Knapp Explodes into Rooftop Lead
Scottie Knapp rides Cervi’s Po-Boy for 87 points Thursday night to take the bull riding lead at Rooftop Rodeo in Estes Park, Colo. (GREG WESTFALL PHOTO)
ESTES PARK, Colo. – Scottie Knapp knew two things about his bull during Thursday’s second performance of the Rooftop Rodeo.
“Someone told me he was good and that he was a calf,” Knapp said of Cervi Brothers’ Po-Boy, a 4-year-old black and white spotted bull. “I knew he was a little young and pretty ornery.”
That’s just the way the New Mexico cowboy likes it.
“I think it should always be reading and reacting,” he said. “Thinking is hesitation; hesitation is the first cause of failure. For me, it works out better when I don’t know the bulls.”
He proved that point with an 87-point ride to take the Rooftop Rodeo lead. While four performances remain in Estes Park, he sits in the driver’s seat for the title.
“I’m definitely feeling confident and feeling good,” said Knapp, who qualified to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo for the first time this past December. “Hopefully it’ll keep fueling me to keep pushing forward.”
He needs it. He is not inside the top 20 in the world standings, and only the top 15 at the conclusion of the regular season advance to ProRodeo’s grand finale in December.
“I had a good start to the season, but I had a tough spring and a tough start to the summer,” he said. “I’ve had a few injuries I’ve been battling and just coming back from that. I’ve had to get my groove back. I feel good now.”
He’s healthy and enjoying being on the rodeo trail, especially for stops like Rooftop Rodeo.
“I love it here,” Knapp said. “I love the country; I love the atmosphere. It’s a good rodeo and good hospitality, and the fans are great. The bulls are usually always awesome.
“This is God’s country, and we’re doing God’s work, so it’s all around us.”
That’s the right attitude to have, especially in Estes Park.
Rooftop Rodeo
Estes Park, Colo.
July 5-10, 2017
Leaders through second performance
Bareback riding: 1. Dantan Bertsch, 81 points on Cervi Brothers’ Fire Easy; 2. Evan Jayne, 79; 3. Tyler Scales, 78; 4. Bill Tutor, 77.5; 5. (tie) Luke Creasy and Shane O’Connell, 75; 6. Mike Solberg, 73; 7. Ben Hall, 64; 8. Shon Gibson, 62.
Steer wrestling: 1. Cody Doescher, 3.9 seconds; 2. (tie) Justice Johnson and Errol Frain, 4.4; 4. Jarett New, 4.8; 5. Beau Clark, 5.1; 6. Kodie Jang, 5.3; 7. Chance Howard, 5.4; 8. Levi Rudd, 6.8.
Team roping: 1. Matt Sherwood/Walt Woodard, 5.2 seconds; 2. (tie) Marcus Theriot/Cody Doescher and Joshua Torres/Jonathan Torres, 5.4; 4. Casey Adams/Riley Pedro, 5.9; 5. (tie) Chad Masters/Travis Graves and Rhett Anderson/Quinn Kesler, 14.8; no other qualified times.
Saddle bronc riding: 1. Layton Green, 84.5 points on Cervi Rodeo’s Payback; 2. (tie) Colt Gordon and Roper Kiesner, 82; 4. Cody DeMoss, 81; 5. Tyler Turco, 79; 6. Andy Clarys, 77; 7. Louie Brunson, 76.5; 8. (tie) Jesse Bail, Joe Lufkin Samuel Kelts and Kobyn Williams, 76.
Tie-down roping: 1. Reese Rioemer, 8.4 seconds; 2. Seth Hall, 9.0; 3. Catfish Brown, 10.2; 4. Blaine Konkel, 10.5; 6. Joe James, 11.5; 7. Chase Johnston, 12.6; 8. Joey Dickens, 12.3.
Barrel racing: 1. Shelby Janssen, 17.66 seconds; 2. Ari-Anna Flynn, 17.68; 3. Ivy Conrado, 17.79; 4. Ranette Taylor, 18.16; 5. Jeni Cerise, 18.23; 6. Amanda Freese, 18.32; 7. Kenna Kaminski, 18.62; 8. Lauren Guntle, 18.66.
Bull riding: 1. Scottie Knapp, 87 points on Cervi Brothers’ Po-Boy; 2. Remi Wildeman, 83; 3. Tyler Ray Viers, 81; 4. Trevor Reiste, 79; no other qualified rides.
Courtesy of twisTEDrodeo.com