Looking at the Leaderboard
Rank rides and fast times are what every cowboy strives for, but only the highest scores and quickest runs make the leaderboard.
The best scores and times can vary from one year to the next, so here’s a comparison between the leaderboard of Jan. 16, 2019, and the leaderboard as it stood one year ago on Jan. 21, 2018.
At this point on the calendar last year the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver was complete. With it came opportunities for rides and runs that haven’t presented themselves yet this season since the 2019 Denver rodeo didn’t kick off until Jan. 17 and doesn’t end until Jan. 27.
The top bareback ride of the 2019 season belongs to Wyatt Denny with an 89-point ride on Three Hills Rodeo’s Big Show in Des Moines, Iowa. One year ago, the top bareback ride belonged to Tim O’Connell with 89.5 points on Mo Betta Rodeo’s Jason’s Pride in Denver.
The highest score in saddle bronc riding this season is 89.5 points, accomplished by Ty Manke on Sutton Rodeo’s South Point in Minot, N.D. One year ago, the highest saddle bronc riding score on the leaderboard was 90 points, posted by Jesse Kruse on Powder River Rodeo’s Show Me Again in Billings, Mont.
Bull rider Cole Melancon holds the highest-scored ride of 2019 when he scored 91 points on Hurst Pro Rodeo’s Mojo in Waco, Texas. At this point in the 2018 season, 91 points was also the highest bull riding score, held by Reid Barker on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Slim Kitty in Denver.
Jacob Talley was the top bulldogger at this point in the 2018 season and he’s at the top again this year. Talley clocked in at 3.4 seconds in Bellville, Texas, in the 2019 season. One year ago, he was at the top of the leaderboard with his 3.1-second run in Davie, Fla.
Two sets of team ropers are tied for the fastest time this season with 3.9-second runs, and both runs were made in Odessa, Texas. The top of the team roping leaderboard is occupied by partners Chad Masters and Joseph Harrison and Dustin Egusquiza and Kory Koontz. At this point in the season one year ago, the fastest team roping time was 3.5 seconds, posted by Jake Cooper and Cody Doescher in Tulsa, Okla.
Two tie-down ropers share the fastest time of the 2019 season so far. Tanner Green made a 6.8-second run in Waco, Texas, while Chance Oftedahl made the same time in Louisville, Ky. One year ago, the fastest tie-down roping time of the season was also 6.8 seconds, made by Marty Yates in Denver, a National Western Stock Show and Rodeo record.
Trevor Brazile holds the top spot for steer roping runs this season with his 9.2-second run in Odessa. One year ago, Brent Lewis held the fastest steer roping time of the season with 8.8 seconds, also made in Odessa.
Check back with ProRodeo.com to find out how the leaderboard changes next week.
Courtesy of PRCA