Episodes
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Dustin Egusquiza and Levi Lord have take 2024 by storm as the world standings leaders with $187,771.70 won on the year. Saturday, Sept. 14, Egusquiza and Lord also added the Pendleton Round-Up to their resumes.
Egusquiza and Lord roped three steers in 17.9 seconds and pocketed $12,223 a piece between the rounds and the average. The win also locked them in as the No. 1 team in the PRCA Playoff Series standings heading into the Governor's Cup in Sioux Falls at the end of the month, an opportunity they missed by one point in 2023.
On this episode of The Short Score, Egusquiza and Lord talk about the Pendleton Round-Up team roping win, the year they've had and more.
Episode presented by PurinaConfidently address your horse's unique weight needs and help optimize their overall well-being with research-proven Purina Animal Nutrition feeds — designed by passionate equine nutritionists. Partner with Purina to nourish your horse to their optimal body condition. Explore weight management resources for your horse today at purinamills.com/feed-finder.
MORE FROM THE SCOREWho Deserves the 2024 PRCA/AQHA Head Horse of the Year Title? And WHY?Jake Smith's ProRodeo Breakthrough, 12 Years in the MakingHow Kory Koontz Found Life in ProRodeo RetirementThe Short Score: Hermiston and MoreJoJo LeMond: On Going Home & Starting Over
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Which horse deserves to be named the 2024 PRCA/AQHA Head Horse of the Year? And why?
We get Brenten Hall, Coleman Proctor, Dustin Egusquiza, Tanner Tomlinson and Tyler Wade to weigh in on who's the best of the best over 80 rodeos in the PRCA.
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This week’s episode of The Score is presented by Fast Back Ropes’ Hombre.
Fast Back Ropes is thrilled to unveil its latest innovation in roping technology: the Hombre. After rigorous testing by Fast Back endorsees over the past year, the Hombre is set to redefine performance expectations in team roping.
A four-strand crafted with a core, the Hombre stands out with its vibrant orange color, ensuring exceptional visibility in any arena. Its smaller diameter and rough exterior are meticulously designed to enhance grip, making it ideal for swift and precise maneuvers around the saddle horn.
“The Hombre represents a significant advancement in our team rope lineup,” said Coy Upchurch, General Manager at Fast Back Ropes. “It offers a relaxed feel combined with superior functionality that ropers of all levels will appreciate. Our endorsees have given it high praise during testing.”
Available in both head and heel variations, the Hombre head rope spans 31 feet and is offered in XX-Soft, X-Soft, Soft, and MS lays. Meanwhile, the 35-foot heel rope options include Soft, MS, Medium, and HM lays. This versatility ensures that every roper can find a Hombre rope suited to their specific needs.
“The Hombre is designed to meet the demands of competitive ropers who seek precision and reliability,” added Upchurch. “We’re excited to bring this game-changing rope to market and anticipate it will make waves in the roping community.”
The Hombre will be available for purchase at retail locations starting September 1st, marking a new era in team roping technology. For more information about the Hombre and Fast Back Ropes’ complete product offerings, visit fastbackropes.com.
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Missing episodes?
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Jake Smith has been toiling away in his arena in Broken Bow, Oklahoma, training horses and paying his dues in anticipation of this moment. Smith, 31, is sixth in the PRCA World Standings with $110,777 won on the head side after spending most of his career a heeler.
Smith is a Wildfire Open to the World Champion as a heeler, and in 2023 he won the Riata Championship Open with Douglas Rich, his best friend and rodeo partner.
We called Smith to discuss which horse should be Head Horse of the Year, but in Smith had plenty to say, so we're sharing the whole interview because it's well worth it.
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Kory Koontz qualified for 22 Wrangler National Finals Rodeos, won the NFR average title in 1997 and won every major jackpot along the way.
But when he stepped away from professional rodeo—after seasoning iconic reacher Dustin Egusquiza—Koontz found himself re-creating his life from the ground up, learning how to budget and to manage a teaching business, all while starting life with his new wife.
Along the way, Koontz learned some valuable lessons that he shares in this week's episode of The Score.
