ESTES PARK, Colo. – There aren’t many bronc busters in ProRodeo that still compete at a high level after 35, but the ones that do prove that age isn’t everything.

Take Chet Johnson, who has long since passed his 35^th birthday. On Monday night during the final performance of Rooftop Rodeo, Johnson proved his talent is timeless. He spurred Cervi Championship Rodeo’s High Rolling Sidney for 84 points to finish third in bronc riding, pocketing $3,244 in the process.

“When you get on good horses, this is a lot more fun,” said Johnson, 41, of Buffalo, Wyoming. “Winning helps. If you’re drawing good and winning, I’ll never want to quit. Someday I’ll have to, but right now I love it.”

Now in his 23^rd year of riding bucking horses, he has proven himself among the elite in the game for most of that time. He’s qualified for the National Finals Rodeo four times and has won most major rodeos across the country and into Canada.

“Doing well in Estes Park feels really good,” said Johnson, who pocketed $3,244 for his efforts. “I’ve had a pretty slow July. I only got to go to three rodeos over the Fourth (of July, because of the scheduling). To get this kind of hit at this rodeo is pretty special. I’ve never had any luck here before, and I’ve been coming to this one a long time.

“I wish I would have gotten the win, but I’ll take (third) any day of the week.”

It’s been a long time coming. Rooftop Rodeo has been a great place for the sport’s brightest stars for many years. To pick up a big payday is good for any contestant, much less someone who has been waiting for success inside Granny May Arena for many years.

“I feel really good,” he said, showcasing his trademark smile. “I worked pretty hard this winter getting back into shape. I know I’m in my final years, so I want to make the most of it. I’ve worked hard for it.”

What is it about Rooftop Rodeo that has kept drawing him back over the years? There were times when the schedule didn’t allow for him to make his way to Estes Park, but he’s competed at the rodeo more times than not.

“You can look at this scenery, and this crowd gets into it,” Johnson said. “They love this rodeo. This committee works their tails off to make it good. To look around and see how beautiful it is, it’s a cool destination to go to.”

Being able to finally cash in helps, too.

Rooftop Rodeo
July 6-11
All-around cowboy: Seth Hall, $2,753, tie-down roping and team roping.

Bareback riding: 1. Bill Tutor, 87 points on The Cervi Brothers’ Jelly Bean, $5,168; 2. Keenan Hayes, 86.5, $3,962; 3. Garrett Shadbolt, 84.5, $2,928; 4. (tie) Lane McGehee and Chad Rutherford, 84, $1,550 each; 6. (tie) Waylon Bourgeois and Tyler Griffin, 83.5, $775 each; 8. (tie) Colton Crawford and Cole Reiner, 83, $258 each.

Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Sam Goings, 3.8 seconds, $1,807; 2. Stockton Graves, 4.1, $1,495; 3. Travis Munro, 4.2, $1,184; 4. Cody Devers, 4.3, $872; 5. (tie) Ty Allred, Grady Payne and Landris White, 4.6, $291 each. Second round: 1. (tie) Caden Camp and Talon Roseland, 3.3 seconds, $1,807 each; 2. Clayton Hass, 3.5, $1,495; 3. (tie) Kyler Dick and Shane Frey, 3.6, $1,028 each; 5. (tie) Kyle Irwin, Eli Lord and Landris White, 3.9, $436 each. Average: 1. (tie) Cody Devers, Sam Goings, Kyler Dick and Landris White, 8.5 seconds on two head, $2,009 each; 5. Rowdy Parrott, 8.9, $841; 6. Eli Lord, 9.0, $467.

