DENVER, Colo. (January 22, 2023) — Championship Sunday at the National Western Stock Show Rodeo presented by Centura Health came to a close in the Denver Coliseum.
The winners were crowned based on how well they did during Sunday’s rodeo with the highest scores and fastest times in each event leaving as the champion. A sold-out crowd saw outstanding performances in each event.
It started with Garrett Shadbolt’s 89.5-point score in the bareback riding. The Merriman, Nebraska, resident rodeo Cervi Brothers Rodeo’s horse named On Second Thought for the title and earned a total of $6,181. It was a special win for Shadbolt who has been coming here nearly every year since joining the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in 2018.
Clay Smith and Jake Long have each won team roping titles in the Denver Coliseum, but the one in 2023 was the first that they earned together. They had a picture-perfect run at 3.9 seconds and left here with $6,821 each.
In the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association, the win went to McDade, Texas, barrel racer Jimmie Smith and no one was more surprised at the outcome. Smith barely advanced to the semifinals out of her bracket, then was in the last spot to get to the finals.
Riding her mare, A Valiant Nicky “Nicky” she stopped the clock in 14.83 seconds, the fastest run of the whole rodeo. Smith-Tew has ridden Nicky at outdoor rodeos most of the time, but with her success here, she may be changing her mind. They earned nearly $5,000.
Stetson Wright added his name to the list of family members who have won here when he rode Cervi Brothers Rodeo’s horse named Ed Bishop for 90 points. His father, uncle and older brother all have their names in the National Western history books.
Other winners were Jace Melvin, from Fort Pierre, S.D., in the steer wrestling, Riley Webb, from Denton, Texas, in the tie-down roping and Bryce Burnell from Sheridan, Wyoming in the bull riding.
Plans are already underway for the 118th National Western Stock Show in 2024, the best 16 days in January.
117th National Western Stock Show Winners
Bareback Riding – Garrett Shadbolt, Merriman, Neb., 89.5 points, $6,181
Steer Wrestling — Jace Melvin, Fort Pierre, S.D., 4.2 seconds, $4,758
Team Roping – Clay Smith, Broken Bow, Okla., and Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan., 3.9 seconds, $6,821
Saddle Bronc Riding – Stetson Wright, Milford, Utah, 90 points, $4,636
Tie-down Roping – Riley Mason Webb, Denton, Texas, 7.2 seconds, $4,782
Barrel Racing – Jimmie Smith-Tew, McDade, Texas, 14.83 seconds, $4,782.
Bull Riding, Bryce Burnell, Sheridan, Wyo., 91 points, $4,581
DENVER, Colo. — The following are results from the National Western Stock Show Rodeo, Saturday, 22, 2023.
20th performance – Championship Finals
Bareback Riding: 1, Garrett Shadbolt, Merriman, Neb., 89.5 points on Cervi Brothers Rodeo’s On Second Thought, $4,635. 2, Waylon Bourgeois, Church Point, La., 88, $3,554. 3, (tie) Richmond Champion, Stevensville, Mont., and Taylor Broussard, Estherwood, La., 86.5, $2,163. 5, Sam Petersen, Helena, Mont., 85.5, $1,082. 6, Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn., 123, $773 7, Trenton Montero, Winnemucca, Nev., 82.5, $618. 8, Yance Day, Mannford, Okla., 81.5, $464.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Jace Melvin, Fort Pierre, S.D., 4.2 seconds, $4,054. 2, (tie) Jaret Whitman, Belgrade, Mont., and Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta, 4.6 and $3,251 each. 4, Gus Franzen, Kearney, Neb., 4.7, $2,468. 5, Don Payne, Stephenville, Texas, 4.9, $1,939. 6, Justin Kimsey, Kennewick, Wash., 5.6, $1,410. 7, Stan Branco, 8.9, $881. 8, Cal Wolfe, Palmer, Texas, 10.0, $352.
Team Roping: 1, Clay Smith, Broken Bow, Okla., and Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan., 3.9, $4,023. 2, Kaleb Driggers, Hoboken, Ga., and Junior Nogueira, Presidente Prude, BR, 4.1, $3,499. 3, Lightning Aguilera, Athens, Texas, and Coleby Payne, Stephenville, Texas, 4.3, $2,974. 4, Kellan Johnson and Carson Johnson, Casper, Wyo., 4.8, $2,449. 5, Chet Weitz, London, Texas, and Jace Davis, Stephenville, Texas, 5.4, $1,924. 6, Hayes Smith, Central Point, Ore., and Jason Duby, Klamath Falls, Ore., 9.9, $1,399.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Stetspm Wright, Milford, Utah, 90 points on Cervi Brothers Rodeo’s Ed Bishop, $4,636. 2, Tanner Butner, Daniel, Wyo., 88, $3,554. 3, Layton Green, Millarville, Alberta, 87.5, $2,627. 4, Sage Newman, Melstone, Mont., 87, $1,700. 5, Shorty Garrett, Eagle Butte, S.D., 85.5, $1,082. 6, Cash Wilson, Wall, S.D., 85, $773. 7, Logan Cook, Alto, Texas, 84, $618. 8, Ben T. Andersen, Eckville, Alberta, 83, $464.
Tie-Down Roping: 1, Riley Mason Webb, Denton, Texas, 7.2 seconds, $4,054. 2, Kincade henry, Mount Pleasant, Texas, 7.4, $3,625. 3, Shad Ryan Mayfield, Clovis, N.M., 7.5, $2,999. 4, Chet Weitz, London, Texas, 8.0, $2,465. 5, Jody Green, Ada, Okla., 8.2, $1,939. 6, Blane Cocx, Cameron, Texas, 9.1, $1,410. 7, Cash Enderli, 10.3, $881. 8, Preston Pederson, Hermiston, Ore., 14.3, $353.
Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Jimmie Smith-Tew, McDade, Texas, 14.83, $4,074. 2, Kalli McCall, Lufkin, Texas, 14.95, $3,543. 3, Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, Lampasas, Texas, 14.96, $3,011. 4, Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 15.04, $2,480. 5, Darby Fox, king Hill, Idaho, 15.06, $1,948. 6, Kristi Steffes, Vale, S.D., 15.18, $1,417. 7, Timber Allenbrand, Paola, Kan., 15.21, $886. 8, Sophie Nolen, Stephenville, Texas, 15.25, $354.
Bull Riding: 1, Bryce Burnell, Sheridan, Wyo., 91 points on Cervi Championship’s White Trash, $4,581. 2, Stetson Wright, Milford, Utah, 90.5, $3,512. 3, Tyler Ray Taylor, Stephenville, Texas, 87, $2,596. 4, J.C. Mortensen, Paulden, Ariz., 86.5, $1,680. 5, Trey Holston, Fort Scott, Kan., 86, $1,068. 6, Cullen Telfer, Plant City, Fla., 81, $764.
About the National Western Stock Show — Established in 1906, the National Western Stock Show is a 501(c) (3) charitable organization that provides college and graduate level scholarships in agricultural-related fields of study. Its mission is to serve producers and consumers throughout the world by being the premier stock show, equestrian competitions, and center for year-round events. The 16-day show also serves as an entertainment arena, hosting one of the world’s richest regular season professional rodeos, family and educational shows plus Colorado’s largest western trade show. For more information, visit nationalwestern.com.
COURTESY OF SUSAN KANODE & NATIONAL WESTERN STOCK SHOW & RODEO TO TENN TEXAS MEDIA
