PRCA for the Record: Wrangler NFR Round 4
It’s full steam ahead by Round 4 of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo as the Top 15 competitors in each event have found their bearings at the biggest ProRodeo competition of the year.
In his third trip to the NFR, bareback rider Ty Breuer got his first go-round victory in 2017 by matching the Round 4 record of 90.5 points. The record was set by Will Lowe on Andrews Rodeo’s Roly Poly in 2004, and Breuer joined him with his ride on Brookman Rodeo’s Risky Business.
“That was my first round win ever (at the NFR), so it was really exciting, and to share it with someone like Will Lowe, who I’d watched my whole life and is one of my heroes,” Breuer said. “Once you win a round you feel like you’re meant to be there.”
Lowe is a three-time world champion (2003, 2005-2006) and 15-time NFR qualifier (2002-15, 2018).
Breuer went on to place seventh in the 2017 NFR average with 814.5 points on 10 head and finished 13th in the 2017 PRCA | RAM world standings with $145,645.
“It was a dream come true, and to have a tied record was a dream come true, too,” Breuer said. “That’s just one a guy never forgets, and you try to beat it all the time.”
The 30-year-old North Dakota cowboy will compete at his sixth NFR (2013, 2016-2020), but this time might feel like the first time all over again with the Finals moving to Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
While a different arena means past NFR records likely will remain untouched this year, the best rides and runs of the past remain a good measuring stick as the 120 best ProRodeo athletes kick up dust on a new batch of arena dirt.
Every point counts and a fraction of a second can mean the difference between winning the world or coming in second at the Wrangler NFR.
The following records, and the records for the other nine rounds, could be broken Dec. 3-12. Fans can check with ProRodeo.com for updates throughout the competition and can watch the action unfold live on the PRCA on the Cowboy Channel Plus app.
The NFR Round 4 records are:
Bareback Riding
90.5 points
• Will Lowe on Andrews Rodeo’s Roly Poly, 2004
• Ty Breuer on Brookman Rodeo’s Risky Business, 2017
Steer Wrestling
3.1 seconds
• Dean Gorsuch, 2013
Team Roping
3.5 seconds
• Brady Tryan/Jake Long, 2010
Saddle Bronc Riding
90 points
• Jesse Kruse on Calgary Stampede’s Hell’s Half Acre, 2009
• Jesse Wright on Frontier Rodeo’s Wild Bill, 2012
Tie-down Roping
6.6 seconds
• Cody Ohl, 2009
Barrel Racing
13.49 seconds
• Taylor Jacob, 2013
• Michele McLeod, 2016
• Jessie Telford, 2018
Bull Riding
92 points
• Jesse Bail on Burns Rodeo’s Buff Daddy, 2001
• Paulo Crimber on Burns Rodeo’s Black Sabbath, 2004
Courtesy of PRCA