For the Record: Billings NILE

Billings, Mont., hosts two PRCA rodeos – the Yellowstone River Round-Up in August and the Northern International Stock Exposition (more commonly known as the NILE) in October.

Although the NILE started in the mid-1960s, its PRCA roots trace back to 1976. Since, some of professional rodeo’s top contenders have hit this central Montana competition and left their mark by setting a rodeo record.

In 1995, Cody Ohl set the Billings NILE record for tie-down roping in 6.8 seconds. He made 20 trips to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (1994-2001, 2003-2014). The Texas cowboy won six world titles for all-around (2001) and tie-down roping (1997-1998, 2001, 2003 and 2006) and won more than $3.5 million in PRCA competition.

Cowboys have until Oct. 20 to top Ohl’s 23-year-old record, and others, while winning their share of the NILE prize money which counts for the 2019 season.

This year, the NILE is worth more than just the prize money and an early jumpstart on the season, it’s also one of the semifinal qualifier events for The American, which pays out more than $2.3 million.

Rodeo records

• Total payout: $170,942, 2009
• All-around: $7,345, Cash Myers, 2003
• Bareback riding: 90 points, Mark Gomes, 2005
• Steer wrestling: 3.2 seconds, Casper Schaefer, 1993; Frank Thompson, 1999
• Team roping: 4.2 seconds, Trent Cornelius/Caleb Twisselman, 2004
• Saddle bronc riding: 88 points, Cody Wright, 2006; Chuck Schmidt, 2012; Cort Scheer, 2014; Jesse Wright, 2016; Jesse Wright, 2017
• Tie-down roping: 6.8 seconds, Cody Ohl, 1995
• Barrel racing: 13.29, Kelli Tolbert, 2010
• Bull riding: 90 points, Doyle Parker, 1978; Sonny Murphy, 2006

Courtesy of PRCA