SAN ANGELO, Texas – Tilden Hooper has nothing to prove in the world of rodeo.
At 36 years old, he’s a nine-time qualifier to the National Finals Rodeo – his first came in 2008; his most recent was 2022. He’s won some of the biggest rodeos across North America and been a shining example of toughness and grit.
A dozen years ago, he had surgery on his neck, an injury that afflicts many bareback riders. He managed it over the years and continued to excel. After his most recent trip to Las Vegas 15 months ago, trouble had brewed again long enough. He opted to sit out most of the 2023 campaign for a little R & R and see how things looked this season.
Based on his showing during Thursday’s 10th performance of the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo, Hooper is back to riding at an premier level. He matched moves with J Bar J Rodeo’s River Bugs for 85.5 points to finish seventh in the opening round of bareback riding and, maybe more importantly, secure his spot in Friday’s championship round.
“The first time I won this rodeo (in 2011), most of the guys I rode against tonight were fifth-graders,” said Hooper, originally from Carthage, Texas, but now living in Fort Worth. “I’d like to show them that I can still do it by winning it again this year.”
“The crowd here in San Angelo … they know what they’re looking at, and they appreciate what we’re doing. In that little building, there’s a lot of energy, and it’s a place I’ve had pretty good luck at in the past.”
He actually fed off the electricity in the crowd even before the ride began. River Bugs was causing an issue in the chute, and the horse was leaning on a leg. The veteran waited until the bronc was on a more even keel, then nodded to begin the eight-second ride.
“These horses … they’re wild animals, and they’re gong to do that,” he said. “The energy in this busing is huge, and they can feel that. She wasn’t trying to hurt me; she was just moving up and down on the side of the chute.
“When they’re good like that, you don’t really mind fighting around with them in (the chute) when they do that outside the chute.”
Hooper kicked off his season at a January qualifier for The American that took place in Las Vegas. He did well enough there to get into the field at The American, which took place last month in Arlington, Texas. Those were his first two rodeos since taking the break from competition last winter. Hooper’s first PRCA rodeo was last week in Logandale, Nevada, so Thursday was just his second ride of the season that counts toward the world standings.
“That horse gets underneath herself, then the gets stalled out,” Hooper said. “She’s just fun to ride and gives you a chance to show off.”
Friday’s finals round will feature only the top 12 contestants in each event from the preliminary performances. The Texas-born cowboy understands the importance of staying on top of his game when it comes time to battle for another San Angelo title.
“When you get (stock contractors) like Pete Carr, Cullen Pickett and Sparky Dreesen in the pen, you’re going to have some great horses,” Hooper said. “That short round I usually one where you can be a lot of points.”
San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo
April 5-19
Bareback riding: 1. Cooper Cooke, 88.5 points on Korkow Rodeo’s Buffalo Soldier, $7,710; 2. R.C. Landingham, 87, $5,911; 3. (tie) Jacob Lees and Wyatt Maines, 86.5, $3,598; 5. (tie) Ethan Mazurenko and Will Norstrom, 86, $1,542; 7. Tilden Hooper, 85.5. $1,028; 8. Kennan Hayes, 85. $771; 9. (tie) Bodee Lammers and Luke Thrash, 84.5. (Because of ties, only 10 will advance to the championship round)
Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Jacob Edler, 3.6 seconds, $6,554; 2. Cole Walker, 3.7, $5,700; 3. (tie) Stetson Jorgensen and Tyler Waguespack, 3.8, $4,417 each; 5. (tie) Don Payne, Trisyn Kalawaia and Talon Roseland, 3.9, $2,280 each; 8. Gavin Soileau, 4.0, $570. Second round: 1. (tie) Rooster Yazzie and Trever Nelson, 3.6 seconds, $6,127 each; 3. Ty Erickson, 3.7, $4,845; 4. Grady Payne, 3.8, $3,990; 5. (tie) Heath Thomas and Adam Musil, 3.9, $2,707 each; 7. Chance Howard, 4.1, $1,425; 8. (tie) Dirk Tavenner, Tanner Brunner, Tyke Kipp and Wade Steffen, 4.2, $1,42 each. Average leaders: 1. Matt Reeves, 8.4 seconds on two runs; 2. Don Payne, 8.5; 3. Cole Walker, 8.7; 4. Trever Nelson, 8.9; 5. Gavin Soileau, 9.0; 6. Trisyn Kalawaia, 9.2; 7. Stetson Jorgensen, 9.3; 8. Heath Thomas, 9.4; 9. Mike McGinn, 9.5; 10. Jake Nelson, 9.6; 11. (tie) Bridger Anderson, Justin Schaffer, Chance Howard, Gus Franzen and Landris White, 9.8 (Howard and White advance to the final round via the tiebreaker).
