Throughout the first six rounds of the 2019 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo we have seen some of the best performances that we have seen in recent memory from inside of the Thomas & Mack here in Las Vegas. As everyone knows, as the last few rounds of the event continue to draw nearer to a close all of the world title races begin to take shape and the event average begins to bring on a whole new meaning to how that will all look at the end of Saturday night. As we look at rounds seven through nine we may be able to officially announce some world champions prior to round ten but that will be very few if any as almost every world title race is just way too close to call before we even conclude the tenth and final round here in just a few short days. To say the anticipation is at the max would be an understatement as everything heats up over the next four nights of action.
Following six rounds of action, we are accustomed to seeing a slew of Wrangler National Finals Rodeo veterans having an event to end their season in spectacular fashion but that has been overshadowed this year by a group that we are not used to talking about so much this late in the event. As the rounds begin to click down the 2019 WNFR rookie class is putting on a show of their own with multiple go-round wins and steady climbs up the world standings leaderboard, having a few of them reach the number one spot in the world along with the number one spot in the average. Knowing that these young guns are giving everything that they have got to see if they can put that world champion belt buckle around their waist at the end of Saturday night’s tenth performance of the 2019 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
Zeke Thurston Wins Round Seven In The Saddle Bronc Riding
Photo Credit: cowboysindians.com
Coming into round seven of the 2019 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo we usually begin to see the world title races begin to play out and can almost guarantee at least one race as the rounds get later and later into the event. This year that is far from the truth as world leaders have made huge mistakes while up and coming WNFR rookies have taken full advantage of those mistakes along with many others chasing them in the world standings race with just four rounds remaining in the 2019 professional rodeo season. Every one of these cowboys and cowgirls knew that it was beginning to enter into the now or never moment of the season. It would be interesting to see who would step up to the plate on an action-packed round seven performance inside of the Thomas & Mack Arena.
That is exactly what many did tonight as a few of those professional rodeo athletes did tonight that came into round seven barely sitting in the number one position in the world standings race. Bareback rider Clayton Biglow split the round three ways last night and followed that up with a round seven win earlier tonight to pad his lead atop of the world standings leaderboard while Zeke Thurston would do the very same in the classic cowboy event of saddle bronc riding. Along with these world leaders doing what they had to do there were also a few that would have either their first taste of WNFR go-round monies or better yet their first WNFR go-round win as well as the rookies continuing to impress as we look ahead to the last three rounds of action where the average will surely make a huge impact just three nights from now!
ROUND SEVEN WINNERS IN EACH EVENT
Bareback: Clayton Biglow (91.50)
Steer Wrestling: Stetson Jorgensen (3.40 Seconds)
Team Roping: Cody Snow & Wesley Thorp (3.60 Seconds)
Saddle Bronc Riding: Zeke Thurston (92.50)
Tie-Down Roping: Tyler Milligan (7.50 Seconds)
Barrel Racing: Hailey Kinsel (13.60 Seconds)
Bull Riding: Sage Steele Kimzey (90.00)
Clayton Biglow Continues His Dream WNFR
Photo Credit: prorodeo.com
Throughout the n rounds of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, each year we see many cowboys and cowgirls fight through pain and disasters as the rounds get deeper into the week as ten straight nights begin to take a toll on the athletes here in Las Vegas. So far this week we have been fortunate enough to only see two contestants have their 2019 WNFR finished early due to injuries while others make huge strides in their own professional rodeo careers. In the cowgirl professional barrel racing, everyone all but wrote Hailey Kinsel out of the world title race but she has silently climber her way back up to the number one spot in the world standings and is projected to take home another world title much to many people’s surprise her in Las Vegas at the 2019 WNFR.
When we talk about a storybook Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, we are all seeing that play out before our very eyes over the last four rounds in the bareback riding event that starts off each and every one of the ten performances. Clayton Biglow had one goal before round one began last Thursday night and that was to leave Las Vegas ten days later with a new world championship title and Montana Silversmith belt buckle to go along with it. After coming in and winning the last four consecutive rounds he is not only doing that but is also in line to take home a beautiful 2020 Dodge RAM pick-up truck for bringing home the e2019 RAM Top Gun award as well. This award goes to the top money-earning contestant at the 2019 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in which he is dominating with three rounds of action remaining in the season.
