College Student at Top of RNCFR Saddle Bronc Riding Lead
Cameron Messier, a student at Odessa College in Texas, from Herald, California, took the lead in saddle bronc riding at the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo in Kissimmee, Fla. Messier scored 79.5 on Silver Spurs Rodeo’s horse Best Hope. Photo by Ric Anderson.
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (April 6, 2017) – Cameron Messier was admittedly a little nervous when he got to Florida to compete at his first RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo (RNCFR).
Messier is a student at Odessa College in Texas who has lived in Herald, California, and qualified for his first RNCFR for the California Circuit in the saddle bronc riding. He scored 79.5 points on Silver Spurs Rodeo’s horse named Best Hope to take the lead in the first round.
“Just getting to compete here is an honor,” Messier said. “Then you get here and compete with world champions and NFR (Wrangler National Finals Rodeo) qualifiers and it is a little nerve-wracking. Controlling my mind was one of the hardest things to do.”
Messier is now in good position to get a paycheck in the round. He will compete in the second round on Saturday night. There are 26 saddle bronc riders that have qualified for the RNCFR. Their scores from the two rounds will be added together and the eight with the highest total will advance to Sunday’s semifinals.
At stake are national championships and $1 million in cash and prizes. For the first time, the money that is earned at the RNCFR counts in the world standings for the sanctioning organizations, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association.