Thurston Lets 'Er Rip

Zeke Thurston of Big Valley, Alberta, the youngest of the Canadian contingent at the #WranglerNFR, cashed his first ever World Finals cheque in Round 4. After a start that saw the Calgary Stampede and Rodeo Houston Champion struggle through the first three rounds, Thurston had the Canadian flags waving with his 85 point ride on Frontier Rodeo’s Let ‘Er Rip - good for second place.

“It was kind of a slow start,” the second generation athlete acknowledged. I’m just glad to have a horse that bucked well; it’s easy to start fighting your head any day in this game - that’s the way it is - ups and downs. One day you’ll be riding the Killer Bees and Medicine Womans for 90’s and the next you might fall off a hopper. You need to figure out a way to fight through it… stick to the basics, stay calm and not worry about it.” Thurston earned $20,730 for his efforts.

In a saddle bronc riding that highlighted the ‘kids’, Rusty Wright earned his first go-round win WNFR buckle with an impressive 85.5 ride on Flying Five Rodeo’s Sundance.

It wasn’t all sunshine for the bronc riders as Tyrel Larsen came out second best in his encounter with Calgary Stampede’s outstanding Mata Fact. The 13 year old Grated Coconut bay mare bucked off the Inglis, Manitoba native at the six second mark. And Louisiana cowboy, Heith DeMoss, was unsuccessful in his bid to master Calgary Stampede’s 2012 CFR Champion Shoshone Mountain.

Twenty one year old Thurston was one of three Canadian success stories in go-round four.

Clint Laye earned his third consecutive bareback placing as he paired up with Korkow Rodeos Flashcard Champion to the tune of 81 points - good for a 3rd place finish and $15,653. Laye has $36,384 to his credit so far. Manitoba's Orin Larsen came back from a rough landing last night (that saw him assisted from the arena) to be 78.5 points tonight. Round 4 bareback riding winners were Steven Peebles and Kaycee Feild - 84 points each.

#‎ProRodeoCanada bull dogger, Tanner Milan, split 4/5 in WNFR round 4 Steer Wrestling with a 3.8 second run for a $8884 payday. (The Cochrane, Alberta cowboy has $22,210 in total so far). Dakota Eldridge won the round - 3.3 seconds - to earn the first place cheque tonight.

Canadian Deb Guelly switched to Bud Light (owned by the Collier family) in round 4… but tipped a barrel resulting in a 19.45 second run. Sarah Rose McDonald navigated the pattern in 13.71 seconds - the fastest time of the 2015 WNFR to date.

Bareback riding: 1. (tie) Kaycee Feild, Spanish Fork, Utah, on J Bar J’s Pass The Hat, and Steven Peebles, Redmond, Ore., 84.0 points on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Scarlet Belle, $23,481 each; 3. Clint Laye, Cadogan, Alberta, 83.0, $15,654; 4. Winn Ratliff, Leesville, La., 82.0, $11,000; 5. (tie) Evan Jayne, Marseille, France, and Seth Hardwick, Laramie, Wyo., 81.0, $5,500 each; 7. Austin Foss, Terrebonne, Ore., 79.5; 8. Orin Larsen, Inglis, Manitoba, 78.5; 9. (tie) Jake Brown, Hillsboro, Texas, 76.0; Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn., 76.0; 11. Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa, 75.5; 12. Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, 75.0; 13. Caleb Bennett, Tremonton, Utah, 74.5; 14. (tie) Bobby Mote, Stephenville, Texas, and Clint Cannon, Waller, Texas, 73.5. Average standings: 1. Steven Peebles, 336.0 on four head; 2. Kaycee Feild, 320.5; 3. Seth Hardwick, 317.0; 4. Austin Foss, 316.5; 5. Tim O’Connell, 313.0; 6. Will Lowe, 312.0. World standings: 1. Kaycee Feild, $181,7711; 2. Steven Peebles, $175,441; 3. Austin Foss, $140,049; 4. Clint Laye, $133,461; 5. Evan Jayne, $129,251; 6. Tim O’Connell, $127,026; 7. Bobby Mote, $109,486; 8. Jake Brown, $107,994; 9. Will Lowe, $107,896; 10. Clint Cannon, $107,686; 11. Seth Hardwick, $101,639; 12. Orin Larsen, $101,041; 13. Winn Ratliff, $96,754; 14. Tanner Aus, $95,660; 15. Caleb Bennett, $91,302.

