GOODING, Idaho – It’s been 22 years since an Australian has won a saddle bronc riding world championship.
Damian Brennan wants to change that, and he’s in a great position to do it. He is third in the world standings with $176,365, and there are still six weeks remaining in the regular season. Only the top 15 on the money list in each event qualify for the sport’s grand finale, the National Finals Rodeo, which takes place in December at Las Vegas.
“The last two years, I’ve been on the bubble, so it’s nice this year to know I’ve got (the NFR) made right now,” said Brennan, 25, of Injune, Queensland. “We’re still trying to get a few world titles, so I’m going to keep going as hard as possible and hopefully finish strong.”
Brennan took a positive step toward that with an 89-point ride Korkow Rodeos’ Me Mojo to take the bronc riding lead at the Gooding Pro Rodeo.
“I’ve seen Wyatt Casper the other day in Ogden (Utah) get on it, and it was really good for him there,” Brennan said of the horse. “He was 86.5, and I think he was honestly a touch better tonight. That horse is getting better and better, so that’s a really young up-and-comer from Korkows.
“T.J. (Korkow) has got a great set of horses, and they get bucked a lot. They keep performing every time, so he’s got a really good string of horses.”
The Aussie is in his third year in ProRodeo. Two seasons ago, he was named the Resistol Saddle Bronc Riding Rookie of the Year and finished the season 16th in the world standings – that’s just one spot away from playing for the biggest pay in Las Vegas. Last year he advanced to his first NFR, where he earned nearly $170,000 over 10 nights and finished the campaign fourth on the money list with $296,495.
While there, he watched fellow countryman Ky Hamilton win the bull riding world title. This year, he wants to climb the bronc riding mountaintop and leave Las Vegas with rodeo’s gold.
“Ky had an outstanding NFR last year, and I was pumped to be there with him,” Brennan said. “It was a pretty fun time.
“We’ll keep rodeoing a few more years and, yeah, probably go back (to Australia) one day and live a steady life. It’ll be good.”
He’d love to do it with a Montana Silversmiths’ gold buckle in his trophy case.
Gooding Pro Rodeo
Aug. 14-17
Bareback riding: 1. Cole Reiner, 91 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Game Trail; 2. Ethan Mazurenko, 89; 3. Keenan Hayes, 88.5; 4. Cole Franks, 88; 5. Wacey Schalla, 87.5; 6. Cooper Cooke, 86; 7. (tie) Lane McGehee, Jacek Frost, Clay Jorgenson and Kade Sonnier, 84.5.
Steer wrestling 1. Payden McIntyre, 3.4 seconds; 2. (tie) Cash Robb and Clayton Hass, 3.5; 4. Bridger Anderson, Ty Erickson and Dirk Tavenner, 3.7; 7. Gavin Soileau, Laramie Warren, Trisyn Kalawaia and Eli Lord, 3.9; 11. Tanner Brunner and Levi Rudd, 4.0.
Team roping 1. Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, 4.5 seconds; 2. (tie) Brye Crites/Tyler Worley, Nelson Wyatt/Jonathan Torres, Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp and Chad Masters/Wyatt Cox, 4.6 second; 6. Colby Siddoway/Keegan Cumbie, 4.8; 7. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 4.9; 8. Rhett Anderson/Jared Fillmore, 5.0.
Saddle bronc riding: 1. Damian Brennan, 89 points on Korkow Rodeos’ Me Mojo; 2. Cash Wilson, 88; 3. Zac Dallas, 87.5; 4. Wyatt Casper, 86; 5. Dawson Dahm, 85; 6. Logan Hay, 84; 7. Noel Johnson, 83.5; 8. (tie) Traylin Martin and Kole Ashbacher, 81.5; 10. (tie) Brady Hill and Stran Nielson, 81.
Breakaway roping: 1. Hali Williams, 1.9 seconds; 2. (tie) Kacie Wiersma, Madalyn Richards and Aspen Miller, 2.0; 5. (tie) Addy Hill, Martha Angelone, Beau Peterson, Aubryn Bedke, Shelli Scrivner and Cadee Williams, 2.1; 11. (tie) Hope Thompson, Sarah Angelone and Tiffany Schieck, 2.2; 14. (tie) Maddy Deerman, Timber Allenbrand and Eryn Maddock, 2.3.
Tie-down roping: 1. Hunter Herrin, 7.5 seconds; 2. Chisum Allen, 8.2; 3. Haven Meged, 8.3; 4. Colton Farquer, 8.5; 5. (tie) Blane Cox, Jake Hannum and Zack Jongbloed, 8.6; 8. Trevor Hale, Seth Hall, Beau Cooper and Marcos Costa, 8.7; 12. Bo Pickett, 9.0; 13. (tie) Cash Hooper and Tom Crouse, 9.0; 15. Chase Webster, 9.3.
Barrel racing: 1. Kassie Mowry, 16.76 seconds; 2. (tie) Jordon Briggs and Carlee Otero, 16.79; 4. Chelsea Moore, 16.82; 5. Keyla Costa, 16.86; 6. Ashley Castleberry, 16.87; 7. Emily Beisel, 16.88; 8. Andrea Busby, 16.92; 0. (tie) Toria Madsen, Sharin Hall, Steely Steiner and Tiany Schuster, 16.95; 13. (tie) Morgan Backstrom and Halyn Lide, 16.98; 15. LaTricia Duke, 17.03.
Bull riding: 1. Jeter Lawrence, 87 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Rosco; 2. Stephan Tonita, 85.5; 3. (tie) Trevor Reiste and Wacey Schalla, 83.5; 5. (tie) Jeff Bertus and Jace Trosclair, 83; 7. Mason Moody, 80; 8. Ethan Skogquist, 75.