Team roping: First round: 1. Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord, 3.8 seconds, $5,721; 2. (tie) Brenten Hall/Kaden Profili and Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, 4.0, $4,602 each; 4. (tie) Brady Tryan/Calgary Smith and Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp, 4.1, $3,201 each; 6. (tie) Luke Brown/Travis Graves, Devon Johnson/Boogie Ray and Max Kuttler/Cashton Weidenbener, 4.2, $1,244 each. Second round: 1. (tie) Derrick Begay/Colter Todd and Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord, 3.6 seconds, $5,348 each; 3. Chace Thompson/Chad Williams, 3.7, $4,229; 4. (tie) J.C. Yeahquo/Buddy Hawkins II, Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin and Jake Clay/Trey Yates, 3.8, $2,736 each; 7. Mason Appleton/Cooper Freeman, 3.9, $1,244; 7. (tie) Wade Smith/Zach Varian, Wade Smith/Zach Varian and Slade Wood/Nathan Walker, 4.0, $166 each. Average leaders: 1. Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord, 7.4 seconds on two runs; 2. Cory Kidd V/Tanner Braden, 8.4; 3. James Arviso/J.R. Gonzalez, 8.7; 4. Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorpe, 8.9; 5. Shay Carroll/Jace Helton, 9.4; 6. Andrew Ward/Kollin VonAhn, 9.7; 7. Brenten Hall/Kaden Profili, 9.9; 8. (tie) Cash Duty/Ross Ashford and Devon Johnson/Boogie Ray, 10.1; 10. Brye Crites/Tyler Worley, 10.8; 11. Curry Kirchner/Jake Edwards, 11.0; 12. Billy Bob Brown/Josh Patton, 12.0.
Saddle bronc riding: 1. Sage Newman, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Code Blue, Ryder Sanford, on J Bar J Rodeo’s Dirty Lizard, and Wyatt Casper, on J Bar J Rodeo’s Hell on Hooves, 87.5 points, $5,481 each; 4. Lefty Holman, 87, $2,584; 5. (tie) Cort Scheer and Tyrel Roberts, 86.5, $1,409 each; 7. Brody Cress, 86, $940; 8. (tie) Tanner Butner, Isaac Diaz and Cauy Masters, 85.5, $235 each; 11. (tie) Logan Cook and Kade Bruno, 85.
Tie-down roping: First round: 1. Riley Webb, 6.9 seconds, $6,996; 2. Tuf Cooper, 7.6, $6,083; 3. (tie) Bryce Derrer and Connor Atkinson, 7.8, $4,714 each; 5. Ryan Jarrett, 7.9, $3,346; 6. Cash Hooper, 8.1, $2,433; 7. (tie) Tom Crouse, Riley Pruitt and Marty Yates, 8.2, $710 each. Second round: 1. (tie) Cash Enderli, Zaine Mikita and Marty Yates, 7.3 seconds, $6,083 each; 4. Jake Pratt, 7.4, $4,258; 5. (tie) Shad Mayfield and Charlie Gibson, 7.5, $2,890 each; 7. (tie) Macon Murphy and Jeremiah Peek, 7.6, $1,065 each. 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. (tie) Tuf Cooper and Luke Potter, 16.7; 8. Tom Crouse, 16.9; 9. Dylan Hancock, 17.1; 9. Riley Webb, 17.5; 11. (tie) Carson Watford and Chance Oftedahl, 18.0.