Steer wrestling: 1. Dakota Eldridge, Elko, Nev., 3.3 seconds, $26,231; 2. Seth Brockman, Wheatland, Wyo., 3.6, $20,731; 3. Baylor Roche, Tremonton, Utah, 3.7, $15,654; 4. (tie) Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont., and Tanner Milan, Cochrane, Alberta, 3.8, $8,885 each; 6. Blake Knowles, Heppner, Ore., 4.1, $4,231; 7. Casey Martin, Sulphur, La., 4.3; 8. (tie) Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., and Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Ore., 4.6; 10. Nick Guy, Sparta, Wis., 4.8; 11. Tyler Waguespack, Gonzales, La., 13.3; 12. Kyle Irwin, Robertsdale, Ala., 14.0; 13. Hunter Cure, Holliday, Texas, 14.4; no other qualified times. Average standings: 1. Ty Erickson, 15.0 seconds on four head; 2. Seth Brockman, 17.1; 3. Trevor Knowles, 17.5; 4. Baylor Roche, 18.1; 5. Nick Guy, 18.3; 6. Luke Branquinho, 19.2. World standings: 1. Ty Erickson, $151,818; 2. Hunter Cure, $137,015; 3. Clayton Hass, $131,411; 4. Kyle Irwin, $118,458; 5. Dakota Eldridge, $112,669; 6. Luke Branquinho, $109,672; 7. K.C. Jones, $107,216; 8. Seth Brockman, $106,520; 9. Nick Guy, $104,429; 10. Baylor Roche, $101,440; 11. Tanner Milan, $98,538; 12. Blake Knowles, $92,304; 13. Trevor Knowles, $85,359; 14. Tyler Waguespack, $85,245; 15. Casey Martin, $84,041.

