Western Sports
FIRST PERFORMANCE OF CODY STAMPEDE RODEO ACTION PACKED
CODY, Wyo., July 1, 2024 — Fans at opening night at the Cody Stampede saw a young bareback rider from Grantsville, Utah, live up to his name.
Bronc Marriott may not have been born to be a bucking horse rider, but given his name and family legacy, he’s not far from it. Marriott has been around rodeo all his life and has been watching the horses and learning as he grew up. His father, Bobby Marriott, is a well-respected pick-up man who works at the Cody Stampede. He has been waiting for a long time to get on Frontier Rodeo’s horse named Breaking News. When he found out that was the horse he had by his name at the Cody Stampede, he could barely contain his enthusiasm.
Breaking News came out of the chutes with high leaps and big kicks. Bronc Marriott did everything he could to stay in the middle of the horse, match the timing of the jumps and kicks and show the judges what a great ride looks like. With half the score going to the horse and half to Marriott, the numbers tallied up to 91.5 points.
Last year the bareback riding at the Cody Stampede was won with an 89, so Marriott is looking good for his first championship at Stampede Park. His score will need to stay on top through three more performances. And, even if he doesn’t hold onto first place, he will very likely get a good paycheck from here. That is very important as he is barely inside the top 15 in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world standings. He needs to stay there through September to qualify for his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
This is typically the busiest and most lucrative week of summer rodeos. Marriott was in Reno, Nevada, Saturday, and then Greeley, Colorado before coming here.
“We will be at a rodeo everyday until June 13th,” he said. “I missed most of last year with injuries and that started at Reno. This year has been so much better. I just hope I can keep the momentum rolling.”
Another contestant that wants to keep adding to his earnings is Ryder Wright who has watched his uncles and brothers win titles here. Wright was the lone member of his legendary family to ride on opening night and he scored 87 points on Fronter Rodeo’s Big News. His younger brother Stetson was supposed to be with him but has been fighting injuries and has yet to return to competition. This Fourth-of-July, known as “Cowboy Christmas,” has Ryder’s wife and two children going with him.
“Honestly, it’s probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have them all with me over the Fourth,” he said. “I always want to do good but having them right here makes a difference. I really want to make them proud.”
The second performance of the Cody Stampede rodeo will be held at 8 p.m. at Stampede Park on Tuesday. Gates open at 6 p.m. with live entertainment and food options on the grounds. Fans are encouraged to come early to avoid being caught in traffic.
The following are current leaders at the 105th Cody Stampede, Saturday, July 1, 2024 —
Bareback riding: 1, Bronc Marriott, Grantsville, Utah, 91.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Breaking News. 2, Cooper Cooke, Victor, Idaho, 85. 3, Jess Pope, Waverly, Kan., 84.5. 4, (tie) Ty Pope, Garnett, Kan., and Caleb Bennett, Corvallis, Mont., 82 each.
Steer wrestling: 1, Trell Etbauer, Goodwell, Okla., 4.5 seconds. 2, Dalton Kunkee, Lexington, Nebraska, 6.1. 3, Jake Nelson, Whitehall, Mont., 6.5. 4, Don Payne, Stephenville, Texas, 6.6.
Team roping: 1, Jade Stoddard, Sugar City, Idaho and Mason Trollinger, Casper, Wyo., 4.7 seconds. 2, James Arviso, Winslow, Ariz., and Denton Dunning, Surprise, Ariz., 4.8. 3, (tie) Tyson Thompson, Munday, Texas, and Jace Bland, Turkey, Texas; and Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah and Clay Futrell, Union Grove, N.C., 4.9 each.
Saddle bronc riding: 1, Ryder Wright, Beaver, Utah, 87 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Big News. 2, Logan Hay, Wildwood, Alberta, 83. 3, Wallker Rezzonico, Florece, Colo., 82. 4, Allen Boore, Axtell, Utah, 79.5.
Breakaway roping: 1, Shai Schaefer, Lake Creek, Texas, 1.8. 2, Maddy Deerman, Hope, N.M., 2.5. 3, Jacelyn Frost, Randlett, Utah, 3.5. 4, Lacy Holeman, Carpenter, Wyo., 7.5.
Tie-down roping: 1, Blake Ash, Aurora, Miss., 8.6 seconds. 2, Cash Fretwell, Pleasanton, Texas, 8.8. 3, (tie) Hayden Ford, Whitehouse, Texas; Ladd King, West Weber, Utah; and Grant Turek, St. Paul, Neb., 8.9 each.
Barrel Racing: 1, Tarryn Lee, St. David, Ariz., 17.38 seconds. 2, Abigail Knight, Charlo, Mont., 17.43. 3, Karen Boyd, Billings, Mont., 17.49. 4, (tie) Alex Odle, Brush, Colo., and Ashley Castleberry, Montgomery, Texas, 17.54 each.
Bull Riding: (one ride) Jeff Askey, Athens, Texas, 79 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Dark Night.
PROVIDED COURTESY OF SUSAN KANODE FOR CODY STAMPEDE RODEO TO TENN TEXAS MEDIA
