Ky Hamilton Clinches First Career PRCA Bull Riding World Championship
LAS VEGAS – The emotional rollercoaster ride that was the 2023 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge for bull rider Ky Hamilton will end with a gold buckle.
Hamilton, who sits atop the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $516,667, clinched his first career PRCA World Championship on Friday night at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Hamilton, who is a native of Mackay, Australia, is the first Australian to capture a PRCA Bull Riding World Championship.
Hamilton joins ProRodeo Hall of Famers Dave Appleton (all-around, 1988) and Glen O’Neill (saddle bronc riding, 2002) as the only native Australians to win PRCA World Championships.
Although Hamilton was given a re-ride in Round 9 – which he is scheduled to take as the first bull out in Round 10 Saturday night – he clinched the world crown based on how things folded in Round 9.
No bull rider in the field can surpass Hamilton atop the world standings even if a cowboy was the lone rider in Round 10 ($99,053) and won the average ($78,747).
Hamilton is scheduled to get on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Dark Thoughts as his re-ride bull from Round 9 as the first competitor in Round 10 and then he will be the last rider out for Round 10 aboard Rafter G Rodeo’s Western Haulers Hurricane.
If Hamilton, who is first in the average, wins the NFR average he will be the first Australian to do so since Greg Potter of Ridgelands, Queensland, Australia, accomplished the feat with 502.5 points on six head in 2003.
Hamilton has had a drama packed NFR for the ages on the way to his inaugural world championship.
Hamilton wasn’t supposed to compete in Round 6 of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo on Wednesday morning – until he did.
Just 16 hours after losing consciousness and suffering a concussion when he was bucked off in Round 5, Hamilton was back in the yellow bucking chutes Wednesday morning for Round 6, and winning money. Hamilton split third in Round 6 with his 85.5-point ride on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics’ Love The Grind’s Bouchon.
Hamilton was knocked out during his ride aboard Honeycutt Rodeo’s Bales Hay’s MAGA during Round 5. Hamilton, who smacked heads with the bull, was sent to University Medical Center Trauma Center in Las Vegas for evaluation and observation.
That was just the opening act for Hamilton. In Round 7, Hamilton claimed the victory with an 88-point ride on Duane Kesler’s Alberta Prime Devil’s Advocate. He also was the lone rider on Wednesday night – earning him a $99,053 payday. In total, Hamilton earned $114,654 for his 16 seconds of work in Round 6 and Round 7.
Hamilton has won three rounds at the 2023 Wrangler NFR – Round 1 with his 86.5-point ride aboard Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Vitalix Theodore and Round 4 with an 89-point ride on Bridwell Pro Rodeos’ Fred.
Hamilton has earned the most of any competitor so far this year’s NFR at $262,502, counting ground money. Hamilton is making his fourth NFR appearance. Hamilton does have a chance tonight break the single season bull riding earnings mark of $592,144 set by Stetson Wright in 2022.
Courtesy of PRCA