Jestyn Woodward Keeps his Momentum Going in Calgary
By: Dianne Finstad
It may be his first time in the big city of Calgary, but Jestyn Woodward is starting to feel right at home. In fact, he likes it so much, he’s planning on coming Sunday, July 16, for the championship day at the Calgary Stampede.
“Growing up I always heard that it was one of the biggest rodeos you’ll ever go to, and it’s something that you’ll never forget, if you ever go to it. This year, when I got invited up here, I was so stoked to get that phone call,” said Woodward, 19. “It’s been a lot of fun. It’s a good locker room of guys to be in. Everyone just pushes each other to be their best. It’s just a really good atmosphere all around, in the locker room, in the arena, everywhere.
“All I’ve been doing is taking it one bull at a time and believing in myself 100 percent.”
Woodward, who’s leading the Resistol Rookie World Standings, was the high money winner in the final day of Pool A action.
“Honestly, I didn’t know a single thing about my bull going into it. All I knew is I bucked off the second day and rode my first one. Today, my back was against the wall, and I had to ride, no matter what he did.”
The South Dakota cowboy, a third-generation bull rider, stuck it out on Macza Pro Rodeo Red Rocker for an 87.5-point trip, to earn the $7,000 boost, which pushed his earnings to $10,250 in Calgary.
“He felt really good. He had a lot of up and down to him and was really strong,” Woodward said.
This season Woodward has already had some big wins, at Xtreme Bulls in Reno (Nev.) and Gozzer Ranch Extreme Bulls in Harrison, Idaho, but he’s also placed at a lot of events.
“Trying to stay on as many as you can helps out the best,” he said. “You can’t win one and buck off fifty in a row. You’ve got to stay consistent and cover as many bulls as possible and let them put you where they put you.”
Woodward pegs his riding percentage at just more than 40 percent.
Also advancing from Pool A in the bull riding are Cody Teel ($14,500), JC Mortensen ($9,625), and Daylon Swearingen ($8,000).
In the other events, Clayton Biglow won the bareback riding, and Pool A, with an 88-point ride on Macza Pro Rodeo’s I’m A Winner, earning $14,750. Also advancing to Sunday’s Finals are Tim O’Connell ($12,500), Clint Laye ($11,375), and Caleb Bennett ($10,500). Tie-down roper Riley Webb was fast man of the day with a 7.1-second run, which snagged him a qualifying spot Sunday at $9,000. Joining him from Pool A are defending Calgary champion Caleb Smidt ($11,250), Marcos Costa ($10,000), and Beau Cooper ($9,500).
It was a fast day of barrel racing, with defending Calgary champion Kassie Mowry speeding up the pace, winning with a 17.02-second run. She moves on with $9,083, along with Lisa Lockhart ($18,500), Emily Beisel ($9,000), and Sissy Winn ($5,500), out of a tiebreaker. Stan Branco and Cody Devers split the steer wrestling win with 3.4-second runs each. Pool A qualifiers are Dalton Massey ($16,500), Devers ($13,250), Stockton Graves ($10,250), and Dirk Tavenner ($8,500).
The third day saddle bronc riding winner was Lefty Holman, with an 89-point ride on Calgary Stampede’s Come Along. The four qualifiers are Zeke Thurston ($15,500), Leon Fountain ($15,000), Holman ($13,500) and Damian Brennan ($8,750).
Pool B contestants begin their Calgary Stampede Monday.
Courtesy of PRCA