California Circuit Rough Stock Titles Claimed

Some of the most coveted accomplishments occur within the 12 circuits of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. This past weekend it was California's turn to shine in the spotlight.  

Cowboys, who just wrapped up their 10 days of competition in Las Vegas at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR), along with those that choose to stay closer to home, met in Red Bluff, Calif., over the New Year's Weekend to vie for the year-end and average titles. Earning a year-end or average title advances you to the NFR Open, formerly titled the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo, to be held in Colorado Springs, Colo., in July of 2024.  

The bareback riding competition allowed Jacek Frost a chance at redemption. After coming up short on qualifying for the NFR in 2023, Frost found a fire burning within to set and achieve goals. Having to sit home and watch his friends compete in Las Vegas was disappointing.  

A perfect stepping stone to making the NFR come December 2024 is qualifying for the NFR Open, and with Frost's outstanding performance at the California Circuit Finals, he accomplished one of his goals. 

Frost won second in the first and second go-rounds behind the year-end champion, Clayton Biglow. Going into the third round, Biglow was ahead in the average race by 5.5 points, but Four Star Rodeo's Dirty Harry and Frost teamed up in the final round to take the win with 86 points and catapulted Frost to the top of the average race. Biglow left no question for the year-end title, where he topped the field with $25,676 while the runner-up, Wyatt Denny, finished with $16,308.

The saddle bronc riding was dominated by the 2022 Reserve World Champion, Lefty Holman. Visalia's own won the first round aboard Bridwell Pro Rodeos' Classy Clark, finished second in the second round with an 80-point ride, and then came back to ride Rosser Rodeo's California Dreamin to the third round win with 85.5 points. Holman secured the average win and a trip to the NFR Open in July 2024. Given that Holman also won the year-end championship, the reserve champion, Q McWhorter, will get to be California's second representative at the NFR Open.

The bull riding average was a battle to the end between Colby Demo and JC Mortensen. Demo started off strong by winning the first two rounds on Rosser Rodeo's Logun's Legacy and All In Pro Rodeos' Knuckles, respectively. Mortensen had an outstanding ride in the third round on All In Pro Rodeos' Blackjack for a staggering 87 points. This performance gave Mortensen the edge in the average but a singular point. While the standings show T.J. Gray as the year-end leader, Gray was not listed as a competitor in the finals, which eludes to JC Mortensen being the 2023 Champion. This would mean that Christopher Byrd would get the opportunity to accompany Mortensen to the NFR Open.

California Circuit Finals Results:

Bareback Riding: 

First Round: 

1. Clayton Biglow, 85.5 points on Bridwell Pro Rodeos' Warrior Wagon, $2,019
2. Jaceklane Frost, 81.5, $1,514
3. Wyatt Denny, 80.5, $1,009
4. Zack Brown, 80, $505

Second Round: 

1. Clayton Biglow, 85 points on Rosser Rodeo's Blue Indigo, $2,019
2. Jaceklane Frost, 83.5, $1,514
3. R.C. Landingham, 80.5, $1,009
4. Wyatt Wood, 79.5, $505

Third Round: 

1. Jaceklane Frost, 86 points on Four Star Rodeo's Dirty Harry, $2,019
2. Wyatt Denny, 81.5, $1,514
3/4. R.C. Landingham and Lucas Samaniego, 79, $757 each

Average:

1. Jaceklane Frost, 251 points on three head, $3,028
2. Clayton Biglow, 248.5, $2,271
3. Wyatt Denny, 240.5, $1,514
4. R.C. Landingham, 236.5, $757

Saddle Bronc Riding: 

First Round: 

1. Lefty Holman, 86 points on Bridwell Pro Rodeos' Classy Clark, $2,094
2. Karson Mebane, 81, $1,571
3. Tucker Bourdet, 80.5, $1,047
4. Q McWhorter, 79.5, $524

Second Round: 

1. Q McWhorter, 86.5 points on Four Star Rodeo's Stella, $2,094
2. Lefty Holman, 80, $1,571
3. Karson Mebane, 76.5, $1,047
4. Cameron Messier, 74, $524

Third Round: 

1. Lefty Holman, 85.5 points on Rosser Rodeo's California Dreamin, $2,094
2. Cameron Messier, 83, $1,571
3/4/5. Caden Grisedale, Denton Mars and Q McWhorter, 78, $524 each

Average: 

1. Lefty Holman, 251.5 points on three head, $3,141
2. Q McWhorter, 244, $2,356
3. Cameron Messier, 236, $1,571
4. Tucker Bourdet, 220, $785

Bull Riding: * 

First Round: 

1. Colby Demo, 83 points on Rosser Rodeo's Logun's Legacy, $2,879
2. Christopher Byrd, 78, $2,356

No other qualified rides 

Second Round: 

1. Colby Demo, 87 points on All In Pro Rodeos' Knuckles, $2,094
2. JC Mortensen, 84, $1,571
3. Jake Peterson, 81, $1,047
4. Justin Rickard, 73, $524. 

* Third round: 

1. JC Mortensen, 87 points on All In Pro Rodeos' Blackjack, $2,879
2. Justin Rickard, 72, $2,356

No other qualified rides

Average: 

1. JC Mortensen, 171 points on two head, $3,141
2. Colby Demo, 170, $2,356
3. Justin Rickard, 145, $1,571
4. Jake Peterson, 81 on one head, $785

*All totals include ground money