Grant Denny Gets Payback in Redmond, Ore.
By Tracy Renck
REDMOND, Ore. – Redemption was sweet for bareback rider Grant Denny.
A year after recording a 76-point ride on Bridwell Pro Rodeos’ Sacred Nation at the High Desert Stampede, Denny was ready for the rematch at the 2019 version of the Stampede, a ProRodeo Tour rodeo.
The Minden, Nev., cowboy had an 86-point ride on Sacred Nation on Saturday night to win the High Desert Stampede for the first time.
“Last year, I tore my (right) labrum in Houston, and I didn’t know I tore it until after Redmond (in 2018),” said Denny, 26. “It was killing me the whole time, and I saw I drew (Sacred Nation) this year, and it was time to get payback on him. He handled me last time, and I really wanted to get back at him.”
Denny was thankful that Sacred Nation was at his best Saturday night.
“He was awesome and way better than I thought,” Denny said. “I had only seen him like two other times at outdoor arenas, and he just went straight. This time he came around to the left and in front of the right-hand delivery bucking chutes. All my buddies were sitting on the chute behind there and he stalled right in front of the chute, and everyone was going insane. He stood in that spot and started blowing up and bucking. The only thing I could hear was everyone screaming. It was an awesome ride.”
For his performance, Denny earned $2,623. He entered the week 44th in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $9,340. Last season, Denny placed 30th in the world standings with $34,695 after missing 2½ months during the spring while rehabbing his labrum injury.
“This season, I have had some tough draws and I just didn’t have stuff going right,” Denny said. “I finally switched to another rigging and glove. I pretty much threw everything away and bought all brand-new stuff in the middle of (RodeoHouston). The new rigging and glove, it is crazy how much different it feels no matter what and it is feeling better and better every time.”
Grant is chasing his first trip to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. His younger brother, Wyatt, 23, has made the Finals three times – 2016-18.
“I’m going hard this year to try and make the NFR,” Grant said. “I have my old traveling partner R.C. Landingham back, and we’re also with Steven Peebles (the 2015 PRCA world champion). Being with guys like this makes me ride better. This win gives me a lot of momentum, and I just want to keep it going.”
Landingham and Peebles were second and third in Redmond with 85.5-point and 85-point rides, respectively.
“That was a cool deal,” Grant said.
Other winners at the $96,693 rodeo were all-around cowboy Trevor Knowles ($4,100, steer wrestling and team roping; steer wrestler Trevor Knowles (4.4 seconds)team ropers Jake Stanley/Justin Davis (4.9 seconds), saddle bronc rider Kolby Wanchuk (84.5 points on Bridwell Pro Rodeos’ Blue Backsplash), tie-down roper Colton Campbell, 8.6 seconds), barrel racers Jessica Crouch (15.84 seconds) and Cheyenne Allan (15.84 seconds) and bull rider Chase Dougherty (89.5 points on Bridwell Pro Rodeos’ 100X Helmet’s Boothill).
For more coverage of the High Desert Stampede read the April 5 issue of the ProRodeo Sports News.
Courtesy of PRCA