
Second place went to Jacobs’ brother Sterling, also an NFR qualifier with an 80 on No. 737 Date Line.
Splitting third and fourth were Jesse James Kirby and Dean Wadsworth, who both scored 76 on their draws.
A time of 9.1 seconds was fast enough for the win in the calf roping for Jarrod Branch of Perkins, Oklahoma.
Second place with a 10.2 second time was another Oklahoma cowboy, Jerome Schneeberger.
Placing third was Luke Madsen with his time of 10.8.
David Key and Kory Koontz won the team roping with a time of 5.2 seconds. Closest to them in second was the team of Anthony Lucia and Boogie Ray with their time of 6.7.
Mike Bacon and Joseph Harrison accrued a 10-second penalty, but were still fast enough to claim third place with a 16.2.
Ladies barrel racing was not as close a contest as it had been on previous nights, with the muddy ground proving to be a challenge for some of the horses. Arthur City cowgirl Abby Pursifull was the fastest with her 17-second run.
Placing second with a 17.30 was Weatherford’s Karen Clark. A 17.48 was quick enough for Millsap’s Kelly Bruner to place third.
Four-time world champion bull rider J.W. Harris from Mullin split first and second with the rookie Brady Roberts from Seminole, with identical 84 scores.
The only other qualified ride was Tanner Learmont of Cleburne with a 74, good for third place.
