MINNESOTA BULL RIDER ENJOYING FORT WORTH STOCK SHOW & RODEO

FORT WORTH, Texas (Jan. 25, 2023)—Just over a week ago, bull rider Coy Thorson rode at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo for the very first time.

He was competing at Bull’s Night Out and won $2,133. He couldn’t wait to get back here and crawl into the famed white bucking chutes with the big red diamonds for another opportunity.

Thorson qualified to compete in Dickies Arena based on his success so far in the 2023 season which started last October. The Fergus Falls, Minnesota resident is currently just outside of the top 15 at number 16 in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association World standings.

Bracket 4 started on Thursday night and Thorson is in a really good position to advance to the semifinals. He rode Andrews Rodeo Company’s bull named Kyote Train for 88.5 points. As one of only two successful riders, he earned $2,420 for the effort and regardless of what happens in round 2, he will be riding here again. A win here could give him a substantial boost in the world standings.

Coy Thorson of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, had never competed at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo (FWSSR) until last Tuesday when he won more than $2,000 at Bulls’ Night Out. He returned Thursday for the FWSSR Pro Rodeo Tournament, rode another bull – Andrews Rodeo Company’s Kyote Train for 88.5 points to win round 1 of bracket 4 and more than $2,400. He will have at least two more chances at more of the $1.2 million purse before the rodeo concludes February 4. FWSSR photo by James Phifer

Tanner Brunner from Ramona, Kansas, set the pace in the steer wrestling on Thursday. Brunner, a four-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier was the next-to-last competitor in the set. He watched as barriers were broken and penalties were incurred. He knew he had a good steer and made the most of his chance. Brunner stopped the clock in 3.9 seconds.

Tanner Brunner of Ramona, Kansas, won round 1 of bracket 4 at the 2023 Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo’s ProRodeo Tournament. The four-time National Finals Rodeo stopped the clock in 3.9 seconds.
FWSSR photo by James Phifer

In the bareback riding, it was three-time world champion Tim O’Connell at the top of the leaderboard. O’Connell from Zwingle, Iowa, scored 88 points on Championship Pro Rodeo’s horse named Witchy Woman for the lead. The ride was memorable for the two-time FWSSR champion as his brother Will O’Connell owns the bucking horse.

The second round of Bracket 4 will be held on Friday afternoon beginning at 2 p.m. where semifinals qualifiers will be determined. There is another performance Friday evening which will showcase a new group of competitors in Bracket 5. That rodeo begins at 7:30 p.m.

FORT WORTH, Texas — The following are unofficial results from the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo’s Pro Rodeo Tournament, January 26, 2023.

Bracket 4, Round 1

Bareback riding: 1, Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa, 88 points on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Witchy Woman, $1,720. 2, Kade Sonnier, Carencro, La., 87.5, $1,320. 3, Waylon Bourgeois, Church Point, La., 85, $880. 4, Trenten Montero, Winnemucca, Nev., 84.5, $440.

Steer wrestling: 1, Tanner Brunner, Ramona, Kan., 3.9 seconds, $1,760.  2, Hunter Cure, Holliday, Tenn., 4.4,  $1,320. 3, Cade Goodman, Waelder, Texas, 4.7, $880. 4, Sterling Lambert, Fallon, Nev., 5.4 $440.

Breakaway roping: 1, Sarah Angelone, Stephenville, Texas, 2.1 seconds, $1,760. 2, (tie) Sawyer Gilbert, Buffalo, S.D., and Cheyanne Guillory, Kinston, Okla., 2.6, $1,100 each. 4, Jordan Jo Hollabaugh, Canyon, Texas, 2.9, $440.

Saddle bronc riding: 1, Logan Hay, Wildwood, Alberta, Canada, 85 points on  Championship Pro Rodeo’s Quality Control, $1,760. 2, Ben Anderson, Eckville, Alberta, Canada, 84.5, $1,320. 3, Cash Wilson, Wall, S.D., 84, $880. 4, Jake Watson, Hudsons Hope, British Columbia, 82.5, $440.

Tie-down roping: 1, Trevor Hale, Perryton, Texas, 8.7 seconds, $1,760. 2, Ryan Jarrett, Comanche, Okla., 9.7, $1,320 each. 3, Taylor Santos, Creston, Calif., 10.1, $880. 4, Zach Jongbloed, Iowa, La., 10.2, $440.

Team Roping: 1, Reno Stoebner, Bastrop, Texas, and Ryan Motes, Weatherford, Texas., 6.9 seconds, $1,760 each. 2, Jeff Flenniken, Caldwell, Idaho, and Tyler Worley, Berryville, Ark., 7.4, $1,320 each. 3, Tyler Wade, Terrell, Texas, and Travis Graves, Jay, Okla., 10.9, $880 each. 4, Joshua Torres, Ocala, Fla., and Dylin Ahlstrom, Hooper, Utah, 11.6, $440 each.

Barrel Racing: 1, Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, Texas, 16.56 seconds, $1,760. 2, Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, Lampasas, Texas., 16.58, $1,320. 3, Rachelle Riggers, Lewiston, Idaho, 16.70, $880. 4, Michelle Alley, Madisonville, Texas, 16.72, $440.

Bull Riding: (two rides) 1, Coy Thorson, Fergus Falls, Minn., 88.5 on Andrews Rodeo Company’s Kyote Train, $2,420. 2, Trey Benton III, Richards, Texas, 86, $1,980.

PROVIDED COURTESY OF JOHNA CRAVENS / FORT WORTH STOCK SHOW & RODEO TO TENN TEXAS RADIO