National Western Stock Show Kicks Off with Exciting Rodeo Action
By: Susan Kanode
Wyatt Casper from Miami, Texas, won his second-consecutive saddle bronc riding title at Colorado Versus the World on opening Saturday at the National Western Stock Show Rodeo. Casper was on the world team representing Rodeo Houston and earned $8,000 for his 82-point effort on Kirsten Vold Rodeo Company’s Painted Fling. NWSS photo by Ric Andersen.
DENVER, Colo. – Opening Saturday at the National Western Stock Show presented by Centura has become a fan favorite for rodeo contestants and enthusiasts over the past 11 years.
This year was no exception as the 11th Super Saturday showdown between contestants representing Colorado rodeos and world-renown rodeos dueled it out for winner-take-all prizes of $8,000. Along the way to the final championship, the tournament-style competition paid the competitors as well with a total of $90.000 paid during three performances.
Wyatt Casper, who lives in the panhandle of Texas, got his second-consecutive championship here in the saddle bronc riding. Casper was part of the world team representing Rodeo Houston. He finished second in the world performance to advance to the semi-finals where he was the best representative of that team. He went on to the finals and got the win with an 82-point effort on Painted Fling from Kirsten Vold Rodeo Company.
Idaho bull rider Tristan Hutchings got the win for Team Colorado representing the Greeley Stampede at Colorado Versus the World at the National Western Stock Show on opening Saturday. Hutchings scored 87 point on Cervi Brothers Rodeo’s Skin Walker. NWSS photo by Ric Andersen.
The bull riding winner is coming off of his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualification. Tristen Hutchings finished third in the race for a world championship last year and is carrying that momentum over into 2023. Hutchings was on the Colorado team representing the Greeley Stampede. He watched as world team member Brody Yeary came off early and knew all he needed was to get a score to add $8,000 to his checking account. It worked in a big way when he scored 87 points on Cervi Brothers Rodeo’s Skin Walker.
Keenan Hayes from Hayden, Colorado won the bareback riding for the world team for the San Angelo (Texas) Rodeo with a big 90-point score. The world team also got the win in the steer wrestling when Stetson Jorgensen stopped the clock in 4.7 seconds for the Dodge City (Kansas) Roundup. In the barrel racing team Colorado was at the top of the leaderboard when Brittney Barnett stopped the clock in 15.268 seconds. Barnett was entered here for the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo at Colorado Springs.
The 117th National Western Stock Show will be host to a cross-cultural event with the Mexican Rodeo Extravaganza in the Denver Coliseum on Sunday. Performances are at 2 and 6:30 p.m.