Cody Stampede Rodeo is Off to a Rousing Start

By: Susan Kanode

CODY, Wyo. – Competing at the first performance of a rodeo, leaving and waiting to see what happens until the rodeo’s end can be nerve wracking, especially at a rodeo like the Cody Stampede.

Action for the 103rd event kicked off at Stampede Park on Friday night and will conclude on Monday, July 4. With just one round of competition in all of the events here, contestants only have one opportunity to make it to the pay window and will have to wait until the rodeo is completed to see if their times or scores remain in the top spots.

Barrel racer Leslie Smalygo from Skiatook, Oklahoma put herself in great position at Stampede Park setting the pace at 17.04 seconds. Her time is just one tick off of the winning time here in 2021 of 17.03. However, with over 100 barrel racers yet to compete here, there is a possibility that her first place position will change.

Smalygo is 35th in the world standings. A win here would add significantly to her earnings and move her closer to the top 15 that qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. She has the remainder of the Fourth-of-July Holiday known as Cowboy Christmas to keep the momentum from Cody going.

And while she and other contestants are headed to other rodeos a brand-new group is on their way to compete at Stampede Park for a piece of the purse that will top out at nearly $400,000 this year.

Rodeo action continues on Saturday night beginning at 8 p.m.

---

The following are results from the 103rd Cody Stampede, Thursday, July 1, 2021.

First performance —

Bareback riding: 1, Taylor Broussard, Estherwood, La., 76 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Breaking News. 2, Mark Kreder, Collinsville, Okla., 75. 3, Will Lowe, Amarillo, Texas, 74.5. 4, Tristan Hansen, Dillon, Mont., 72.

Steer wrestling: 1, Riley Reiss, Manning, N.D., 4.4 seconds. 2, Sam Goings, Fallon, Nev., 4.8. 3, Bridger Chambers, Stephensville, Mont., 5.0. 4, Timmy Sparing, Helena, Mont., 5.4.

Team roping: (two times) 1, Kreece Thompson, Munday, Texas, and Chad Williams, Stephenville, Texas, 4.6 seconds. 2, Levi Simpson, Ponoka, Alberta and Ryan Motes, Weatherford, Texas, 19.7.

Saddle bronc riding: 1, Tanner Burner, Daniel, Wyoming, 84.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Miss Ellie. 2, (tie) Logan Cook, Alto, Texas, and Riggin Smith, Winterset, Iowa, 84 each. 4, Chase Brooks, Deer Lodge, Mont., 82.

Breakaway roping: 1, Charity Hoar, Pine Bluff, Wyo., 2.4 seconds. 2, Suzanne Williams, Winnemucca, Nev., 4.7. 3, Kendal Pierson, Wardlow, Alberta, 11.9. 3, tina Hunter, Neola, Utah, 12.9.

Tie-down roping: 1, Todd Brown, Lamar, Colo., 12.5 seconds. 2, Rylee Rogers, West Haven, Utah, 17.3. 3, Neil Dove, Hico, Texas, 20.2. 4, Wyatt Hunter, Neola, Utah, 22.0.

Barrel Racing: 1, Leslie Smalygo, Skiatook, Okla., 17.04. 2, ivy Saebens, Nowata, Okla., 17.24. 3, Megan McLeod – Sprague, Marsing, Idaho, 17.38. 4, Molly Pritchard, Waller, Texas, 17.61.

Bull Riding: (three rides) 1, Trevor Reiste, Linden, Iowa, 86 points on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Yimmy. 2, Tristen Hutchings, Monteview, Idaho, 84. 3, Jace Trosclair, Chauvin, La., 79.

Current leaders after slack and performance –

Steer wrestling: 1, (tie) Connor McKell, Springville, Utah and Riley Reiss, Manning, N.D., 4.4 seconds each. 3, Reed Kraeger, Waco, Neb., 4.5. 4, Mike McGinn, Haines, Ore., 4.6.

Tie-down roping: 1, Zack Jongbloed, Iowa, La., 8.6 seconds. 2, (tie) J. Cody Jones, Ukiah, Calif., and Haven Meged, Miles City, Mont., 9.6 each. 4, (tie) Dakota Felton, Mountain Home, Texas, and Bo Pickett, Caldwell, Idaho., 10.0.

Team Roping: 1, Pedro Egurrola, Florence, Ariz., and J.C. Flake, Laramie, Wyo., 4.5 seconds. 2, Kreece Thompson, Munday, Texas, and chad Williams, Stephenville, Texas, 4.6. 3, Jase Staudt, Nathrop, Colo., and Riley Pedro, Honolulu, Hawaii, 5.1. 4, Cutter Machado, Santa Maria, California and Dalton Pearce, San Luis Obispo, California, 5.3.