ROUND EIGHT WINNERS IN EACH EVENT
Bareback: Clayton Biglow (90.00)
Steer Wrestling: Will Lummus (3.60 Seconds)
Team Roping: Brenten Hall & Chase Tryan (4.30 Seconds)
Kaleb Driggers & Junior Nogueira
Saddle Bronc Riding: Jake Watson (89.50)
Tie-Down Roping: Cooper Martin, Tyler Milligan & Riley Pruitt (7.50 Seconds)
Barrel Racing: Hailey Kinsel (13.54 Seconds)
Bull Riding: Sage Steele Kimzey (94.00)
Zeke Thurton Rides For J.R. Verzain Into The Round Nine Win
Photo Credit: cowboysindians.com
Each and every year, as the rounds continue to wide down, the mistakes begin to dash hopes of many cowboys and cowgirls at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo here in Las Vegas and tonight’s action was just that. There were many instances that we were all left scratching our heads as to what exactly we just witnessed down on the arena floor when we thought a few of the world titles were all but secured then the infamous round nine happens. One of those cowboys who had a disastrous round nine was bull rider Sage Steele Kimzey who gave up the average lead after coming down early but luckily he had a big enough lead that it would not affect his world title race standing. On the other side of the fence, steer Tyler Waguespack came into round nine only needing to have two clean runs to secure his world title and he had a no time here tonight dropping him out of the race going into round ten tomorrow night.
Along with all of the well-known disasters that round nine can give the contestants, there are also some great and inspirational stories that we see unfold both down on the arena floor and throughout the interviews that follow the conclusion of the round. Tonight, that story would take place in the classic event of saddle bronc riding where an emotional story would play out in Zeke Thurston’s round nine win. The horse he drew was the exact same horse that he helped his friend and fellow bronc rider J.R. Verzain win a round on here at the WNFR before his untimely accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down. During his emotional interview, he would dedicate his ride and win in tonight’s round nine to him after receiving some words of encouragement prior to the round by Verzain’s wife.
ROUND NINE WINNERS IN EACH EVENT
Bareback: Jake Brown (89.50)
Steer Wrestling: Ty Erickson (3.60 Seconds)
Team Roping: Kaleb Driggers & Junior Nogueira (3.60 Seconds)
Saddle Bronc Riding: Zeke Thurston (91.00)
Tie-Down Roping: Marty Yates (7.00 Seconds)
Barrel Racing: Stevi Hillman (13.53 Seconds)
Bull Riding: Boudreaux Campbell (91.00)
2019 World Championship Leaders Through Nine Rounds
Bareback: Clayton Biglow
Steer Wrestling: Ty Erickson
Team Roping: Clay Smith & Junior Nogueira
Saddle Bronc Riding: Zeke Thurston
Tie-Down Roping: Shane Hanchey
Barrel Racing: Hailey Kinsel
Bull Riding: Sage Steele Kimzey
All-Around: Stetson Wright
2019 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Average Race Through Round Nine
Bareback: Clayton Biglow
Steer Wrestling: Matt Reeves
Team Roping: Cody Snow & Wesley Thorp
Saddle Bronc Riding: Brody Cress
Tie-Down Roping: Haven Meged
Barrel Racing: Ivy Conrado
Bull Riding: Boudreaux Campbell
All-Around: Stetson Wright
RAM Top Gun Award: Clayton Biglow
We have seen nine rounds of fantastic professional rodeo action From Las Vegas this year as the 2019 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo has played out inside of the Thomas & Mack Arena but we are far from done as the most important night in these cowboys and cowgirls season is just 24-hours away. Tomorrow is the tenth and final round of the WNFR and a night that we will crown all of our new world champions that will definitely include some talented 2019 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo rookies. A majority of these world title races will not be decided until the final ride is completed down on the arena floor which will make for one of the most exciting round ten performances that we have been able to witness in the history of the sport and of the WNFR ever! Keep an eye out on our facebook page for up to the minute world champion announcements throughout the performance tomorrow night.
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