Rough Stock Riders Steal the Show at RODEOHOUSTON Semifinals 2

In the second semifinals at RODEOHOUSTON, the saddle bronc riders put on a show, bringing stiff competition to the arena floor.

Ride after ride, the scores were north of 80 points. World Champion Zeke Thurston cracked out first and scored 89 points, holding the first-place position the entire round. Thurston teamed up with Xena Warrior from the Calgary Stampede for the win.

The Reserve World Champion was slated to buck out second, and the Melstone, Mont., man didn't disappoint. Aboard Miss Texas from Pete Carr Pro Rodeo's string, Sage Newman took a solid position at 88 points. 

A few horses later, Canadian Ben Andersen tied Newman with another 88-point ride. 

Australia's own Damian Brennan rode Pete Carr Pro Rodeo's Toma Jo for an astounding 87.5 points, which rounded out the top four. Logan Cook, Brody Cress and Lefty Holman also scored in the 80s but fell short of the top four. Fans can look forward to a tough set of saddle bronc riders in the wild card rounds.

The rough stock chutes stayed hot for the bareback riding, and when all 10 cowboys rode, no one scored less than 76.5 points. 

Cooper Cooke took top honors with 87 points on Bucking Knight branded B-45 from Calgary Stampede. Leighton Berry and Clayton Biglow both scored 85 points to tie for the second and third place, advancing to Championship Sunday.

The final advancing spot was picked up by Tanner Aus on C-16 Choke Cherry, also from Calgary Stampede. Aus scored 84.5 points to secure his spot and avoid having to ride in the wild card rounds. 

The next two nights will host the wild card rounds, where cowboys and cowgirls will have to let it all hang out and bring their best efforts to the arena. It is a one-and-done situation: They have to come out in the No. 1 position to hopefully find themselves in the finals on Sunday. There is no doubt the next two nights will feature more heartache than success, but for those who do come out on top, the dream will continue toward the big $50,000 bonus.

RODEOHOUSTON Super Series Semifinal 2 Full Results

Bareback riding: 1. Cooper Cooke, 87 points on Calgary Stampede’s Bucking Knight, $3,000; 2. (tie) Clayton Biglow, Tanner Aus and Leighton Berry, 85, $1,250 each; 5. Garrett Shadbolt, 83; 6. Sam Petersen, 81.5; 7. R.C. Landingham, 78.5; 8. Donny Proffit, 77.5; 9. Rocker Steiner, 77; 10. Jess Pope, 76.5.
Championship qualifiers: 1. Cooper Cooke; 2. Clayton Biglow; 3. Tanner Aus; 4. Leighton Berry.

Steer wrestling: 1. J.D. Struxness, 4.8 seconds, $3,000; 2. (tie) Cody Devers and Tucker Allen, 5.2, $1,500 each; 4. Blake Knowles, 6.4, $750; 5. Walt Arnold, 6.6; 6. Ty Erickson, 7.1; 7. Rowdy Parrott, 8.3; 8. Gus Franzen, 14.9; 9. Will Lummus, 15.1; 10. Travis Munro, NT.
Championship qualifiers: 1. J.D. Struxness; 2. Cody Devers; 3. Tucker Allen; 4. Blake Knowles.

Team roping: 1. Jesse Boos/Jace Steenhoek, 4.9 seconds, $3,000 each; 2. Andrew Ward/Tanner Braden, 5.5, $2,000; 3. Clint Summer/Jake Long, 5.8, $1,000; 4. J.C. Yeahquo/Buddy Hawkins II, 6.7, $750; 5. Chad Masters/Wyatt Cox, 10.4; 6. Bradley Massey/Zack Mabry, 14.2; 7. (tie) Brenten Hall/Tyler Worley, Jake Clay/Trey Yates, Luke Brown/Travis Graves and Riley Minor/Brady Minor, NT.
Championship qualifiers: 1. Jesse Boos/Jace Steenhoek; 2. Andrew Ward/Tanner Braden; 3. Clint Summer/Jake Long; 4. J.C. Yeahquo/Buddy Hawkins II.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Zeke Thurston, 89 points on Calgary Stampede’s Xena Warrior, $3,000; 2. (tie) Sage Newman and Ben T. Andersen, 88, $1,500 each; 4. Damian Brennan, 87.5, $750; 5. Lefty Holman, 87; 6. Brody Cress, 83.5; 7. Logan Cook, 82; 8. Shea Fournier, 79.5; 9. (tie) Houston Brown and Brody Wells, NS.
Championship qualifiers: 1. Zeke Thurston; 2. Sage Newman; 3. Ben T. Andersen; 4. Damian Brennan.

Tie-down roping: 1. Ty Harris, 8.3 seconds, $3,000; 2. Shad Mayfield, 8.6, $2,000; 3. Trevor Hale, 8.8, $1,000; 4. Chance Thiessen, 9.0, $750; 5. Riley Pruitt, 9.1; 6. Haven Meged, 9.5; 7. Macon Murphy, 10.2; 8. Kincade Henry, 12.1; 9. Kyle Lucas, 12.8; 10. Caleb Smidt, NT.
Championship qualifiers: 1. Ty Harris; 2. Shad Mayfield; 3. Trevor Hale; 4. Chance Thiessen.

Barrel racing: 1. Stevi Hillman, 14.62 seconds, $3,000; 2. Leslie Smalygo, 14.76, $2,000; 3. Megan McLeod-Sprague, 14.78, $1,000; 4. Lisa Lockhart, 14.81, $750; 5. Sissy Winn, 14.87; 6. Preslie Reid, 14.89; 7. Jessica Routier, 14.93; 8. Halyn Lide, 15.13; 9. Kassie Mowry, 21.53; 10. Ilyssa Riley, 23.53.
Championship qualifiers: 1. Stevi Hillman; 2. Leslie Smalygo; 3. Megan McLeod-Sprague; 4. Lisa Lockhart,

Bull riding: *1. Dustin Boquet, 84 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Ramrod, $3,250; 2. Creek Young, 82.5, $2,250; 3. Jax Mills, 79, $1,250; 4. (tie) Jeff Askey, Josh Frost, Jace Trosclair, Trey Kimzey, T Parker, Jordan Spears and Trevor Reiste, NS. *(all totals include ground money).
Championship qualifiers: 1. Dustin Boquet; 2. Creek Young; 3. Jax Mills; 4. Jeff Askey.

Breakaway roping: 1. Macy Young, 2.6 seconds, $3,000; 2. Rickie Fanning, 3.1, $2,000; 3. (tie) Jordan Jo Hollabaugh and Hali Williams, 3.3, $875 each; 5. Bradi Good, 3.5; 6. Shelby Boisjoli-Meged, 3.9; 7. Danielle Lowman, 12.5; 8. Sawyer Gilbert, 12.6; 9. (tie) Martha Angelone and Josie Conner, NT.