Western Sports
WCRA ANNOUNCES 2022 COWTOWN CHRISTMAS CHAMPIONSHIP RODEO FINAL ATHLETE ROSTER
Austin, Texas – Ahead of the 2022 Cowtown Christmas Championship Rodeo, WCRA (World Champions Rodeo Alliance) has announced the final roster of the 218 athletes who have qualified and entered for the December 14-17 event and their date of competition. The roster is comprised of 146 timed event athletes and 72 roughstock athletes who qualified to the WCRA Triple Crown of Rodeo Event.
The Triple Crown of Rodeo Presented by Lazy E Ranch and Arena is an annual bonus that will pay $1 million to any one athlete, or collection of athletes, who win first place in any three consecutive WCRA Major Rodeos. The most recent Triple Crown of Rodeo event was held in Salt Lake City, July 20-25, 2022.
The Cowtown Christmas Championship Rodeo is playing host to the final stop to the WCRA’s Triple Crown of Rodeo (TCR) during the 2022 series and will have a guaranteed payout of $360,000. Each champion will walk away with a minimum of $15,000.
The roster is highlighted by an $1 Million Triple Crown of Rodeo Contender, RC Landingham. The 32-year-old Bareback Rider earned his second consecutive win at July’s Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo, putting him in contention to be a millionaire. If Landingham triumphs at the Cowtown Christmas Championship Rodeo, he will be the first victor of the WCRA Triple Crown of Rodeo $1 Million Bonus.
Landingham will compete in the December 17 showdown round where the top three athletes in each discipline will earn a position in the Triple Crown of Rodeo Round. Landingham must place in the top spot in the TCR Round to take home the $1 million cash bonus.
RC Landingham (Bareback Riding), Kody Rinehart (Saddle Bronc), Josh Frost (Bull Riding) Michael Bates (Steer Wrestling), Kaleb Driggers (Team Roping Header), Junior Nogueira (Team Roping Heeler), Shad Mayfield (Tie-Down Roping), Kassie Mowry (Barrel Racing) Martha Angelone (Breakaway Roping) and all earned the No. 1 position on the leaderboard to be seeded into the Showdown Round.
A total of 72 athletes (eight athletes per night) in each of the nine disciplines will compete in the December 14-16 Qualifying Rounds with the top two fastest times or highest scores in each discipline of each performance will advance to the December 17 Showdown Round. The six qualifiers from the Qualifying Round along with the WCRA Leaderboard No. 1 will create for a total of seven athletes competing in each discipline of the December 17 Showdown Round. The top three fastest times advance to the Triple Crown of Rodeo Round where the fastest time or score will walk away with a minimum of $15,000.
The following seven athletes are entered and eligible for the Triple Crown of Rodeo:
| DISCIPLINE | ATHLETE |
|---|---|
| BAREBACK RIDING | RC LANDINGHAM (TWO CONSECUTIVE WINS) |
| SADDLE BRONC RIDING | ALLEN BOORE |
| TEAM ROPING HEADING | KALEB DRIGGERS |
| TEAM ROPING HEELING | JUNIOR NOGUEIRA |
| TIE DOWN ROPING | SHANE HANCHEY |
| BREAKAWAY ROPING | JOSIE CONNER |
| STEER WRESTLING | CASH ROBB |
Since launching in May of 2018, the WCRA and its partners have awarded more than $12,600,000 in new money to rodeo athletes. All rodeo athletes interested in learning more about the WCRA or the VRQ should visit wcrarodeo.com.
-WCRA-
About WCRA
WCRA is a professional sport and entertainment entity, created to develop and advance the sport of rodeo by aligning all levels of competition. In association with the PBR, WCRA produces major rodeo events, developing additional opportunities for rodeo-industry competitors, stakeholders, and fans. To learn more, visit wcrarodeo.com. For athletes interested in learning more about the WCRA Virtual Rodeo Qualifier (VRQ) system, visit app.wcrarodeo.com.
PROVIDED COURTESY OF WCRA TO TENN TEXAS MEDIA
