WACO, Texas --- It’s been a dream season for saddle bronc rider Bradley Harter.
After qualifying for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR) four times, there is little doubt about the talent and ability of the Weatherford, Texas, resident. He confirmed that winning over $28,000 at the Justin Boots championships in Omaha, Neb., last month and taking the lead in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association World Standings.
Harter showed rodeo fans in Waco the style that has earned him over half a million dollars as a rodeo athlete, but he had to do it twice to get to the top of the saddle bronc leader board here. The first horse that he got on did not perform as expected, so Harter got the chance to get on another horse and hopefully improve his score. It doesn’t always work for cowboys, but they most often take the risk of losing their previous score to get to the pay window.
The second horse that he got on was a horse that had been used as a saddle horse and one that didn’t have a very good reputation among the riders.
“I’d seen him before and I really didn’t want to get on him,” Harter said of Beutler and Son Rodeo’s Metroplex. “I could have settled for a fourth place check, but I’d sure rather win first. I never would have thought that he would be as good as he was. I was here anyway, so I decided I might as well get on.
That decision certainly played in Harter’s favor as he got an 85-point marking to win the first round in his group. While Harter is thinking about being in first place in the world standings and perhaps winning his first world championships at the upcoming Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, being in Waco for the All American ProRodeo Finals is still important for him.
“I’ve had such a great year and been very blessed,” Harter said. “Doing well in Waco will hopefully just keep my momentum going until the finals (WNFR). I’ve had some disappointments in Las Vegas. This year will be different no matter what, I’ve learned what my priorities are and to focus on my blessings. Having my family with me and getting to do what I love is something I’ll never take for granted.”
The fourth performance of the All American Finals will start at 7 p.m. on Monday.
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WACO, Texas --- The following are unofficial results from the third performance of the All American ProRodeo Finals presented by Pendleton Whisky, held at the Extraco Events Center at the Heart O’ Texas Fair Rodeo, Saturday, Oct., 10, 2010.
Bareback Riding: 1, Cain Riddle, Vernon, Texas, 81 points on Beutler and Son Rodeo’s Deadwood, $2,471. 2, Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn., 80, $1,854. 3, Evan Jayne, Marseille, France, 78, $1,236. 4, Kyle Brennecke, Grain Valley, Mo., 77, 618.
Tie-Down Roping: 1, Cade Swor, Grafton, Texas, 7.5 seconds, $2,471. 2, (tie) Blake Huckabee, Shreveport, La., and Hunter herrin, Apache, Okla., 7.8, $1,545 each. 4, Clay Cerny, Brazoria, Texas, 8.1, $618.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Alex Robertson, Bend, Ore., 4.5, $2,471. 2, Dustin Merritt, Omaha, Texas, 4.6, $1,854. 3, (tie) Jeff Miller, Blue Mound, Kan., and Cole Edge, Durant, Okla., 4.8, $927.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Bradley Harter, Weatherford, Texas, on Beutler and Son Rodeo’s Metroplex, $2,471. 2, Brad Rudolph, Battle Mountain, Nev., 81, $1,854. 3, Scott Miller, Boise, Idaho, 80, $1,236. 4, Dusty Hausauer, Dickinson, N.D., 70, $618.
Team Roping: 1, Reese Kerr, Comfort, Texas, and Cory King, Slaton, Texas, 5.4 seconds, $2,471. 2, Lee Hagler, Fort Lupton, Colo., and J.W. Borrego, Pueblo West, Colo., 6.0, $1,354. 3, Luke Brown, Stephenville, Texas, and Martin Lucero, Stephenville, Texas, 6.2, $1,236. 4, Justin Lovell, Grapeland, Texas, and J.W. Cotton, Wills Point, Texas, 6.9, $618.
Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Gretchen Benbeneck, Aubrey, Texas, 16.15, $2,471. 2, Shelley Morgan, Canton, Texas, 16.21, $1,854. 3, Tammy Fisher, Ledbetter, Texas, 16.32, 16.32, $1,236. 4, (tie) Caren Lamb, Fort Sumner, N.M., and Michelle West, Henryetta, Okla., 16.34, $618.
Bull Riding: 1, Jacob O’Mara, Prairieville, La., 89 points on Beutler and Son Rodeo’s Cowtown Red, $2,471. 2, (tie) Jesswe Pohlman, Fort Scott, Kan., and Clayton Williams, Carthage, Texas, 77, $1,545 each. 4, Casey Huckabee, Stephenville, Texas, 75, $618.