Team roping: 1. Derrick Begay, Seba Dalkai, Ariz./Clay O’Brien Cooper, Gardnerville, Nev., 3.6 seconds, $26,231; 2. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas/Patrick Smith, Lipan, Texas, 3.8, $20,731; 3. Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont./Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev., 4.1, $15,654; 4. JoJo LeMond, Andrews, Texas/Junior Nogueira, Scottsdale, Ariz., 4.2, $11,000; 5. Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz./Cory Petska, Marana, Ariz., 4.3, $6,769; 6. Clay Smith, Broken Bow, Okla./Paul Eaves, Lonedell, Mo., 4.4, $4,231; 7. Nick Sartain, Dover, Okla./Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas, 4.5; 8. Chad Masters, Cedar Hill, Tenn./Travis Graves, Jay, Okla., 4.6; 9. Luke Brown, Stephenville, Texas/Kollin VonAhn, Blanchard, Okla., 4.8; 10. Coleman Proctor, Pryor, Okla./Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan., 6.4; 11. Aaron Tsinigine, Tuba City, Ariz./Ryan Motes, Weatherford, Texas, 9.5; 12. Colby Lovell, Madisonville, Texas/Kory Koontz, Stephenville, Texas, 10.5; 13. Jake Cooper, Monument, N.M./Russell Cardoza, Terrebonne, Ore., 12.3; 14. Riley Minor, Ellensburg, Wash./Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash., 13.8; no other qualified times. Average standings: 1. Erich Rogers/ Cory Petska, 19.1 on four head; 2. Aaron Tsinigine/Ryan Motes, 23.2; 3. Clay Smith/Paul Eaves, 24.4; 4. Coleman Proctor/Jake Long, 25.6; 5. JoJo LeMond/Junior Nogueira, 28.3; 6. Colby Lovell/Kory Koontz, 28.6. World standings (headers): 1. Clay Tryan, $169,2662; 2. Derrick Begay, $157,329; 3. Aaron Tsinigine, $146,230; 4. Chad Masters, $123,389; 5. Trevor Brazile, $122,998; 6. Erich Rogers, $122,938; 7. Colby Lovell, $120,138; 8. Luke Brown, $103,140; 9. JoJo LeMond, $98,303; 10. Coleman Proctor, $95,783; 11. Clay Smith, $94,344; 12. Nick Sartain, $93,809; 13. Jake Cooper, $90,933; 14. Matt Sherwood, $88,436; 15. Riley Minor, $77,592. World standings (heelers): 1. Jade Corkill, $169,266; 2. Clay O’Brien Cooper, $158,449; 3. Ryan Motes, $145,098; 4. Patrick Smith, $122,998; 5. Kory Koontz, $119,775; 6. Cory Petska, $119,096; 7. Travis Graves, $115,996; 8. Kollin VonAhn, $109,755; 9. Junior Nogueira, $108,833; 10. Paul Eaves, $100,545; 11. Travis Woodard, $99,519; 12. Jake Long, $93,998; 13. Rich Skelton, $93,809; 14. Brady Minor, $76,263; 15. Russell Cardoza, $76,080.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Rusty Wright, Milford, Utah, 85.5 points on Flying Five Rodeo’s Sundance, $26,231; 2. Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, Alberta, 85.0, $20,731; 3. Isaac Diaz, Desdemona, Texas, 83.5, $15,654; 4. Jacobs Crawley, Boerne, Texas, 83.0, $11,000; 5. Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., 81.5, $6,769; 6. Chuck Schmidt, Keldron, S.D., 80.0, $4,231; 7. Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb., 78.5; 8. Wade Sundell, Coleman, Okla., 76.5; 9. CoBurn Bradshaw, Beaver, Utah, 72.5; no other qualified rides. Average standings: 1. Jacobs Crawley, 330.0 points on four head; 2. Wade Sundell, 325.5; 3. CoBurn Bradshaw, 319.5; 4. Taos Muncy, 297.0; 5. Isaac Diaz, 243.5 on three; 6. Cody DeMoss, 241.0. World standings: 1. Jacobs Crawley, $172,593; 2. Cody DeMoss, $167,897; 3. Rusty Wright, $157,717; 4. Wade Sundell, $151,641; 5. Isaac Diaz, $133,451; 6. Jake Wright, $126,731; 7. CoBurn Bradshaw, $117,607; 8. Taos Muncy, $115,423; 9. Chuck Schmidt, $105,910; 10. Zeke Thurston, $103,009; 11. Heith DeMoss, $99,085; 12. Cort Scheer, $98,737; 13. Tyrel Larsen, $86,826; 14. Spencer Wright, $84,338; 15. Bradley Harter, $81,310.

Tie-down roping: 1. (tie) Cade Swor, Winnie, Texas, and Sterling Smith, Stephenville, Texas, 7.2 seconds, $23,481 each; 3. (tie) Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas, and Marty Yates, Stephenville, Texas, 7.4, $13,327 each; 5. Monty Lewis, Hereford, Texas, 7.5, $6,769; 6. Caleb Smidt, Bellville, Texas, 7.7, $4,231; 7. Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho, 7.9; 8. Cory Solomon, Prairie View, Texas, 8.0; 9. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 8.1; 10. Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La., 8.3; 11. Timber Moore, Aubrey, Texas, 9.0; 12. (tie) Marcos Costa, Childress, Texas, and Tyson Durfey, Savannah, Mo., 9.4; no other qualified times. Average standings: 1. Monty Lewis, 32.3 seconds on four head; 2. Caleb Smidt, 32.4; 3. Matt Shiozawa, 32.6; 4. Shane Hanchey, 32.7; 5. Marty Yates, 33.3; 6. Marcos Costa, 33.9. World standings: 1. Tuf Cooper, $154,130; 2. Timber Moore, $149,452; 3. Marty Yates, $146,089; 4. Hunter Herrin, $134,063; 5. Caleb Smidt, $129,393; 6. Trevor Brazile, $128,209; 7. Cade Swor, $124,680; 8. Marcos Costa, $120,996; 9. Matt Shiozawa, $115,720; 10. Sterling Smith, $112,547; 11. Monty Lewis, $108,134; 12. Tyson Durfey, $105,540; 13. Shane Hanchey, $100,553; 14. Ryan Jarrett, $95,967; 15. Cory Solomon, $92,483.

