PRCA Weekly Recap: Tegan Smith Notches Top Saddle Bronc Riding Score of 2021
Twenty-three-year-old, Winterset, Iowa, cowboy Tegan Smith made another big splash in the saddle bronc riding world over the weekend at the Jordan (Mont.) Match Xtreme Bronc Ride.
Smith helped out his cause to qualify for his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo with a 92.5-point ride on J Bar J’s In The Lu, which is the highest saddle bronc score this season. Stetson Wright held the top spot with a 91.5-point ride on Big Bend Rodeo’s Kool Toddy in Coarsegold, Calif.
“I could hardly believe it, to be honest with you,” Smith said. “I hadn’t ever even been 90 before that. Chase Brooks came out and put up a 92-point ride, so I knew I was going to have to be at my best, and I did just that.”
Smith’s win in the finals earned him $3,610. He also finished fourth in the first round to make an additional $1,489. He said a lot of credit goes to the horses he drew, especially in the finals.
“I knew In The Lu had a ton of potential, she was in the 90s a couple of years ago, she just had a great ride for me,” Smith said. “I tell you what, J Bar J (Rodeo) had one heck of a day.”
The recent win bumped Smith up to 13th in the PRCA |RAM World Standings, with $25,244 earned. He’s hoping this hot streak he’s on will put him in a good spot to qualify for his first Wrangler NFR in December.
“Right now, I’m just taking things one horse at a time and not trying to look at the big picture,” Smith said. “Making it to the NFR is what everyone is trying to do, so I’d be fortunate if I can get there.”
Smith is scheduled to ride this week at the Rodeo of the Ozarks in Springdale, Ark., and the West of the Pecos (Texas) Rodeo.
Below, are the other top times and rides for the week.
• Garrett Shadbolt posted a 90-point ride on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Bar Talk in North Platte, Neb., June 17. That was tied for the top score of the week with Tanner Aus, who posted a 90-point ride a day later on Three Hills Rodeo’s Devil’s Advocate at the Jackson County Pro Rodeo in Bellevue, Iowa.
• Chance E. Howard had the best steer wrestling time of the week, finishing with a time of 3.4 seconds at the Buffalo Bill Rodeo in North Platte, Neb.
• The duo of Rhen Richard and Tyler Worley put together the top team roping time of the week. They finished with a run of 5.2 seconds at the Strawberry Days Rodeo in Pleasant Grove, Utah, June 16.
• Andrew Burks continued his quest toward the NFR last week by posting the top tie-down roping time. He finished with a time of 7.2 seconds at the Strawberry Days Rodeo.
• Cheyanne Guillory stole the show at the Mesquite (Texas) Breakaway Roping on June 19. She finished with a time of 1.7 seconds to take home first place.
• Lois Ferguson had the top barrel racing time of the week, finishing with a run of 15.07 seconds in Mesquite.
• It was a tie for the top bull riding score of the week. Clayton Sellars made a 90.5-point ride on Big Stone Rodeo Inc.’s Renegade to win the Reno (Nev.) Rodeo Xtreme Bulls on June 19. Creek Young put up his 90.5-point ride on June 18 at the Strawberry Days Rodeo on Bar T Rodeo’s Exit Strategy.
• Corey Ross and Travis Mills tied for the fastest time in steer roping this week. Both cowboys finished with identical 11.0-second runs at the Earl Anderson Memorial Rodeo.
Courtesy of PRCA