PRCA World Champion Tie-Down Roper Caleb Smidt Makes it a Hat Trick of Round Wins
LAS VEGAS – Caleb Smidt may not win his fifth PRCA Tie-Down Roping World Championship, but he’s not going down without a fight.
Smidt, the reigning world champion and NFR average champion, is in a zone at the 2023 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge.
Smidt won his third round at the world’s biggest rodeo – the Wrangler NFR – stopping the clock in 6.8 seconds Wednesday morning at the Thomas & Mack Center.
The Bellville, Texas, product also won Round 2 (7.3 seconds) and Round 5 (6.9 seconds).
Smidt remains fourth in the PRCA | RAM World Standings but increased his season total to $235,248. Riley Webb leads the world standings with $376,086.
“Yeah, something’s different this year. I’ve had two good calves the last two rounds,” Smidt said. “The calf I ran with (Wednesday morning) already won a round with Riley Webb. When you have that kind of calf, you just try not to mess up. I just backed in there, tried to have a good start, and had a good run.”
After an un-Smidt like run of 16.8 seconds in Round 1, Smidt has been on point.
“I’d like to rope for $80,000 (paid to the average winner) on the last night, so a couple times I just had to tie one down to stay in the average, so that’s a good feeling,” Smidt said. “This year’s a little different with my blunder in Round 1. I just back in there and kind of let my hair hang down. When you rope for $30,000 a night, you have to go at them. It’s just a lot of fun right now.”
Smidt had a simple approach for Round 7 Wednesday evening.
“The day started good, so I hope it continues. Riley has jumped out to a big lead and is roping well right now, so I’m hoping I can keep chipping away at his lead with a couple more wins,” Smidt said.
To maintain the tradition of the ten rounds of the NFR, an additional make up-round was added. There was no public access to Round 6 Wednesday morning. Due to the tragic events that occurred on the UNLV Campus on Wednesday, Dec. 6, the original starting date – Dec. 7 – was cancelled.
Saddle bronc rider Kade Bruno tops Round 6 leaderboard
Saddle bronc rider Kade Bruno is firmly in the mix to win his first PRCA World Championship.
The Challis, Idaho, cowboy made sure of that by winning Round 6 with an 88.5-point ride on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Cat Walk.
“Oh man, that’s a great horse. It takes two to tango and you always have to have a good dance partner,” Bruno said. “He was my pick in both rounds we drew for him. I had been on him once before in Castle Rock (Colo.), and we had a similar score, so I was excited to get on that horse again (this morning).”
Bruno is third in the world standings with $306,330 and he’s earned $81,070 at the NFR. He did acknowledge competing Wednesday morning at the Thomas & Mack Center was unique.
“It felt a little different if you looked around in there but the crowd that was there was energetic and really getting into it,” Bruno said. “At the end of the day, we’re still crawling in those bucking chutes and there’s a gold buckle and a lot of money on the line. When you’re in there it’s still all business.”
And Bruno was well aware of what’s at stake for the remainder of the NFR.
“Man, we’re just going to keep taking it horse by horse,” Bruno said. “I’ve got a good Calgary (Stampede) horse tonight and he’s a little tricky to spur out. Tonight, we’re going to go out, try to put together a good run and the rest will take care of itself.”
Steer wrestler Dirk Tavenner captures Round 6 win
Steer wrestler Dirk Tavenner was ready to go Wednesday morning.
The Rigby, Idaho, cowboy clocked a 3.6-second time to win Round 6.
“There’s so much money here and this is what dreams are made of,” Tavenner said. “There are still four more rounds now. The first two got away, but we wanted to be doing (winner’s interviews) every night.”
Tavenner has earned $71,908 at this year’s NFR and sits in sixth place in the world standings $179,747.
“Timed-event guys are always in slack, we do that all year, and this was like competing in a $30,000 slack,” said Tavenner about competing Wednesday morning. “This is the greatest slack you will ever go to. My horse worked awful well, and my hazer did a great job (this morning). I’m going to go for broke these final four rounds.”
Bareback riders Tanner Aus, Jacob Lees split Round 6
An early morning and split win left bareback riders Tanner Aus and Jacob Lees smiling as the cowboys split the win.
Aus, on a re-ride, recorded an 87-point ride on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics’ Lil’ Red Hawk. Lees had an identical 87-point trip on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics’ Bronc Riding Nation.
“This is awesome and what you dream about all season,” said Aus, who is making his eighth NFR appearance. “There’s no other rodeo like this in the world. To be able to do this with the guys here, a lot of first-time NFR guys, they all showed up and are ready to ride and to be able to place here, I love it.
“I have been on that horse a couple of times, and I had really good luck with. She’s not very big, but she has a great big heart. She had and awesome trip today.”
