PRCA Event Reports

CANADA NIGHT IS ALRIGHT AT THE WRANGLER NATIONAL FINALS RODEO
[Dec. 8, 2006] Stock contractor Wayne Vold kicked things off this evening in Las Vegas with a heartfelt rendition of O Canada, part of what’s known as Canada Night at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

Wrangler NFR Round 7
[Dec. 7, 2006] Round 7 Results and Standings

HAY STILL IN THE HUNT FOR WORLD TITLE
[Dec. 7, 2006] The saddle bronc riders had a rough go-round this evening in Las Vegas. They were matched up against the semi-eliminator pen at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, with five of the 15 cowboys getting bucked off. By Darell Hartlen Editor Canadian Rodeo News

TOUGH NIGHT FOR CANUCKS IN LAS VEGAS
[Dec. 6, 2006] The Canadians had a rough night in Las Vegas at the Thomas & Mack Center.
In front of 17,343 people, the Canuck cowboys and cowgirl were shut out of the money during the sixth performance of the 2006 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. By Darell Hartlen

Red-hot Maben scorches arena record en route to Round 6 win
[Dec. 6, 2006] On Oct. 31, Drury died after a four-year battle with his disease. Prior to Tuesday’s competition, Drury and nine other friends of professional rodeo and the Wrangler NFR who passed away during the past year were posthumously recognized as part of the annual Memorial Night at the Thomas & Mack Center. Elliott then did his part to remember his friend, winning the round with an inspiring, 88.5-point ride aboard Southwick, Robertson and Wilson Company’s Foolish Man. By PRCA

Utah saddle bronc rider wins round
[Dec. 6, 2006] Milford's Cody Wright won Thursday night's round in saddle bronc riding at the National Finals Rodeo.

Team roping legend Cooper joins Williams at top of standings
[Dec. 5, 2006] LAS VEGAS – In 1985, team roper Clay O’Brien Cooper started a historical run of world titles when he and Jake Barnes won the first of their seven championships together. Twelve years later, Speed Williams began his quest and, by the time he and partner Rich Skelton were done, the tandem had won eight consecutive world titles and set a new standard.

This year, Williams and Cooper joined forces, and halfway through the 2006 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, both are setting a course for more history. On Monday, the tandem roped its Round 5 steer in 4.0 seconds, sharing the title with Nick Sartain and Shannon Frascht. By PRCA Press Release

Lowe, Ohl win rounds, bear down on world titles
[Dec. 4, 2006] LAS VEGAS – Will Lowe and Cody Ohl have been here before. And when the world champions in bareback riding and tie-down roping, respectively, see an opportunity to increase their chances of winning a gold buckle, they know exactly how to get the job done.
Results and standings after round 4 of the NFR By PRCA Press Release

FOURTH ROUND FULL OF ACTION AT THE 2006 WNFR
[Dec. 4, 2006] Glen O'Neill (Didsbury, Alta.) was originally slated to ride Rafter G Rodeo Co.'s Annie Oakley, but was awarded the option of a re-ride after the flank fell off.
He was then pitted against Harry Vold’s Enrique, which resulted in another option when the horse didn’t perform at full capacity.
Unfortunately for O’Neill, there weren’t enough spares ready, so he’ll take his shot tomorrow, as well as riding the horse he gets assigned for the fifth performance. By Darell Hartlen

HAY MOVES UP IN SADDLE BRONC RACE
[Dec. 3, 2006] Round three saw the battles continue in Las Vegas this evening at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo as the top 118 cowboys and cowgirls in the world fight for the right to be named 2006 world champion.
In the saddle bronc event, it was either money or dirt for the seven cowboys who drew Canadian stock.
Eight-time Canadian champion Rod Hay (Wildwood, Alta.) won the round on Kesler Championship Rodeo’s Coffee Break. Their 87.5-point match-up was worth $16,022, enough to move him into fifth place in the world standings. By Darell Hartlen Canadian Rodeo News

Only Schumacher tames Round 3 bull at Wrangler NFR
[Dec. 3, 2006] LAS VEGAS – Through two rounds of the 2006 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, bull riders enjoyed the upper hand, recording qualified rides on 19 of 29 attempts. The bulls got their revenge on Saturday, but B.J. Schumacher escaped being the final victim.
After watching the first 12 cowboys hit the Thomas & Mack Center dirt early during Round 3 action, Schumacher, of Hillsboro, Wis., sent the 17,543 fans home happy. He held on just long enough to score 90 points on Cervi and Guidry’s Multi-Chem Western Hauler for the only ride of the night and claimed not only a first-place check worth $16,022, but the entire go-round’s worth of earnings – another $35,661 that doesn’t count toward the world standings.
Results Round 3 and Current Standings. By PRCA

DAVIS RIDES PAINTED SMILE TO VICTORY
[Dec. 2, 2006] Round two of the 2006 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo saw the race for world titles heating up this evening in Las Vegas at the Thomas and Mack Centre.
The roughstock cowboys had the eliminator pens this evening, which proved to be both exciting and challenging for them.
Jess Davis (Payson, Utah) and Wes Stevenson (Kaufman, Tex.) rode a pair of Kesler Rodeo Co. horses to the top two spots in the bareback event.
Davis was 86 points on the superstar mare Painted Smile and Stevenson was 80 points on Sports Select. By Darell Hartlen Canadian Rodeo News

Mortensen narrows deficit with Round 2 win
[Dec. 2, 2006] LAS VEGAS – Dan Mortensen had gone too long without a victory lap at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. So, the six-time world champion saddle bronc rider ended a dry streak with a win that he hopes will catapult him toward a historic record.

Matt Austin, current leader in bull riding, helped from arena. Return is doubtful for the rest of event. Sonny Murphy ranked 2nd at beginning of event out with broken C6 vertabra. By PRCA

Champs Beaver, Branquinho make triumphant returns
[Dec. 1, 2006] Round one is in the books. Results and updated standings are here! By PRCA