The first performance of the 2014 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo was one that many of the contestants will remember for years to come as it was their first time competing under the bright lights of the Thomas & Mack. Every one of the 17,591 fans in attendance were about ready to witness some of the top athletes in the world do their best to become a World Champion in just nine more days! Some of the fan favorite did what their fans wanted to see as well as some of the 2014 WNFR’ s rookies and that was to win a round and settle their nerves just a bit. Let me recap the first night of action and let you get to know some of the contestants just a little bit better.
After country music superstar Mark Wills opened the performance with the singing of the National Anthem it was time to get down to business and the contestants did just that in the bareback riding You could tell once the first chute gate opened that the cowboys were in Las Vegas to give it everything they had but no one else was better on Thursday night than Kaycee Feild. Cactus Juice from the Sutton Rodeo was Feild’s opponent who helped him to a round one winning score of 84.50. Jason had the chance to catch up with the World Champion shortly after his win and you can see what he had to say in the video below!
Once the bareback riding was finished it was time to go to the timed event end of the arena for the Steer Wrestling and the Team Roping events. In the steer wrestling Nick Guy of Sparta, Wisconsin put down a nice solid 3.6 second run to take home the round one victory. In the team roping Turtle Powell and Dakota Kirchenschlager turned in a fast run of 4 seconds flat to take home the round one win..
Saddle Bronc Riding was the next event of the round and what a wild round one it was for the WNFR contestants. Cort Scheer would be crowned the top spot for round number one with a 87 point ride aboard Frontier Rodeo’s horse Short Stop. Jason catches up with him following his round win and you can see what he had to say below!
The next three events brought joy to some young guns who happen to be WNFR rookies and a stylish veteran who is the queen of social media. In the tie-down roping WNFR rookie Marty Yates took home the round win with a nice run of 7.4 seconds to claim his first career go round buckle and acceptance walk at the South Point Hotel and Casino. Barrel Racing was one that no one would have ever expected to see at a Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. I am not sure if it was the ground, nerves, lights or what but it was mind boggling at how many barrels we saw knocked over in tonight’s first go round action. With that being said no talented ladies did better than fan favorite Fallon Taylor and Jason caught up with her to see what she thought of the round and what we can expect to see from her going forward throughout the next nine rounds.
In the bull riding, round one was tough on the cowboys as only four out of the fifteen competing were able to make the eight second whistle. After all the dirt settled and the scores were handed in it was yet another WNFR rookie that took home his first go round win of his very young career. Joe Frost, cousin of the late Lane Frost, came out on top in the first go round and carries on the Frost tradition of being one of the most humble men I have ever met. Frost won the round with a 85.50 point bull ride aboard Pete Carr’s Classic Pro Rodeo’s bull Rattler and talks with Jason abut his first WNFR go round win!
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