Canadian Rod Hay wins saddle bronc round at National Finals Rodeo

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This article was published 03/12/2006 (7193 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

LAS VEGAS (AP) – Canada’s Rod Hay was the best of the bunch on a rough Saturday for saddle bronc riders at the National Finals Rodeo.

Hay, of Wildwood, Alta., posted a score of 87.5 atop Coffee Break to win the third stage, and collect US$16,022. The payday moved him into fifth place in the overall world standings.

Hay credited a tough pen for Saturday night’s low scores.

“That might have been one of the better pens of broncs that I’ve ever seen at this rodeo,” said Hay. “There were a lot of chances to be 90 (points) for a lot of guys out there and the stock just bucked.”

Hay had never ridden Coffee Break before, and he tipped his hat to the feisty bronc.

“He had an exceptional day today, it felt like he really played,” said Hay. “I’ve seen him two or three times this year and he’s been that way. He felt bucky today.”

Cody DeMoss was second with an 85.5, and Cody Martin, J.J. Elshere and Cody Wright tied for third at 84.

In steer wrestling, defending world champion Lee Graves of Calgary stumbled to a 10th-place finish, wrestling his steer in 5.3 seconds. While he didn’t earn a paycheque Saturday, Graves was still encouraged by the result.

“Once you get past the first three rounds, the cattle have been run once,” said Graves, who was second in Friday’s stage. “They get to know what’s going, so it’ll get better,”

Luke Branquinho secured his second victory, winning with a time of 3.5 seconds. Gabe Ledoux was second in 3.6, and K.C. Jones followed in 3.7.

In bull riding, B.J. Schumacher won with a 90, and was the only rider out of- to have a successful ride. Glen O’Neill of Didsbury, Alta., was just out of the money with his seventh place score of 70.5 on Bar T Rodeo’s Thorn Bird.

Kelly Maben won the barrel racing in-.73 seconds, one night after she had triumphed in-.72. Terra Bynum was second in-.79, and Shelly Anzick was third in-.88.

Lindsay Sears of Nanton, Alta., continued her frustrating run at the NFR, knocking over her third barrel in three nights. She finished 15th in’.52.

Elsewhere, Chad Masters and Allen Bach had a 4.3-second run to secure their second consecutive team roping victory. Colter Todd and Cesar de la Cruz were second in 4.5.

In bareback riding, defending world champion Will Lowe won with an 85-point ride on Wild Woman. Bobby Mote was second with an 84, and Cimmaron Gerke, Paul Jones and Tom McFarland tied for third at 83.5.

In tie-down roping, Hunter Herrin had his first NFR win, finishing in 7.1 seconds. Joe Beaver was second in 8.2, followed by Matt Shiozawa in 8.4.

In all-around, Trevor Brazile of Decatur, Texas, continues to lead by over $100,000 in total winnings. Brazile has earned $287,000, while Beaver is second with $183,000 after three rounds.