PRCA Weekly Recap: Kolby Wanchuk’s 94.5 is Second-Highest Scored Saddle Bronc Ride in PRCA History
Growing up in Sherwood Park, Alberta, Kolby Wanchuk had dreams of one day competing in the prestigious Calgary Stampede.
Little did he know, years later he would post the second-highest scored ride in ProRodeo history while tying the arena record for the best saddle bronc ride in the rodeo’s 109-year history.
On July 10, Wanchuk put together a 94.5-point ride on Calgary Stampede’s Urgent Delivery to win the second round in Pool A and walk away with $5,500. That score is a half-point shy of the all-time PRCA record, which was set at 95 by Doug Vold (1979) and equaled by Glen O’Neill (1996).
“It’s a dream come true for me honestly,” said Wanchuk, 25. “To be able to get to go to Calgary is a dream for almost any Canadian kid in rodeo, but to be able to come here and tie the arena record is unbelievable.
“It felt like that horse was really getting after it and bucking right out of the chutes, and I thought I put a pretty good ride on it, but I definitely didn’t see a 94.5-point ride coming.”
Luckily for him the judges did, making it one of the best saddle bronc rides in ProRodeo history. Days later it still has him at a loss for words, especially for a cowboy that got his start in rodeo clowning around with his father.
“My dad has been a professional rodeo clown for almost 45 years now, and from the time I could walk I was in the arena with him,” Wanchuk said. “If Dad didn’t have a rodeo to go to, then I’d jump in with mom, she was a professional barrel racer. But it didn’t matter what we had going on I’d sneak away and run to the fence to make sure I’d get to watch the bronc riding.
“As a kid nothing was prettier to me than a good bronc ride. I grew up always wanting to be able to make those kinds of rides.”
Wanchuk is searching for his first trip to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Earlier this season he earned $13,500 while winning the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. The 25-year-old was in seventh place in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $47,077 before his historic ride in Calgary.
Now, he has one of those rides that future generations of cowboys like him will be watching for quite some time, and his family was right there by his side to take it all in.
“I had a pile of family come down that day to watch, lots of aunts and uncles who had never been to the Calgary Stampede, and they all bought tickets,” Wanchuk said. “There had to be almost 20 or so Wanchuks in the stands there that day. They were all pretty fired up, it was cool to experience that with them.
Below, are the other top times and rides for the week.
Tim O’Connell put together the top bareback ride of the week. He posted a 91-point ride on Calgary Stampede’s Arbitrator Joe at the Calgary Stampede on July 9.
Dirk Tavenner had the best steer wrestling time of the week, clocking a 3.3-second run at the Rooftop Rodeo in Estes Park, Colo., July 10.
The team roping duo of Dustin Egusquiza and Travis Graves equaled the ProRodeo record with a 3.3-second run at the Oakley Independence Day Rodeo in Oakley City, Utah, July 5.
Hunter Herrin found himself with the quickest tie-down roping time of the week and the season. Herrin stole the show at the Calgary Stampede with a 6.6-second run July 9.
Taylor Munsell put together a lightning fast 2.0-second run in the breakaway roping, tying Makayla Mack for the fastest time of the week at the Wall (S.D.) Breakaway Roping.
Nicole Love had the quickest barrel racing time of the week, clocking a 14.0-second run at the Chas. B Davis Memorial Rodeo in Ringgold, Ga., July 10.
Stetson Wright once again found himself with the highest bull riding score of the week. The reigning world champ put together a 92-point ride on New West Rodeo Productions’ Throw Down at the Bigfork (Mont.) Summer Pro Rodeo July 6.
The fastest steer roping time last week belonged to Slade Wood. He had a 9.2-second run at the Big Timber (Mont.) Weekly Pro Rodeo July 7.
Courtesy of PRCA