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This week's episode of The Score is presented by Fast Back Ropes' Hombre.
Fast Back Ropes is thrilled to unveil its latest innovation in roping technology: the Hombre. After rigorous testing by Fast Back endorsees over the past year, the Hombre is set to redefine performance expectations in team roping.
A four-strand crafted with a core, the Hombre stands out with its vibrant orange color, ensuring exceptional visibility in any arena. Its smaller diameter and rough exterior are meticulously designed to enhance grip, making it ideal for swift and precise maneuvers around the saddle horn.
"The Hombre represents a significant advancement in our team rope lineup," said Coy Upchurch, General Manager at Fast Back Ropes. "It offers a relaxed feel combined with superior functionality that ropers of all levels will appreciate. Our endorsees have given it high praise during testing."
Available in both head and heel variations, the Hombre head rope spans 31 feet and is offered in XX-Soft, X-Soft, Soft, and MS lays. Meanwhile, the 35-foot heel rope options include Soft, MS, Medium, and HM lays. This versatility ensures that every roper can find a Hombre rope suited to their specific needs.
"The Hombre is designed to meet the demands of competitive ropers who seek precision and reliability," added Upchurch. "We're excited to bring this game-changing rope to market and anticipate it will make waves in the roping community."
The Hombre will be available for purchase at retail locations starting September 1st, marking a new era in team roping technology. For more information about the Hombre and Fast Back Ropes' complete product offerings, visit fastbackropes.com.
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It was a weekend for the "underdogs" with teams outside the Top 15 raking in and climbing in the PRCA world standings.
Tanner Tomlinson and Patrick Smith have been fighting tooth and nail to climb in the standings, and they’ve landed themselves both at 21st in the world after a $14,064-a-man weekend. Tomlinson and Smith won the Farm-City Pro Rodeo in Hermiston, Oregon, picking up $10,101 each. They won $2,546 a man for second at the Lea County PRCA Rodeo in Lovington, New Mexico, and $1,417 a man for eighth in Logan, Utah, at the Cache County Fair and Rodeo. On this episode of The Short Score, Tomlinson briefly talks about their weekend, how they’re climbing in the standings and their mentality going into the last few weeks of the 2024 season.
The Short Score also breaks down some other big winners over the Aug. 7-11, weekend.
Episode presented by Roping.comRoping.com is the online training resource for team ropers. In addition to thousands of videos and exclusive roping films in your back pocket, members get private access to World Champion coaches like Jake Barnes, Clay O’Brien Cooper, Matt Sherwood, 26-time World Champion Trevor Brazile, and more every day. Take advantage of step-by-step tutorials, run critiques, private members-only Facebook group, live video demos and other benefits.
Join now for only $29.95/month.
MORE FROM THE SCOREJoJo LeMond: On Going Home & Starting OverThe Short Score: Old West Part 2The Short Score: From Utah to CheyenneHow to Market Your Rope Horses with Elite Equine PromotionsThe Short Score: From the NFR Open to Salinas
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JoJo LeMond roped at four National Finals Rodeos before heading back to his family ranch in Andrews, Texas, to raise his kids with his wife, Blair.
But the move home wasn't sunshine and rainbows for LeMond, and he's as real as it gets with how he made the transition out of full-time rodeo and into life as a cutting horse trainer.
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This episode is presented by Gold Buckle Horse Sales. Gold Buckle Horse Sale has come up with a process to take the guesswork out of finding the right horse and allowing both buyer and seller to find the perfect match with confidence. Each horse consigned through Gold Buckle Sales is professionally photographed, videoed and demoed by a professional Gold Buckle Pro. Visit www.goldbucklehorsesale.com.
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Leaving the box flat not only affects your start, it also plays a role in setting up the entire run. If your horse is squatting, their skewed balance can get you off balance. In this bonus Roping.com tips episode of The Short Score, Trevor Brazilegives three tips for leaving the box flat.
