This week unofficially winds down the summer run for the contestants of the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association and the Womens Professional Rodeo Associaiton. Although there are still a few rodeos left there are very few chances to change the Windham Weaponry World Standings to see who will be making a trip to Las Vegas to be a part of the 2015 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in December. It will be exciting to see who may be able to make a last minute, late in the season, move to secure their spot at the big event just like some of the sport’s best did this last weekend!
PRCA Saddle Bronc Rider Heith DeMoss
The last name, DeMoss, has been associated with the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo for many years in more than one way. Brothers Heith and Cody have been able to be a mainstay for many years and it looks like the fans will be able to see both of the Louisiana cowboys once again after Heith’s big win in Washington this past week.
Heith DeMoss came into the Ellensburg Rodeo sitting on the bubble with a chance on not making it to this year’s National Finals Rodeo. He knew what he had to do to secure a spot in the top fifteen in the world with his brother who is currently the top ranked saddle bronc rider in the world. He came in knowing he had to win the event to make sure he was set for Las Vegas and that is exactly what he did with a combined two-head score of a whopping 171 points. After the win that he needed you could tell that a tremendous weight was lifted off of his shoulders knowing that he would more than likely be making yet another WNFR in a few months with his brother Cody.
DeMoss, who is trying to make his fifth WNFR appearance, talked about his big Ellensburg Rodeo win by saying, “Ellensburg is darn sure one that was on my to-do list before I retire, so thankfully it finally happened. I think I made the short round here before, but they usually whup the heck out of me here. It was a super rank pen of horses, and anyone who messed up a little bit was going to pay for it. Luckily, I was able to ride my horse well.”
PRCA Bull Rider Sage Kimzey
After Sage Kimzey’s 2014 rookie year in the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association where he won the World Title no one thought that he could ever have a season that would be as spectacular as last year’s was to this bull riding cowoby. Well Kimzey wanted to prove to himself, as well as all the speculators, that last year was not a fluke and that he is, in fact, the best bull rider in the world. After last week’s huge in I think it is safe to say that he is doing good by making the statement he set out to make for himself at the beginning of the year.
The Oklahoma cowboy not only sits atop the Windham Weaponry World Standings for the PRCA but after his great week at the Ellensburg Rodeo Xtreme Bulls Tour Finale. He took home the average title with 170.5 points on two head and cemented his spot for the 2015 Xtreme Bulls Tour year-end title.
“This year’s definitely been a blessing, and it’s been so much fun,” Kimzey said shortly after taking his victory lap in the Ellensburg Rodeo Arena. “The Xtreme Bulls year-end title is something I’ve always dreamed about winning since I was a little kid.”
Sage Kimzey, last year’s PRCA Bull Riding World Champion, currently holds the number one spot in the world with $121,298 in earnings well ahead of the number two man which happens to be his travelling partner and fellow Oklahoman so to say that the road has been good to them this year is to say the least. Brennon Eldred is sitting behind Kimzey by $13,000 and is guaranteed a spot at this year’s Wrangler National Finals along with travelling partner Sage Kimzey.
PRCA Steer Wrestler Dakota Eldridge
Photo Credit: www.mattcohenphoto.com
Steer Wrestler Dakota Eldridge came into the week as the number 16 man in the Windham Weapony World Standings that were put out on August 31st putting him just out of contention coming into the much anticipated September rodeo run. Eldridge knew exactly where he was and that he had a chance on not making it back to another Wrangler National Finals Rodeo for the 2015 season which lit a fire under him and propelling him throughout the first week of September.
Wanting to make his third consecutive WNFR he came out with guns a blazing and had a huge week placing and winning many events moving him up in the standings to a comfortable position. After his win at the Wrangler Champions Challenge in Colorado he placed in the top four at three additional rodeos totalling $12,245 for his work in one weekend moving him up seven spots and well within the top 15 in the world making a trip to the 2015 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo once again.
Eldridge talked about his hard luck and outstanding weekend, “I have hit some big licks this year, but they’ve come off and on,” Eldridge said. “Then, I kind of drew the bad end of them there for two weeks and doing that and keeping your head up is tough. I just tried to stay positive because rodeo is full of ups and downs, and you’re going to have the downs. So when you get good steers, you have to be positive, and that’s what I was able to do.”
The nominees for the year end awards were also announced this week and will be exciting to see who will make it to the bright lights of the Thomas & Mack to be a part of the excitement of the 2015 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Below is a list of all the nominees so you can see it any of your favorites made the cut!
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