Richardson Captures Bull Riding at Redding
REDDING, Calif. – The struggle has been real for bull rider Braden Richardson.
For three years while competing on his PRCA permit, the Jasper, Texas, cowboy battled injuries and inconsistency.
Richardson bought his PRCA card in September 2017, and now he’s in a much better place.
That was evident Saturday night.
Richardson won the Redding (Calif.) Rodeo with an 89-point ride on Big Stone Rodeo’s Hillbilly Rock.
“This is crazy,” said Richardson, 23. “I’m a little bit in shock. My strategy was to keep moving and bear down. When they called out that 89 I was fired up.”
Richardson edged out Tim Bingham by a half point for the victory. Bingham had an 88.5-point ride on Bridwell Rodeos’ Spike The Punch, May 18.
In the May 14 RAM PRCA World Standings, Richardson was 34th with $17,359, but he will move up after earning $4,935 for his Redding performance.
“This is the biggest win of my career, and it feels good to win that much money,” Richardson said. “My plan is to win rookie of the year and make the NFR. When I was on my permit I struggled a lot, and it is a lot cooler now because I’m actually starting to make a little bit of money.”
Richardson spent a lengthy amount of time on his permit while he was attending Panola College in Carthage, Texas. He graduated with an associate’s degree in petroleum technology.
“I will probably work in the oil field, but I haven’t really thought about that because that is my backup plan to rodeoing,” he said. “Now, I’m just mentally stronger and I’ve been able to stay a lot healthier. I got banged up a lot in college.”
Lost in the euphoria of his win, Richardson wasn’t sure what will be coming up for him on the rodeo trail.
“Heck, I don’t know what is next, but my schedule is full,” Richardson said. “I have a lot of confidence right now and I feel like I should be going places I have never been before.”
Other winners at the $169,364 rodeo were all-around cowboy Jordan Ketscher ($4,062, tie-down roping and team roping), bareback rider Bill Tutor (87.5 points on Corey & Lange Rodeo’s Trip Wire), steer wrestler Ty Erickson (8.8 seconds on two head), team ropers Aaron Macy/Wyatt Cox, Dan Williams Jr./Brush Minton, and Jeff Flenniken/Jake Minor (14.8 seconds on two head each), saddle bronc rider Jacobs Crawley (87 points on Big Stone Rodeo’s Rubels), tie-down roper Adam Gray (18.2 seconds on two head), and barrel racer Mary Jo Camera (17.36 seconds)
For more coverage of the Redding (Calif.) Rodeo, check out the June 1 edition of the ProRodeo Sports News.
Courtesy of PRCA