Riding the famous stallion The Darkk Side, Brazile explains what leaving flat means in the box, and how he uses his body to stay with the horse from the corner to the steer. He talks through the problems created by squatting in the corner, and Brazile talks about how to eliminate squatting in the corner in the box, too
Become a Better Roper:Roping.com is the online training resource for team ropers. In addition to thousands of videos and exclusive roping films in your back pocket, members get private access to World Champion coaches like Jake Barnes, Clay O’Brien Cooper, Matt Sherwood, 26-time World Champion Trevor Brazile, and more every day. Take advantage of step-by-step tutorials, run critiques, private members-only Facebook group, live video demos and other benefits.
Join now for only $29.95/month.
MORE FROM THE SCOREThe Short Score: Old West Part 2The Short Score: From Utah to CheyenneHow to Market Your Rope Horses with Elite Equine PromotionsThe Short Score: From the NFR Open to SalinasWhy Martin Lucero Stepped Away From Rodeo
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We're still not over the highest-paying rope horse futurity in history, the ARHFA Old West Rope Horse Futurity.
In this final feature of the Old West futurity, The Short Score brings you conversations with Clay Smith and Joseph Harrison after their wins.
Clay Smith was the first $100,000 winner of the weekend, taking home the win in the Open Futurity Heading on Lead On. Smith and the 5-year-old gelding won the Open Futurity Heading with a 930.24 on four.
Joseph Harrison had the biggest win of the week, not only winning the Open Futurity Heeling on Copperton, but also winning second on Nu One Time Blues and third on CR Better Be Tuff. All in all, between the average and the rounds, Harrison pocketed $168,480.
MORE FROM THE SCOREThe Short Score: From Utah to CheyenneHow to Market Your Rope Horses with Elite Equine PromotionsThe Short Score: From the NFR Open to SalinasWhy Martin Lucero Stepped Away From RodeoThe Short Score: A Little Bit of Everything
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The Team Roping Journal was all over the place this weekend, from the ARHFA's Old West Rope Horse Futurity in Wallsburg, Utah, to the Cheyenne Frontier Days short round.
Miles Baker kicked off a historic weekend at the Old West Rope Horse Futurity, winning $50,000 in the Pre-Futurity Heading Thursday, July 25, on Relentless PYC. Baker talks about the mare they call Nala and why the win means so much to "a kid from Oklahoma."
With an 8.3-second run, Hayes Smith and Justin Davis won their first Cheyenne Frontier Days titles, something they've both dreamed of since they were kids. They break down their win and the emotions behind it.
MORE FROM THE SCOREHow to Market Your Rope Horses with Elite Equine PromotionsThe Short Score: From the NFR Open to SalinasWhy Martin Lucero Stepped Away From RodeoThe Short Score: A Little Bit of EverythingThe Short Score: Joseph Harrison is the Richest ARHFA RoperIs Jade Corkill *Really* Retired from ProRodeo? (Does Anyone Really Retire from Rodeo?)
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Kenzie Mayer of Elite Equine Promotions is a master marketer in the team roping game, and our partners at The Money Barrel Podcast sat down with her to talk through the way the rope horse industry has stepped up their game in horse promotion. With The Money Barrel host Kayla Jones, Kenzie discusses how the rope horse futurity business has impacted marketing and how best to promote your own horses.
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Episode presented by Cactus Saddlery. Cactus Saddlery is the industry’s leading saddle makers, with all saddles and strap items handmade in the United states. With 150 years of combined saddle making skills, Cactus Saddlery provides premium saddles, tack, pads and equine accessories designed, developed and ridden by the professionals of our sport. Fit, quality, looks and personalized customer service are the expectations. Cactus Saddlery offers a full line of equine products to satisfy everyone from pleasure riders to professional competitors.
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With the heart of the ProRodeo season in full swing, there's some catching up to do.
Erich Rogers and Paul Eaves picked up their second California Rodeo Salinas titles Sunday, July 21, 2024, with a 46.5 on five steers. All in all they pocketed $10,946 a man to push to No. 15 and 16 in the world standings.
Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nogueira added a new title to their resumes, picking up their first national circuit titles winning the 2024 NFR Open July 13. Between the overall win and the second-round win in their bracket, Driggers and Nogueira pocketed $16,000 a man to push Driggers to No. 1 in the world standings and Nogueira to No. 2.
