GET SOCIAL 
SHOP NOW AT:
WRANGLER.COM

Wyatt Denny Gets Crucial Win in Sikeston, MO.

Perhaps nothing better demonstrates the desire and drive of a cowboy, and the true love of his sport, than what Wyatt Denny displayed over the past few days.

On Wednesday night, the bareback rider competed at the Farm-City Pro Rodeo in Hermiston, Ore., but failed to cash. Thursday night, he was in Logan, Utah, at the Cache County Fair and Rodeo, where he posted an 88-point ride on Barnes PRCA Rodeo’s Backdoor Johnny. That was atop the leaderboard heading into Saturday’s last round in Logan.

Then Denny hustled to Coalville, Utah, for a Friday ride at the Summit County Fair & Rodeo, scoring 80 points on Diamond G’s Ranch Rascal. That effort put him in the running for a check as well.

But wait, there’s more.

Denny then sprinted two time zones away to Sikeston, Mo., for Saturday night’s final performance at the Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo. And he really made it pay.

Aboard Cervi Brothers’ Guardian Angel, Denny spurred his way to 90 points and a first-place check of $4,371.

“I’d never seen that horse until the first night at Sikeston (Aug. 11), with R.C. Landingham,” Denny said, noting Landingham had a solid 85-point effort. “I was watching it on The Cowboy Channel.”

That little bit of insight proved just enough.

“He left the chute pretty darn hard, and on the first jump, I just let him roll. And he just got better and better from there,” Denny said. “I’ve been 90 a few times, and it kind of seems like you know it’s a good ride, but you’re not sure. When you jump off, you’ve got that fire in you – you know it’s going to be a good score.
“Still, when you see 90 points, it’s unexplainable.”

Perhaps as unexplainable as covering 2,000 miles – the distance from Hermiston to Sikeston – in ostensibly 72 hours. And 1,500 of those miles coming Friday to Saturday, from Coalville to Sikeston.

“It’s grueling,” Denny said, in the understatement of the year. “The only reason you ride bucking horses is because you love to do it. Everyone thinks it’s glamorous, but the downside is the travel, crossing time zones every day. It’s work. There’s no other way to put it.”

But it’s worthwhile work for Denny, who could soon find himself in the Top 15 of the PRCA | RAM World Standings. Prior to the Sikeston win, Denny – who finished a gut-wrenching 16th in the 2021 standings – was in 17th, so he’s certainly poised to move up.

“I should be pretty close,” he said, noting he’s peaking at just the right moment. “It’s go time, full pedal, hammer down right now.”

Denny fully expects to reach his fourth Wrangler NFR in Las Vegas, competing in his home state, as he hails from Minden, Nev.

“Absolutely. That’s my time zone,” he said. “I love that place. That’s home.”

Other winners at the $169,528 rodeo were all-around cowboy Paul David Tierney ($6,828, tie-down roping and team roping); steer wrestler Riley Duvall (9.2 seconds on two head); team ropers Coy Rahlmann/Douglas Rich (11.2 seconds on two head); saddle bronc rider Wade Sundell (87.5 points on The Cervi Brothers’ Womanizer); tie-down roper Paul David Tierney (18.5 seconds on two head); barrel racer Michelle Darling (16.16 seconds); and bull rider Coy Pollmeier (88 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Rawhide).

Courtesy of PRCA

Related Content