(PHOTO BY RIC ANDERSEN)
SAN ANGELO, Texas – Sage Newman didn’t know much about the horse he had drawn for Thursday’s fifth performance of the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo.
The one thing he trusted, though, was the event’s livestock producer, Dallas-based Pete Carr Pro Rodeo. It paid off rather well for the three-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Melstone, Montana. He rode Carr’s Code Blue for 87.5 points to take the saddle bronc riding lead.
“When you come to a Pete Carr rodeo, there’s always good horses,” said Newman, the 2023 reserve world champion who finished last year’s campaign with just shy of $400,000. “Pete has a lot of good ones, so you have a chance to win every time. I get along with Pete’s horses really well, and hopefully it keeps going that way.”
The odds of him returning for the April 19 Championship Friday are solid, and he expects the opportunity to be just as good for him when the titles are given away in a week.
“I talked to (fellow bronc rider) Logan Cook about the horse, and he said he was just a pretty good one,” Newman said. “He told me the rein and that (the horse) took some rein, so I decided to come try him, and I’m glad it worked out.
“(Code Blue) hung his head in the neck rope a little bit and kind of stumbled there at the start, but then he circled around to the right and matched up pretty well with me. I was happy.”
He should be. West Texas is a great place to be in April, and he’s had a ton of success in the Lone Star State over the past few years. In 2022, Newman won RodeoHouston after riding another Carr bucking horse; he matched moves with Billie for 93 points to claim the title and the $50,000 top prize.
The Montana bronc buster closed out his third straight NFR with more than $150,000 in earnings over 10 days in Las Vegas. He finished second only to four-time titlist Zeke Thurston and carried a boatload of momentum into the 2024 campaign. While he’s found some success, he’s 11th on the money list. He understands, though, that there is a lot of rodeo yet to be played this season.
“I’m just going to keep plucking away at it,” he said. “I don’t really want to look at the money side of it. I need to do my job every time and make the best of it every time, and I’ll just let the chips fall where they may. That’s what it’s all about.”
Of course, it helps to compete in front of a loud and vibrant crowd that helps Foster Communications Coliseum burst at the seams when the rodeo is in town.
“You have that little, confined building, and the crowd loves it here,” Newman said. “They’re a rodeo crowd with rodeo-type people, and they know a lot about rodeo. They just love the energy, and I love the energy. It’s truly unreal, so it’s always fun to come back here.”
He will return, and he has plans to hold the San Angelo title when he does.
San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo
April 5-19
Bareback riding leaders: 1. Cooper Cooke, 88.5 points on Korkow Rodeo’s Buffalo Soldier; 2. R.C. Landingham, 87; 3. (tie) Ethan Mazurenko and Will Norstrom, 86; 3. 5. Caleb Bennett, 84; 6. (tie) Cole Franks and Clayton Biglow, 83.5; 8. Jess Pope, 83; 9. Ty Pope, 82; 10. Danton Bertsch, 80.5; 11. (tie) Gauge McBride, Clint Laye, Brayze Schill and Garrett Shadbolt, 80.
Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Jacob Edler, 3.6 seconds; 2. Cole Walker, 3.7; 3. Stetson Jorgensen, 3.8; 4. Trisyn Kalawaia, 3.9; 5. Gavin Soileau, 4.0; 6. (tie) Matt Reeves and Jay Williamson, 4.1; 8; (tie) Tucker Allen and Brandon Harrison, 4.2. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Rooster Yazzie and Trever Nelson, 3.6 seconds; 3. Ty Erickson, 3.7; 4. (tie) Heath Thomas and Adam Musil, 3.9; 6. Chance Howard, 4.1; 7. (tie) Dirk Tavenner, Tanner Brunner, Tyke Kipp and Wade Steffen, 4.2. Average leaders: 1. Matt Reeves, 8.4 seconds on two runs; 2. Cole Walker, 8.7; 3. Trever Nelson, 8.9; 4. Gavin Soileau, 9.0; 5. Trisyn Kalawaia, 9.2; 6. Stetson Jorgensen, 9.3; 7. Heath Thomas, 9.4; 8. Jake Nelson, 9.6; 9. (tie) Bridger Anderson, Justin Schaffer, Chance Howard and Gus Franzen, 9.8.
Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Brady Tryan/Calgary Smith, 4.1 seconds; 2. (tie) Luke Brown/Travis Graves, Devon Johnson/Boogie Ray and Max Kuttler/Cashton Weidenbener, 4.2; 5. Kolton Schmidt/Landen Glenn, 4.3; 6. (tie) Jesse Boos/Jace Steenhoek, Garett Chick/Lane Siggins, Devon McDaniel/Walt Woodard and Peyton Walters/Brandon Gonzales, 4.5. Second round leaders: 1. Chace Thompson/Chad Williams, 3.7 seconds; 2. J.C. Yeahquo/Buddy Hawkins II, 3.8; 3. Mason Appleton/Cooper Freeman, 3.9; 4. (tie) Wade Smith/Zach Varian and Slade Wood/Nathan Walker, 4.0; 6. (tie) James Arviso/J.R. Gonzalez and Shay Carrol/Jace Helton, 4.1; 8. Coy Brittain/Colton Brittain, 4.1. Average leaders: 1. James Arviso/J.R. Gonzalez, 8.7 seconds on two runs; 2. Shay Carroll/Jace Helton, 9.4; 3. (tie) Cash Duty/Ross Ashford and Devon Johnson/Boogie Ray, 10.1; 5. Brye Crites/Tyler Worley, 10.8; 6. Curry Kirchner/Jake Edwards, 11.0; 7. Jesse Boos/Jace Steenhoek, 14.0; 8. Koby Sanchez/Trace Porter, 14.2; 9. Coy Brittain/Colton Brittain, 14.3; 10. Reno Stoebner/Clay Green, 14.5; 11. Chace Thompson/Chad Williams, 14.7; 12. John Wesley Sharp/Dodge Hare, 15.2.
Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Sage Newman, 87.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Code Blue; 2. Lefty Holman, 87; 3. (tie) Cort Scheer and Tyrel Roberts, 86.5; 5. Brody Cress, 86; 6. Tanner Butner, 85.5; 7. Jake Watson, 82.5; 8. Kyle Wanchuk, 82; 9. Tegan Smith, 81; 10. (tie) Cash Wilson, Jarrod Hammons and Q Taylor, 80.
Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Riley Webb, 6.9 seconds; 2. Tuf Cooper, 7.6; 3. (tie) Bryce Derrer and Connor Atkinson, 7.8; 5. Ryan Jarrett, 7.9; 6. Cash Hooper, 8.1; 7. (tie) Tom Crouse and Marty Yates, 8.2. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Cash Enderli, Zaine Mikita and Marty Yates, 7.3 seconds; 4. Jake Pratt, 7.4; 5. Charlie Gibson, 7.5; 6. Jeremiah Peek, 7.6; 7. (tie) Hunter Herrin and Paden Bray, 7.7. Average leaders: 1. Marty Yates, 15.5 seconds on two runs; 2. Cash Cooper, 16.3; 3. Ryan Jarrett, 16.4; 4. Connor Blaise Atkinson and Cole Clemens, 16.5; 6. Tuf Cooper, 16.7; 7. Dylan Hancock, 17.1; 8. Riley Webb, 17.5; 9. (tie) Carson Watford and Chance Oftedahl, 18.0; 11. Westyn Hughes, 18.2; 12. (tie) Ty Moser, Brey Yore and Garrett Jacobs, 18.3.
Breakaway roping: First round leaders: 1. (tie) Madalyn Richards, Megan Powell and Timber Allenbrand, 2.1 seconds; 4. Alli Masters, 2.3; 5. (tie) Brooke Eddy and Jenna Lee Adams, 2.4; 7. Haley Mason and Britta Strain, 2.5; 9. (tie) Josie Conner and Angie Green; 11. (tie) Aspen Miller, Riley Welch, Kadin Jodie, Addee Carder, Abby Medlin and Delaney Kunau, 2.7. Second round leaders: 1. Emilee Charlesworth, 2.0 seconds; 2. (tie) Alli Masters, Taylor Munsell and Hannah Bass, 2.1; 5. (tie) Hadley Clearman, Shelby Whiting and Jessi Everett, 2.2; 8. (tie) Bailey Jay and Kristy Stewart, 2.3; 10. (tie) Jayden Gould, Hollie Ladner, MaryBeth Beam and Chelsi Arnold, 2.4. Average leaders: 1. Alli Masters, 4.4 seconds on two runs; 2. Timber Allenbrand, 4.7; 3. Brooke Eddy, 4.0; 4. Haley Mason, 5.0; 5. Angie Green, 5.1; 6. Josie Conner, 5.2; 9. (tie) Jackie Crawford, Kadin Jodie and Riley Welch, 5.6; 12. (tie) Bailey Jay and Jenna Lee Adams, 5.8.
Barrel racing: Second round leaders: 1. Dona Kay Rule, 14.08 seconds; 2. Jordan Driver, 14.15; 3. Timber Allenbrand, 14.20; 4. Abby Phillips, 14.26; 5. Sami Jo Buum, 14.34; 6. Tessa Arnold, 14.35; 7. Paige Jones, 14.36; 8. Taylor Baize, 14.37; 9. Sadie Wolaver-Troyer, 14.39; 10. Rachel Heurkamp, 14.42; 11. Ashley Castleberry, 14.45; 12. Chelsea Moore, 14.46; 13. Shannon Pearson, 14.47; 14. Brooke Andrews, 14.48; 15. Amy Grey, 14.50. Average leaders: 1. Dona Kay Rule, 30.25 seconds on two runs; 2. Ashley Castleberry, 30.54; 3. Abby Phillips, 30.56; 4. Timber Allenbrand, 30.60; 5. Paige Jones, 30.78; 6. Sami Jo Buum, 30.83; 7. (tie) Tessa Arnold and Shy-Anne Jarrett, 30.93; 9. Sadie Wolaver-Troyer, 30.94; 10. Taylor Baize, 30.97; 11. Brooke Andrews,31.03; 12. Chelsea Moore, 31.04.
Bull riding leaders: 1. J.R. Stratford, 90 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Bruised Kitty; 2. (tie) Jackson Carter Ward, Colton Byram, Vinell Vince Mariano and Beau Gardner, 86.5; 6. Riley Shippy, 86; 7. Kase Hitt, 85; 8. Tyce Willis, 82.5; 9. Jesse Flores, 81; 10. Scottie Knapp, 80; 11. Lane Michael Vaughan, 78; 12. Dylan Grant, 70.