On this episode of The Short Score, Rogers and Eaves share about their Salinas win, and Driggers and Nogueira talk about their win in Colorado Springs.
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This episode is brought to you by Purina. There’s more talk than ever about the importance of probiotics in equine health. But not all probiotics are created equal. New Purina Systemiq Supplement remains live & active after the pelleting process and throughout the digestive system making it all the way to the hind gut. Systemiq was designed to support normal recovery after exercise and occasional gastrointestinal stress. Whether you’re using a probiotic now or not, it’s time to use a live and active supplement from a name you trust. New Purina Systemiq probiotic.
More from The ScoreWhy Martin Lucero Stepped Away From RodeoThe Short Score: A Little Bit of EverythingThe Short Score: Joseph Harrison is the Richest ARHFA RoperIs Jade Corkill *Really* Retired from ProRodeo? (Does Anyone Really Retire from Rodeo?)The Short Score: Kolton Schmidt’s Rhianna
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Martin Lucero had a storybook career, with 16 National Finals Rodeo qualifications and an NFR average title. He was a master of strategic entering, and he's still a resource for the young guys of the game. Lucero stepped away from full-time rodeo slowly, though, over the last decade, and in this episode of The Score, he explains why he called it a career and how he transitioned to life outside the arena.
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This episode of The Score is presented by Equinety. The amino acids in Equinety Horse XL are specifically formulated to stimulate the pituitary gland, (the master gland in the body), and this is what releases the necessary hormones that help the body repair at a cellular level. More: https://bit.ly/WhatIsEquinety
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From Cowboy Christmas, to the NFR Open, to Tate Kirchenschlager—we talk it all on this episode of The Short Score.
Cowboy Christmas 2024 is officially in the books, and Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nogueira came out on top as team roping's top money earners. They crushed the record they set in 2022 of $35,152 a man by raking in $47,275 each this year. But who else was inside the top five in terms of money won this Cowboy Christmas?
The American Rope Horse Futurity Association’s Cowtown Classic also took place over the weekend, and Tate Kirchenschlager reigned supreme as he and his horses unofficially amassed $31,465 in earnings over two days of competition.
National circuit titles are on the line as the 2024 NFR Open kicks off Tuesday, July 9. We break down everything you need to know about this year's NFR Open on this episode of The Short Score.
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This episode of The Short Score is presented by Gold Buckle Horse Sales. Gold Buckle Horse Sales has come up with a process to take the guesswork out of finding the right horse and allowing both buyer and seller to find the perfect match with confidence. Each horse consigned through the program is professionally photographed, videoed and demoed by a professional Gold Buckle Pro. Learn more at goldbucklehorsesale.com.
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Joseph Harrison is an undoubted force in the futurity game, now having $476,934.27 in American Rope Horse Futurity Association earnings, as of June 28, 2024, making him the richest roper in the ARHFA game.
Harrison joins The Short Score to talk about what it means to be the richest roper in the ARHFA and how to ensure a successful future in the rope horse and futurity industry.
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MORE FROM THE SCOREIs Jade Corkill *Really* Retired from ProRodeo? (Does Anyone Really Retire from Rodeo?)The Short Score: Kolton Schmidt’s RhiannaThe Short Score: California’s Preston BurgessThe Short Score: Memorial Day Weekend Roundup
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There comes a point in every professional team ropers' career that the sacrifices rodeo demands don't quite feel worth it anymore. For three-time World Champion Jade Corkill, 2024 was the year he decided to step away from the ProRodeo spotlight and focus on his family. Corkill, however, has won nearly $80,000 in his time away from full-time rodeo in the first six months of the year, and he's enjoying the time home watching his kids rope and supporting his wife's barrel horse breeding operation.
But what factors went into Corkill's decision? And will he be back? Find out on this don't miss episode of The Score.
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This episode kicks off our summer-long series with guys who've decided to take time off from ProRodeo, exploring what made them make the tough call and how they built their lives—including their finances—in life after rodeo.