Team roping: First round: 1. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 4.3 seconds, $1,869 each; 2. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 4.6, $1,547; 3. (tie) Chad Masters/Paul Eaves and Kolton Schmidt/Cole Davison, 4.7, $1,064 each; 5. (tie) Luke Brown/Hunter Koch, Payden Emmett/Lucas Falconer and Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 4.8, $301 each. Second round: 1. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 3.9 seconds, $1,869 each; 2. Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, 4.0, $1,547; 3. Coy Rahlmann/Douglas Rich, 4.1, $1,225; 4. Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler, 4.4, $902; 5. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 4.5, $580; 6. Austin Crist/Josh Fillmore, 5.2, $322. Average: 1. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 8.8 seconds on two head, $2,804 each; 2. Chad Masters/Paul Eaves, 10.3, $2,320; 3. J.C. Yeahquo/L.J. Yeahquo, 10.6, $1,837; 4. Kolton Schmidt/Cole Davison, 10.9, $1,354; 5. Paul Beckett/Jesse Jolly, 12.8, $870; 6. Austin Crist/Josh Fillmore, 15.5, $483.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Ross Griffin, 85.5 points on The Cervi Brothers’ Cookies, $5,725; 2. Statler Wright, 84.5, $4,389; 3. Chet Johnson, 84, $3,244; 4. Houston Brown, 83, $2,099; 5. (tie) Jacobs Crawley and Jake Watson, 82.5, $1,145 each; 7. Spencer Wright, 82, $763; 8. (tie) Sterling Crawley and Riggin Smith, 81.5, $286 each.

Tie-down roping: First round: 1. Riley Pruitt, 7.4 seconds, $1,890; 2. Lane Livingston, 7.9, $1,644; 3. Cody Craig, 9.1, $1,397; 4. Ryan Thibodeaux, 9.4, $1,151; 5. Blane Cox, 9.8, $904; 6. Jeremiah Peek, 10.2, $657; 7. (tie) Macon Murphy, Brody Stallard and Buck Tate, 10.4, $192 each. Second round: 1. (tie) Kasen Brennise and Hunter Reaume, 8.2 seconds, $1,890 each; 2. Garrett Jacobs, 8.6, $1,644; 3. Blake Chauvin, 8.8, $1,397; 4. Cash Enderli, 8.9, $1,151; 5. (tie) Seth Hall, Cason Kingsbury, West Smith and Brody Stallard, 9.1, $657 each; 8. Chance Derner, 9.2, $164. Average: 1. Brody Stallard, 19.5 seconds on two head, $2,835; 2. Marcos Costa, 19.8, $2,465; 3. Seth Hall, 20.0, $2,096; 4. Hunter Reaume, 20.4, $1,726; 5. (tie) Blane Cox and Cash Enderli, 20.6, $1,171 each; 7. Jase Staudt, 20.9, $616; 8. (tie) Jeremiah Peek and Chance Derner, 21.1, $123 each.

Barrel racing: 1. Tarryn Lee, 16.36 seconds, $4,177; 2. Nicole Driggers, 16.39, $3,342; 3. Shelley Morgan, 16.45, $2,715; 4. (tie) Josey Owens and Londyn Ross, 16.49, $1,880 each; 6. Margo Crowther, 16.54, $1,253; 7. (tie) Carley Cervi and Kelly Yates, 16.57, $992 each; 9. Michelle Darling, 16.58, $835; 10. Kathryn Varian, 16.62, $731; 11. Sadie Wolaver, 16.64, $627; 12. Keyla Polizello Costa, 16.66, $522; 13. (tie) Elizabeth Ellis and Sarah Waguespack, 16.67, $366 each; 15. (tie) Suzanne Brooks, Laura Mote and Jessica Routier, 16.69, $70 each.

Bull riding: 1. Jesse Flores, 87 points on The Cervi Brothers’ Skim Walker, $4,169; 2. Ernie Courson Jr, 86, $3,196; 3. Brody Yeary, 85.5, $2,362; 4. (tie) Casey Roberts and Robbie Taylor, 84.5, $1,251 each; 6. JR Stratford, 84, $695; 7. Koby Radley, 82, $556; 8. Colton Byram, 81, $417.