Saddle bronc riding: 1. (tie) Wade Sundell, on Calgary Stampede’s Mad Money, Jake Wright, on Mo Betta’s Shasta, and Cort Sheerm on Three Hills Rodeo’s Big Jet, 84.5, $14,527; 4. Cole Elshere, 83.5, $7,556; 5. (tie) Tyrell Smith and Taos Muncy, 82.5, $3,828.

Team roping: 1. Luke Brown/Martin Lucero, 4.0 seconds, $18,257; 2. Derrick Begay/Cesar de la Cruz, 4.6, $14,429; 3. Dustin Bird/Paul Eaves, 5.2, $10,895; 4. Travis Tryan/Jake Long, 5.3, $7,656; 5. Charly Crawford/Jim Ross Cooper, 5.4, $4,712; 6. Keven Daniel/Chase Tryan, 9.5, $2,945.

Bareback riding: 1. (tie) Will Lowe, on Classic Pro Rodeo’s Bi Polar, and Kaycee Field, on Carr Pro Rodeo’s River Boat Annie, 86.5, $16,343; 3. J.R. Vezain, 85.5, $10,895; 4. Brian Bain, 83.5, $7,656; 5. Jessy Davis, 83, $4,712; 6. Justin McDaniel, 81, $2,945. Steer wrestling: 1. Billy Bugenig, 3.6 seconds, $18,257; 2. Dean Gorsuch,[...]

LAS VEGAS – It was a strong opening night of the 2012 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo for Team MGM Grand. In all, contestants who are part of the “Home of the Champions” collected nearly $176,000 in earnings at Thursday’s first go-round, highlighted by the top three finishers in tie-down roping: World champion Tuf Cooper of[...]

LAS VEGAS – Rodeo is a roller coaster. Carlee Pierce knows that as well as anyone. Oftentimes, that first dip is a doozy, which was the case Thursday on opening night of the 2012 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Pierce and her great horse, Dillion, tipped all three barrels en route to a 29.11-second run. With[...]

LAS VEGAS – Anyone who drives a performance car in competition knows the importance of a good start. The same can be said in rodeo, especially in the sport’s grand championship. Tie-down roper Ryan Jarrett cruised out of first gear Thursday on opening night of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, roping and[...]

LAS VEGAS – Every one of the 120 contestants at the 2012 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo experienced considerable nervousness and quite a bit of anxiety. None did it more than Casey Colletti, a two-time qualifier from Pueblo, Colo. He was the first contestant to compete during Thursday’s second go-round, so all that pressure of the[...]

Barrel racing: 1. Mary Walker, 13.75 seconds, $18,257, 2. Kelli Tolbert, 13.77, $14,429, 3. Brittany Pozzi, 13.86, $10,895, 4. Lee Ann Rust, 13.99, $7,656, 5. Christ Loflin, 14.03, $4,712, 6. Sherry Cervi, 14.04, $2,945. Bull riding: 1. J.W. Harris, Mullin, Texas, 90.5 points on Four Star Rodeo’s Stink Eye, $18,257; 2. Cody Whitney, Sayre, Okla.,[...]

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Taos Muncy, 87 points on Andrews Rodeo’s Fire Lane, $18,257; 2. (tie) Jake Wright and Jesse Wright, $12,662; 4. Cody Wright, 83.5, $7,656; 5. Jacobs Crawley, 82, $4,712; 6. Tyrell Smith, 82.5, $2,945. Tie-down roping: 1. Tuf Cooper, 7.4 seconds, $18,257; 2. Shane Hanchey, 7.6, $14,429; 3. Houston Hutto, 8.1, $10,895;[...]

Bareback riding: 1. Wes Stevenson 87 points on J Bar J’s Freckled Doll, $18,257, 2. Winn Ratliff, 85.5, $14,429, 3. Casey Colletti, 85, $10,895, 4. Kaycee Feild, 84.5, $7,656, 5. Caleb Bennett, 84, $4,712, 6. Bobby Mote, 83.5, $2,945 Steer wrestling: 1. Casey Martin, 3.4 seconds, $18,257, 2. Dean Gorsuch, 3.5, $14,429, 3. Ethen Thouvenell,[...]