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Resistol is the official hat of the PRCA, the World Series of Team Roping, the USTRC and numerous other western sports events and organizations. Since 1927 Resistol has supported as much as they can in the western industry to ensure growth and a western lifestyle for generations to come! We Live It Every Day
Visit Resistol.com to find your favorite hat or locate a retailer near you
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Kolton Schmidt has added a new mount to his horse herd in 2024: a bay mare they call Rhianna.
Registered as Carters Won Time Out, Rhianna comes to Schmidt from A&C Racing and Roping, Rhen and Kaden Richard's top-notch training program. Carters Won Time Out spent 2023 on the rope horse futurity scene with Rhen, picking up wins like the 6-&-Under Heading at the Royal Crown Futurity Rock Springs, Wyoming.
Chelsea Shaffer joins The Short Score to chat with Schmidt on Rhianna and how she joined his team.
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This episode of The Short Score is presented by Gold Buckle Horse Sales. Gold Buckle Horse Sales has come up with a process to take the guesswork out of finding the right horse and allowing both buyer and seller to find the perfect match with confidence. Each horse consigned through the program is professionally photographed, videoed and demoed by a professional Gold Buckle Pro. Learn more at goldbucklehorsesale.com.
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Preston Burgess is teamed up with eight-time NFR qualifier Cody Cowden on the 2024 California Circuit front, and they've made some recent money moves to climb in their standings.
Burgess, a Hilmar, California, native, and Cowden have steadily climbed to fifth and third in the circuit standings after pocketing $6,718 a man between their average win at the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo May 30-June 2, and a fifth-place finish at the Livermore Rodeo June 8-9.
Burgess joins The Short Score to talk about their recent circuit success, his partnership with Cowden and rodeoing on the West Coast.
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This episode is brought to you by Purina RepleniMash. Attention horse owners. Are you looking to help your horse recover with ease, after a strenuous workout? Would you like to nourish your horse and their digestive system? If so, try the new Purina RepleniMash Product. It’s much more than a mash. RepleniMash promotes hydration, replenishes electrolytes and supports gastric comfort. Put Purina’s research to the test. Stop into your local Purina retailer and grab a bag of Purina Replenimash product.
MORE FROM THE SCOREThe Short Score: Memorial Day Weekend RoundupKenna Francis' and Whitney DeSalvo's $60K WRWC WinThe Short Score: WCRA Rodeo Corpus Christi 2024The Short Score: Guymon Champs
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Memorial Day weekend is a time for us to honor and remember those who selflessly sacrificed their lives for our freedoms, and it's also a major jackpotting weekend in the team roping world.
The best of the best enter across multiple Open ropings in the South, such as the Windy Ryon Memorial Roping, Cody NesSmith Memorial and the Danny Dietz Memorial Classic, before they head out for the summer run. On this episode ofThe Short Score, we go over who won what big ropings over Memorial Day weekend 2024.
The weekend kicked off with Luke Brown and Travis Graves taking home the 50th Annual Windy Ryon Memorial Roping. Brown and Graves won the historic roping with a 41.22 on five steers for $9,904 May 24, 2024.
In Decatur, Texas, Clint Summers and Jake Long took home the Danny Dietz Memorial Classic Open win May 25. With a 33.03, they pocketed a combined $21,560 for the aggregate title. For Summers, the day marks his first Dietz championship, but Long celebrated No. 5 at the benefit event in memory of the late Navy SEAL, Danny Dietz. This also adds another major Open win in Long's already large 2024 resume. (PS: You can watch the Dietz on Roping.com!)
The action continued with the Cody NesSmith Memorial Team Roping in Buffalo. The Cody NesSmith Memorial Team Roping remembers and honors the life of Cody NesSmith, who passed in 2020 to Ewing’s Sarcoma. Kollin VonAhn and Andrew Ward won the Cody Johnson Resistol Open 7 Header with a 57.13 on seven to split $40,000. The seven-header was followed the next morning by the Bill Fick Ford Open 5 Header, where Tyler Wade and Paul Eaves took home the win with a 30.34 on five.
Lastly, the Priefert Ranch Pro Roping kicked off today, May 28, and runs through June 2, and you can watch the action live all week long over at Roping.com.
