For the Record at Clovis
By Matt Naber
As one of the top 10 highest-paying rodeos of the regular season, Rodeo Clovis (Calif.) has witnessed some of ProRodeo’s best competitors at the top of their game and leaves an impact on the world standings that’s felt for the rest of the season.
Bull rider Rodney Lidgard was only just beginning his ProRodeo career when he set two Clovis records in 1993 that have yet to be topped or matched. Lidgard made a 92-point ride (pictured above) that helped him to also score 181 points on two head.
The Lewisville, Texas, cowboy competed from 1992-2000 and won $119,036 during that time. Although he never made a qualification to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Lidgard won some of the biggest rodeos of his era: the Ponoka (Alberta) Stampede (1993), West of the Pecos Rodeo (1995) and the World’s Oldest Rodeo in Prescott, Ariz. (1995),
Only the best make the rodeo record book, and cowboys will have a chance top Lidgard’s records while claiming their share of the prize money and racking up precious ProRodeo Tour points on April 26-28.
Although this is Rodeo Clovis’ 105th annual competition, the ProRodeo records only go as far back as 1951. The following are the best scores and times from 1951 through 2018.
Rodeo records
• Total payout: $287,417, 2018
• All-around: $9,554, Rhen Richard, 2015
• Bareback riding: 89 points, Will Lowe, 2005; Jake Brown, 2016 (171/2, Lowe, 2005)
• Steer wrestling: 3.3 seconds. John W. Jones Jr., 1998 (18.3/4, Wade Sumpter, 2012)
• Team roping: 4.2 seconds, Spencer Mitchell/Justin Wade Davis, 2016 (23.2/4, Clay Tryan/Jade Corkill, 2014)
• Saddle bronc riding: 92 points, Jacobs Crawley, 2015 (175/2, Cody Horwedel, 2007)
• Tie-down roping: 7.1 seconds Fred Whitfield, 2005 (32.4/4, Hunter Herrin, 2013)
• Barrel racing: 16.13 seconds, Liz Combs, 2014
• Bull riding: 92 points, Rodney Lidgard, 1993 (181/2, Rodney Lidgard, 1993)
Courtesy of PRCA