Barrel racing: 1. Sarah Rose McDonald, Brunswick, Ga., 13.71 seconds, $26,231; 2. (tie) Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., and Cassidy Kruse, Gillette, Wyo., 13.85, $18,192 each; 4. Taylor Jacob, Carmine, Texas, 13.89, $11,000; 5. (tie) Callie duPerier, Boerne, Texas, and Nancy Hunter, Neola, Utah, 14.03, $5,500 each; 7. Mary Walker, Ennis, Texas, 14.06; 8. Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., 14.17; 9. Jackie Ganter, Abilene, Texas, 14.21; 10. Carley Richardson, Pampa, Texas, 14.24; 11. Vickie Carter, Richfield, Utah, 14.29; 12. Michele McLeod, Whitesboro, Texas, 14.38; 13. Deb Guelly, Okotoks, Alberta, 14.45; 14. Jana Bean, Fort Hancock, Texas, 18.74; 15. Fallon Taylor, Whitesboro, Texas, 18.97. Average standings: 1. Cassidy Kruse, 55.52 seconds on four runs; 2. Lisa Lockhart, 55.68; 3. Callie duPerier, 56.37; 4. Jackie Ganter, 56.49; 5. Sherry Cervi, 56.78; 6. Sarah Rose McDonald, 60.38. World standings: 1. Lisa Lockhart, $215,674; 2. Sarah Rose McDonald, $193,253; 3. Callie DuPerier, $189,192; 4. Cassidy Kruse, $163,269; 5. Mary Walker, $135,759; 6. Fallon Taylor, $130,886; 7. Taylor Jacob, $127,739; 8. Michele McLeod, $117,628; 9. Sherry Cervi, $114,744; 10. Nancy Hunter, $112,186; 11. Carley Richardson, $101,147; 12. Jackie Ganter, $87,780; 13. Vickie Carter, $72,768; 14. Jana Bean, $70,162; 15. Deb Guelly, $69,769.

Bull riding: 1. Joe Frost, Randlett, Utah, 85.5 points on Andrews Rodeo’s Bell Ringer, $26,231; 2. Caleb Sanderson, Hallettsville, Texas, 83.0, $20,731; 3. (tie) Kody DeShon, Helena, Mont., and Clayton Foltyn, Winnie, Texas, 82.0, $13,327 each; 5. Sage Kimzey, Strong City, Okla., 81.0, $6,769; 6. Cody Teel, Kountze, Texas, 73.5, $4,231; no other qualified rides. Average standings: 1. Cody Teel, 238.0 points on three head; 2. Sage Kimzey, 165.5 on two; 3. Clayton Foltyn, 158.5; 4. Caleb Sanderson, 157.5; 5. Parker Breding, 86.5 on one; 6. Joe Frost, 85.5. World standings: 1. Sage Kimzey, $212,101; 2. Parker Breding, $158,477; 3. Cody Teel, $139,133; 4. Joe Frost, $120,043; 5. Brennon Eldred, $120,041; 6. Wesley Silcox, $115,778; 7. Clayton Foltyn, $114,784; 8. Shane Proctor, $109,744; 9. Caleb Sanderson, $106,845; 10. Chandler Bownds, $98,441; 11. Reid Barker, $89,501; 12. Brett Stall, $86,089; 13. Kody DeShon, $85,960; 14. Dustin Bowen, $75,250; 15. Ty Wallace, $73,905.