Breakaway roping: First round: 1. (tie) Madalyn Richards, Megan Powell and Timber Allenbrand, 2.1 seconds, $3,791 each; 4. J.J Hampton, 2.2, $2,321; 5. (tie) Alli Masters, Joey Williams, Jordan Jo Hollabaugh and Addie Weil, 2.3, $1,363 each; 9. (tie) Brooke Eddy and Jenna Lee Adams, 2.4, $870 each; 11. (tie) Haley Mason and Britta Strain, 2.5, $638 each; 9. (tie) Josie Conner and Angie Green. 2.6, $406 each; 15. (tie) Aspen Miller, Rickie Fanning, Riley Welch, Kadin Jodie, Addee Carder, Abby Medlin and Delaney Kunau, 2.7, $33 each. Second round: 1. Kelsie Domer, 1.7 seconds, $4,641; 2. Shelby Boisjoli-Meged, Bradi Good and Emilee Charlesworth, 2.0, $3,017 each; 5. (tie) Alli Masters, Taylor Munsell, Sarah Angelone and Hannah Bass, 2.1, $1,363 each; 9. (tie) Hadley Clearman, Shelby Whiting and Jessi Everett, 2.2, $812; 12. (tie) Martha Angelone, Hali Williams, Bailey Jay and Kristy Stewart, 2.3, $406 each. Average leaders: 1. Alli Masters, 4.4 seconds on two runs; 2. Timber Allenbrand, 4.7; 3. (tie) Kelsie Domer and Brooke Eddy, 4.9; 5. Addie Weil, Joey Williams and Haley Mason, 5.0; 8. Angie Green, 5.1; 9. Josie Conner, 5.2; 10. Emilee Charlesworth, 5.3; 11. (tie) Harley Meged and Rickie Fanning, 5.5.
Barrel racing: Second round: 1. Jymmy Kay Cox, 14.03 seconds, $5,883; 2. (tie) Tiany Schuster and Wenda Johnson, 14.05, $4,265 each; 4, Dona Kay Rule, 14.08, $2,942; 5. Sydney Graham, 14.11, $2,353; 6. Jordan Driver, 14.15, $1,765; 7. Ilyssa Riley, 14.18, $1,471; 8. Timber Allenbrand, 14.20, $1,324; 9. Dena Kirkpatrick, 14.22, $1,177; 10. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 14.24, $1,030; 11. Jackie Ganter, 14.25, $882; 12. (tie) Abby Phillips and Shelley Morgan, 14.26, $662 each; 14. (tie) Ari-Anna Flynn and Emma Charleston, 14.27, $368 each. Average leaders: 1. 1, Wenda Johnson, 29.71 seconds on two runs; 2. Dona Kay Rule, 30.25; 3. Tiany Schuster, 30.27; 4. Kalli McCall, 30.32; 5. Shelley Morgan, 30.35; 6. Ilyssa Riley, 30.36; 7. Jymmy Kay Cox, 30.39; 8. Emma Charlston, 30.46; 9. Dena Kirkpatrick, 30.47; 10. Ari-Anna Flynn, 30.49; 11. (tie) Sydney Graham and Ashley Castleberry, 30.54.
Bull riding: 1. J.R. Stratford, 90 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Bruised Kitty, $7,217; 2. (tie) Dustin Boquet and Jeff Askey, 88, $4,811 each; 4. Cooper Howard Jacobs, 87.5, $2,646; 5. (tie) Jackson Carter Ward, Colton Byram, Vinell Vince Mariano, Wacey Schalla and Beau Gardner, 86.5, $914 each; 10. (tie) Riley Shippy and Scott Wells, 86; 12. Clayton Sellars, 85.5.