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MORE FROM THE SCOREKenna Francis' and Whitney DeSalvo's $60K WRWC WinThe Short Score: Guymon Champs -
Kenna Francis and Whitney DeSalvo had a huge week in Texas at the 2024 Women's Rodeo World Championship, pocketing $71,000 for Francis and $84,000 for DeSalvo.
Francis and DeSalvo were one of three teams who made it through the WRWC tournament throughout the week inside Cowtown Coliseum and put an exclamation point on the week with a 6.62-second run in front of the jam-packed PBR World Finals audience inside AT&T Stadium May 18.
Francis and DeSalvo join The Score to talk about their week, their top-of-the-line mounts and more.
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This episode is presented by Cactus Ropes.
The team at Cactus are ranchers, ropers, rodeo contestants and horse enthusiasts who take pride in blending traditional team rope making artistry with technical innovations to produce the industry’s best equipment.
Cactus has had many great individuals influence the team rope making process over the years starting with Cactus Jack, Jacky and Rob Stephenson, Joe Mathews, Barry Berg, and Mike Piland. Clay O’Brien Cooper, Jake Long, Chad Masters, Riley Minor, Matt Sherwood, Nick Sartain, Lari Dee Guy, Hope Thompson, Stran Smith along with many other team ropers, breakaway roper, and tie-down ropers have lent their professional expertise time and time again to help the master rope makers at Cactus hone their craft.
One of the greatest opportunities for the Cactus crew was the partnership with the GOAT (Greatest of All Time). For the last decade Trevor Brazile, the King of the Cowboys, has been working with Cactus Ropes to design the best feeling head and heel team ropes on the market. Trevor’s Relentless attention to detail coupled with the team rope design team at Cactus resulted in not only the creation the best selling Relentless line of team ropes and calf ropes, but a positive effect on the quality of all Cactus products, from ropes and sports boots to horse blankets.
Today many of the original cast of the Cactus start-up are still pushing the yellow and green every day in the rope shop in Pleasanton, TX. Mike Piland is the head of public relations, Barry is the general manager, and Rob is making sure every team rope is perfectly coiled. The Cactus Crew has stuck together for knocking on thirty years now with no signs of slowing down in the future.
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Champions were crowned May 11, 2024, at the WCRA Rodeo Corpus Christi. Winners of Corpus not only took home $15,000 and the coveted Rodeo Corpus Christi surfboards, but they also grabbed a spot on the WCRA Free Riders team in Kid Rock's Rock N Rodeo May 17, at AT&T Stadium.
The 2023 Rodeo Corpus Christi champions Riley Kittle and Jace Helton returned to the American Bank Center ready to repeat their victory. They took home the Progressive Round 1 win with a 4.64 for $5,000, locking them in for the Showdown Round May 11, which features seven teams.
Progressive Round 2 belonged to Jake Smith and Douglas Rich with a 4.16-second run. Their win locked them in for the Showdown Round and pocketed them $5,000.
When the dust settled, Luke Brown and Jade Corkill took home the 2024 WCRA Rodeo Corpus Christi title. They advanced to the Showdown Round with a 16.23 in the two-head average. They topped the Showdown Round with a 4.75-second run to advance to the Triple Crown of Rodeo Round, comprised of three teams. With a businessman's run of 6.0 in the Triple Crown of Rodeo Round, they took home the Rodeo Corpus Christi title for $15,000 and the surfboards. They also secured their spot on the Free Riders Team in Kid Rock's Rock N Rodeo, and joining them will be Jake Smith and Douglas Rich who finished second overall.
On this episode of The Short Score, you'll hear from the round winners as well as the overall Rodeo Corpus Christi champs.
This episode is brought to you by Purina RepleniMash. Attention horse owners. Are you looking to help your horse recover with ease, after a strenuous workout? Would you like to nourish your horse and their digestive system? If so, try the new Purina RepleniMash Product. It’s much more than a mash. RepleniMash promotes hydration, replenishes electrolytes and supports gastric comfort. Put Purina’s research to the test. Stop into your local Purina retailer and grab a bag of Purina Replenimash product.
MORE FROM THE SCOREThe Short Score: Guymon ChampsYeti US Open Champs Andrew Ward and - Show more
