SALT LAKE CITY – Toward the southeastern side of Queensland rests the tiny hamlet of Injune, a community of less than 500 inhabitants about 350 miles from the state’s capital city of Brisbane.
It’s home to Darcy Radel, who moved to the United States three years ago to chase his rodeo dreams. His first stop was Snyder, Texas, where he met up with Greg Rhodes, the rodeo coach at Western Texas College.
That’s home, too, except for these summertime months when home is wherever he rests his head at night. On Friday night, he’ll sleep a little easier after posting the highest-marked ride of his career with an 89 on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Cowboy Fool to take the lead at Utah’s Own Rodeo during the Utah State Fair.
“I was 88.5 points on The Black Tie at Fallon (Nevada) this year, so, yeah, I was a half-point better tonight,” Radel said, his Australian accent building with his excited breaths. “(Cowboy Fool) is another great horse I’ve been pretty lucky to get on. I’m just loving life, getting to rodeo and having a great time.
“I’d seen him in Castle Rock about a month ago, and he was just awesome. I’ve seen him that exact trip with a couple of the Wright boys; with Ryder, he just jumped out there and stalled out so nice. When I saw (the draw) last week, I’ve been excited about it for five days. It doesn’t get any better than that.”
It’s a stepping stone for a young cowboy trying to make his mark in a sport he loves. He entered this week of rodeo’s 39th in the world standings with nearly $48,000 in earnings. That’s $20,000 more than he earned all of last season, when he was third in the Resistol Rookie of the Year Race. His hope to follow in the footsteps of some of his countrymen, cowboys like Damian Brennan, who is about to embark on his third qualification to the National Finals Rodeo.
It takes a big dream and a classic style to earn the way to ProRodeo’s grand finale.
“I think I might have missed the boat this year,” said Radel, 25. “I hurt my knee, so I took a couple weeks off in August. I’m hoping next year, if I can put the rides together like (Friday) and doing my part, then I have a chance. Getting on these good horses is unbelievable.”
Utah’s Own PRCA Rodeo
Sept. 5, 6 and 8
Salt Lake City
Bareback riding: 1. Wacey Schalla, 84 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Hillbilly; 2. Boyce Kraut, 82.5; 3. Kashton Ford, 80; 4. Tristan Hansen, 74.5; 5. Logan Patterson, 74; 6. Gauge McBride, 67; no other qualified rides.
Steer wrestling: 1. Ty Baurley, 4.1 seconds; 2. Ty Allred, 4.2; 3. Landris White, 4.7; 4. (tie) Matt Watson and Dalton Massey, 5.0; 6. Joey Haslam, 5.7; 7. Tad Williams, 14.7; no other qualified runs.
Team roping: 1. Coy Rahlmann/Cole Curry, 4.1 seconds; 2. Jr. Dees/Landen Glenn, 4.5; 3. Cody Snow/Hunter Koch, 6.3; 4. Brodi Jones/Brian Roundy, 16.6; no other qualified runs.
Saddle bronc riding: 1. Darcy Radel, 89 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Cowboy Fool; 2. Kade Bruno, 85; 3. (tie) Kolby Wanchuk and Cody Faulkner, 84; 5. Leon Fountain, 78; no other qualified rides.
Tie-down roping: 1. Cole Clemons, 8.6 seconds; 2. Myles Kenzy, 12.4; 3. BoDell Jessen, 15.0; 4. Weston Milner, 23.8; no other qualified runs.
Breakaway roping: 1. Zoie Bedke, 2.1 seconds; 2. Kash Gay, 2.3; 3. Kaitlyn Andersen, 12.7; 4. Libby Winchell, 13.5; no other qualified runs.
Barrel racing: 1. Sue Smith, 17.19 seconds; 2. Krystal Dillman, 17.20; 3. Sarah Atchison, 17.62; 4. Nicole Knowles, 17.74; 5. Amy Bush, 17.90; 6. Kylie Martinez, 17.91; 7. Leia Bluemer, 25.63; 8. Makenzie Mayes, 28.40; no other qualified runs.
Bull riding: 1. Tristan Mize, 87 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Best Chance; 2. Koby Jacobson, 85.5; 3. Elijah Mora, 83.5; no other qualified rides.