Lees, whose making his NFR debut, echoed Aus.
“All the horses are meant to be here because they are awesome,” Lees said. “I wanted to get on that horse for a long time, Bronc Riding Nation of Sankey’s. I would get him on him again and again. We used to get on horses a lot early in the morning when I was competing in college. It was cool to be a part of this performance and a $60,000 day (on Wednesday) wouldn’t be a bad day.”
Aus and Lees have now won $47,888, and $56,803, respectively at the NFR. Aus is 12th in the world standings with $167,785 and Lees is 10th at $174,610.
Bull riders Josh Frost, Sage Kimzey split Round 6
This year’s NFR has been quite different for veterans Sage Kimzey and Josh Frost.
Kimzey has put himself on a heater to get into world championship contention and Frost needed a round win to stay in the championship hunt.
They both accomplished their goals in Round 6, sharing the win.
Kimzey had an 86.5-point ride on Frontier Rodeo’s County Jail and Frost matched that score with trip on Wayne Vold Rodeo’s Wild Time.
Kimzey, who has won seven PRCA Bull Riding World Championships, placed second in Round 4 and then snared top honors in Round 5 with a 92-point ride on Stace Smith Pro Rodeos’ Polar Express. Then, he added his shared Round 6 crown.
“I’m feeling really good. My body feels about as good as it has in four years and that’s the number thing at this point in my career,” Kimzey said. “If my body feels good, usually I’m winning. I just have to keep taking care of it and keep plugging away.”
Kimzey, who has earned $139,016 at this year’s NFR, and is fourth in the world standings with $284,037. Kimzey also is second in the average with 349 points on four head. Ky Hamilton is first in the world standings with $$417,614.
“It was for sure,” Kimzey said about competing on Wednesday morning. “It wasn’t 17,000 sold out but the energy was still good. It kind of felt a little more normal than anything. At the end of the day, it’s the yellow bucking chutes and a gold buckle is on the line. Anytime you crawl over the chutes it’s game time.”
Frost is third in the world standings with $293,789. He has earned $61,755 at this year’s NFR.
“It was actually surprisingly easy,” Frost said about competing Wednesday morning. “Once you got back there in the locker room, you almost forgot it was 10 am. They put on the show they always do. I get on practice bulls at all times of the day, so I’m pretty good about being on one at any point in time.
“I was super excited my Round 6 draw. My matchup made it easier to get up this morning. He’s a bull from Canada that’s really good. They have won the Calgary Stampede before on him and he gave me everything I could handle today.”
Erich Rogers/Paul Eaves snare much-needed Round 6 win
Before Wednesday morning’s round, team ropers Erich Rogers/Paul Eaves had not earned a check.
That changed in a big way in Round 6.
The duo stopped the clock in 3.5 seconds to capture the title. The time also tied the Round 6 record with Trevor Brazile/Patrick Smith (2011) and Colby Lovell/Russell Cardoza (2012).
“We took full advantage of the morning slack here today,” Rogers said. “The steer that we drew was really good. The guys that made a run on him before us in Round 3 had a good run too. We just capitalized on him, and Paul did an outstanding job today finishing the run.”
Eaves was thrilled to get the NFR on track for he and Rogers.
“It felt great. The steer was awesome, and we approached him with a clear mind,” Eaves said. “It’s a new steer. Forget the past and we won.”
With Round 7 at 5:45 p.m., Wednesday evening right around the corner, Rogers is ready for more competition.
“You have to think about the future and try to forget about the past,” he said. “You can never dwell on the past. We just continue to move forward. Being out here in Las Vegas, you are always busy from autograph signings and visiting with family, so it makes it a lot easier to forget about the runs you want back.”
Barrel racer Emily Beisel rockets to Round 6 victory
Barrel racer Emily Beisel is having a solid Wrangler NFR in 2023, and her fortunes improved even more in Round 6.
The Weatherford, Okla., cowgirl clocked a 13.60-second time to take home the title in Round 6.
“Yeah, I was so excited. Liza (her horse) has really stepped up and she is taking this arena on like a veteran,” Beisel said. “She’s made five trips down the alley this week and had placed in three of the four prior to today’s win. It’s a little bit different environment this morning but it’s still amazing to get the go-round win.”
Beisel said competing in two NFR rounds Wednesday, is a different feeling.
“I just take it one run at a time, so I haven’t even really thought about tonight’s run,” Beisel said. “We’re going to enjoy the victory this morning and then think about that a little bit later.”
Beisel knows nothing comes easy against this field of NFR barrel racers.
“It’s been an incredible group. The horsepower and the women have been outstanding,” Beisel said. “Last night, the last hole was a 13.60 (second run). That’s exceptional. The runs in Las Vegas have been a combination of great horses, fantastic riders, and the ground here.”
Courtesy of PRCA