Tim Bingham Ready for San Angelo Rodeo Finals
SAN ANGELO, Texas – The final round of the San Angelo (Texas) Rodeo is on the horizon and bull rider Tim Bingham is ready to take on the challenge as an 8-second ride on Valentine’s Day will give the Utah cowboy plenty to love about the Lone Star State.
But unlike most years, the three-time qualifier for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (2014, 2016-17) isn’t focused on climbing the PRCA | RAM World Standings.
“I’m not doing too great, I dislocated my (free arm’s) shoulder a week ago at Fort Worth and have to get surgery,” Bingham said. “I’m glad I rode (Thursday’s) bull though. I was hoping to do some good before I go get it fixed.”
The 28-year-old cowboy qualified for the San Angelo Rodeo’s final round and earned $1,271 with an 84.5-point ride on Northcott Macza’s OLS Tubs Riggs.
Not counting his Feb. 13 earnings, Bingham’s sitting at 49th in the 2020 PRCA | RAM World Standings with $3,705. But with surgery set to keep him out of competition for a few months, Bingham’s focused on winning as much money as he can before he takes a step back for physical rehab.
The Utah cowboy was quick to thank the fans for supporting the San Angelo Rodeo.
“That’s how we get to have these big rodeos here year in and year out,” Bingham said.
Bingham wasn’t exaggerating as last year’s San Angelo bull riding winner, Jordan Spears, took home $6,388 and went on to compete at the 2019 Wrangler NFR and finish the year ranked sixth in the 2019 PRCA | RAM World Standings.
“This is a big rodeo and being early in the season it’s all about momentum and getting onto a hot streak,” Bingham said. “During the first couple months (of the calendar year), the ones you go to are all big and it can take the pressure off for later in the season.”
Spears wasn’t the only 2019 San Angelo Rodeo winner to go on to ProRodeo’s big stage as bareback rider Caleb Bennett, team roping heeler Kyle Lockett, saddle bronc rider Rusty Wright and tie-down roper Michael Otero all qualified for the 2019 Wrangler NFR.
“The whole goal is to make the NFR and that’s where you can make a living,” Bingham said. “There’s a reason the top guys show up here every year.”
Qualifying for the final round of San Angelo’s bull riding required a score of 83.5 points or higher with reigning 2019 All Around World Champion Stetson Wright coming in with the highest score, 89 points on Rafter H Rodeo Livestock’s Bet On Black.
“There will be some high scores (Friday),” Bingham said. “It’ll take a high score to win it.”
Meanwhile, the team roping competition has been the fiercest the 2020 season has seen so far. The fastest run of the season was accomplished by Jaxson Tucker and Jake Clay with their 3.5-second run in San Angelo, Feb. 9.
Fans can catch the final round of the San Angelo Rodeo on The Cowboy Channel Feb. 14 at 8:30 p.m. (ET). Check with ProRodeo.com for more San Angelo coverage.
Courtesy of PRCA