Despite Shoulder Injury, Tim Bingham Makes San Angelo Finals
SAN ANGELO, Texas – The final round of the San Angelo (Texas) Rodeo is on the horizon, and bull rider Tim Bingham is ready to take on the challenge.
But unlike most years, the three-time qualifier for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (2014, 2016-17) isn’t focused on climbing the PRCA | RAM World Standings.
“I’m not doing too great, I dislocated my (free arm’s) shoulder a week ago at Fort Worth and have to get surgery,” Bingham said. “I’m glad I rode (Thursday’s) bull though. I was hoping to do some good before I go get it fixed.”
On Thursday, the 28-year-old cowboy qualified for the finals in San Angelo and earned $1,271 with an 84.5-point ride on Northcott Macza’s OLS Tubs Riggs.
The final round of the San Angelo Rodeo will air on The Cowboy Channel, Feb. 14 at 8:30 p.m. (ET). The Cinch Chute-out in San Angelo will also air on The Cowboy Channel, Feb. 15 at 8:30 p.m. (ET).
Not counting his Feb. 13 earnings, Bingham was sitting 49th in the 2020 PRCA | RAM World Standings with $3,705. But with surgery set to keep him out of competition for a few months, Bingham is focused on winning as much money as he can before turning his attention to physical rehab.
The Utah cowboy was quick to thank the fans for supporting the San Angelo Rodeo.
“That’s how we get to have these big rodeos here year in and year out,” Bingham said.
Bingham wasn’t exaggerating, as Jordan Spears, last year’s San Angelo bull riding winner, took home $6,388 and went on to compete at the 2019 Wrangler NFR and finished the year sixth in the 2019 PRCA | RAM World Standings.
“This is a big rodeo, and being early in the season it’s all about momentum and getting onto a hot streak,” Bingham said. “During the first couple months (of the calendar year), the ones you go to are all big and it can take the pressure off for later in the season.
“The whole goal is to make the NFR, and that’s where you can make a living. There’s a reason the top guys show up here every year.”
Qualifying for the final round of San Angelo’s bull riding required a score of 83.5 points or higher, with reigning 2019 All-Around World Champion Stetson Wright coming in with the highest score, 89 points on Rafter H Rodeo Livestock’s Bet On Black.
“There will be some high scores (Friday),” Bingham said. “It’ll take a high score to win it.”
Meanwhile, the team roping competition has been among the fiercest the 2020 season has seen. Jaxson Tucker and Jake Clay posted the fastest run of the season with their 3.5-second run in San Angelo, Feb. 9. Two days later Dustin Bird and Levi Tyan tied that time at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo.
Check with ProRodeo.com for more San Angelo coverage.
Courtesy of PRCA