Lanham Takes Commanding Lead at Fort Worth’s Bulls’ Night Out

by Johna Cravens
for the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo

FORT WORTH, Texas – Zeb Lanham of Sweet, Idaho, took an eleven-and-a half-point overall lead during the opening performance of Bulls’ Night Out at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo.

The 2006 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Xtreme Bulls Champion was a picture of consistency. In the opening round where 40 cowboys compete, he scored 86 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Tracker. That secured him a spot in the 10-rider short round where he rode United Pro Rodeo’s Canadian Mist for 87 points and a two-bull total of 173 points.

Forty more bull riders will compete Wednesday night in the opening and progressive, short round format. The championship will be awarded to the rider with the highest aggregate score. Bulls’ Night Out at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo is part of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Xtreme Bulls Tour.

A 10-year pro who has twice qualified for the National Finals Rodeo, Lanham likes his chances to win a chunk of the prize money. “Anything can happen in bull riding. You have to ride two and if I don’t win first, I should still get a good check,” he said.

The highest score of the night went to Tyler Smith of Fruita, Colo., who leads the long round with an 87.5-point ride on United’s Red Dirt Road. Smith bucked off in the short round and is third in the aggregate.

John Young of Orient, Iowa, made the short round the hard way. Young’s first bull fell to his side, pinning the cowboy beneath him for a few seconds. The Iowa cowboy scored 73 points on his re-ride which put him in ninth place. In the short round, he drew United Pro Rodeo’s Have You Heard and marked 87 points to share the lead with Lanham.

Miami, Okla., cowboy Guthrie Murray is second overall with 161.5 points after tallying 79.5 in the opening round and 82 in the short round.

Ladies’ Steer Riding was a new event at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo this year. Eight women competed Tuesday night with only Karli Livingston of San Tan Valley, Ariz., making a qualified ride. Ladies’ Steer Riding was also part of Monday’s Cowboys of Color Rodeo. The top four from that night, plus four from Tuesday, will compete Wednesday night during the final Bulls’ Night Out performance which begins at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 20.

Thursday night at 7:30 p.m., the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo hosts the third annual Fort Worth Super Shootout®, presented by Schaefer. Limited tickets remain for this unique tournament-style rodeo that features winners from eight of North America’s biggest rodeos competing in five events for bragging rights and $10,000 to each event winner.

The World’s Original Indoor Rodeo takes the arena at Will Rogers Coliseum beginning Friday, January 22, and continues for 29 performances over 16 days.

The following are results from Tuesday night’s performance of Bulls’ Night Out at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, January 19, 2016.

First Performance: 1, Tyler Smith, Fruita, Colo., 87.5 points on United Pro Rodeo’s #-20 Red Dirt Road. 2 (tie), Bart Miller, Pleasanton, Neb., and Zeb Lanham, Sweet, Idaho, 86. 4, Justin Hendrix, Belton, Texas, 85. 5, Adam Jamison, Okotoks, Alberta, 81. 6, Guthrie Murray, Miami, Okla., 79.5. 7, Riker Carter, Stone, Idaho, 79. 8, Rylan Wright, Heber City, Utah, 78. 9, John Young, Orient, Iowa, 73.

Short Round: (three rides) 1 (tie), Zeb Lanham, Sweet, Idaho, on United Pro Rodeo’s #977 Canadian Mist and John Young, Orient, Iowa, on United Pro Rodeo’s #64 Have You Heard, 87 points each. 3, Guthrie Murray, Miami, Okla., 82.

Aggregate: 1, Lanham, 173 points. 2, Murray, 161. 3, Young, 160. 4, Tyler Smith, 87.5 (on one.)

Ladies Steer Riding: (one ride) 1, Karli Livingston, San Tan Valley, Ariz., 67 points

Courtesy of PRCA