LAS VEGAS – It’s party time in Brazil – and for good reason.
A country with deep rodeo roots finally has its first world champion in Junior Nogueira. The team roping heeler won the all-around gold buckle during the 10th and final night of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Polaris RANGER. “I’m very happy, and not just for myself, but for my family, friends and everyone in Brazil,” Nogueira said. “I hope this gives kids in Brazil, and around the world, inspiration that anything is possible if you put your trust in God.”
Month: December 2016
LAS VEGAS – Brennon Eldred made a statement Friday night, and it was loud and clear. The 22-year-old from Purcell, Okla., won Round 9 of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Polaris RANGER with an eye-popping 94.5-point trip on D&H Cattle’s SweetPro’s Bruiser.
LAS VEGAS – Coming into the 2016 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Polaris RANGER, the question surrounding the bull riding was whether or not anybody could challenge two-time defending World Champion Sage Kimzey. The answer to that question is the man who won the gold buckle in 2011 – Shane Proctor, the oldest bull rider in the field. The 31-year-old has ridden all seven of his bulls, and split the Round-7 win three ways with WNFR first-timers Garrett Tribble and Cody Rostockyj.
LAS VEGAS – Bareback rider Jake Vold is doing his best Ryder Wright impression. Wright won four straight saddle bronc riding rounds outright to open this year’s Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Polaris RANGER, and Vold has nearly equaled that in his event. The Ponoka, Alberta, cowboy won his third straight round Tuesday night with an 85.5-point trip on Burch Rodeo’s Jim Dandy. Vold became just the eighth bareback rider in NFR history to win three straight rounds.
Photograph by Tom Donoghue
LAS VEGAS – Defending Tie-down Roping World Champion Caleb Smidt had a nightmarish first four rounds at the 2016 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Polaris RANGER. The 27-year-old from Huntsville, Texas, placed fourth in Round 2, but had double-digit times in Rounds 1 and 3, and took a no-time in Round 4. Everything turned around with a blistering 6.7-second run Monday night.
Photograph by Tom Donoghue
LAS VEGAS – Ryder Wright doesn’t intend to leave the winner’s circle – perhaps for the duration of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Polaris RANGER. Wright entered some rarified air in Round 4. Wright’s 85.5-point trip on Flying 5 Rodeo’s Sundance earned the 18-year-old his fourth consecutive WNFR round win, which is something only two other men in roughstock events have ever accomplished – saddle bronc riding brothers Billy and Robert Etbauer.