GREAT FALLS — Rainy conditions didn't stop cowboys and cowgirls from putting on a show in Friday night's round of the Big Sky PRCA rodeo at the Montana State Fair in the Electric City.
WATCH FRIDAY'S HIGHLIGHTS:
Two of the most noteworthy performances came from saddle bronc and breakaway roping, as Alberta native, four-time world champion and last year's Big Sky winner Zeke Thurston recorded an 86-point ride on Tuca's Warsong.
Then it was New Mexico cowgirl Bailey Bates — ranked No. 17 in the world — grabbing a mark of 2.4 seconds in breakaway.
Big Sky Pro Rodeo
Great Falls, Mont., July 30-Aug. 2
Bareback riding leaders: 1. Kade Berry, 87.5 points on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics' Logos; 2. Dean Thompson, 85; 3. Mason Stuller, 84.5; 4. Ethan Mazurenko, 83; 5. Sage Allen, 82; 6. Seth Hardwick, 81.
Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Ty Erickson, 4.1 seconds, $1,632; 2. Quentin Wheeler, 4.8, $1,350; 3. (tie) Curtis Cassidy and Jhet Murphy, 4.9, $928 each; 5. J.D. Struxness, 5.1, $506; 6. Mitch Detton, 5.2, $281. Second round leaders: 1. J.D. Struxness, 3.5 seconds; 2. Ty Erickson, 4.2; 3. Jaden Whitman, 4.8; 4. Quentin Wheeler, 5.2; 5. Evan Spady, 5.5; 6. Jaret Whitman, 6.0. Average leaders: 1. Ty Erickson, 4.1 seconds on one head; 2. Quentin Wheeler, 4.8; 3. (tie) Curtis Cassidy and Jhet Murphy, 4.9 each; 5. J.D. Struxness, 5.1; 6. Mitch Detton, 5.2.
Team roping: First round: 1. (tie) Brady Tryan/Calgary Smith and Aaron Tsinigine/Jeremy Buhler, 4.8 seconds, $1,204 each; 3. Cameron Irwin/Coley Nicholls, 5.1, $864; 4. Jade Stoddard/Max Kuttler, 5.2, $636; 5. (tie) Jason Carlson/Hunter Karlson and Clay McNichol/Riley Wakefield, 5.4, $318 each. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Jade Stoddard/Max Kuttler and Brady Tryan/Calgary Smith, 4.6 seconds each; 3. (tie) Cameron Irwin/Coley Nicholls and Gunner Plenty/Mason Trollinger, 5.0 each; 5. Clay Robertson/Dakota Louis, 5.5; 6. Trey Fleming/Jared Bilby, 6.0. Average leaders: 1. (tie) Aaron Tsinigine/Jeremy Buhler and Brady Tryan/Calgary Smith, 4.8 seconds on one head each; 3. Cameron Irwin/Coley Nicholls, 5.1; 4. Jade Stoddard/Max Kuttler, 5.2; 5. (tie) Jason Carlson/Hunter Karlson and Clay McNichol/Riley Wakefield, 5.4 each.
Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Sage Newman, 87 points on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics' Mugilla; 2. Zeke Thurston, 86; 3. Kole Ashbacher, 82.5; 4. (tie) Jake Barnes and Caleb Meeks, 81 each; 6. Warwick Southern, 79.5.
Tie-down roping: First round: 1. Zack Jongbloed, 8.3 seconds, $1,920; 2. Weston Hersel, 8.7, $1,589; 3. Adam Shuckburgh, 8.8, $1,258; 4. Chantz Webster, 8.9, $927; 5. Shay Keller, 9.2, $596; 6. Dakota Felton, 9.4, $331. Second round leaders: 1. Beau Cooper, 8.6 seconds; 2. (tie) Haven Meged and Clayton Smith, 8.8 each; 4. Zack Jongbloed, 8.9; 5. Adam Shuckburgh, 9.3; 6. Jade Gardner, 9.4. Average leaders: 1. Zack Jongbloed, 17.2 seconds on two head; 2. Adam Shuckburgh, 18.1; 3. Haven Meged, 18.3; 4. Shay Keller, 19.0; 5. (tie) Clayton Smith and Cash Trexler, 19.3 each.
Barrel racing leaders: 1. Jamie Olsen, 15.26 seconds; 2. Bailee Murnion, 15.48; 3. Heather Crowley, 15.49; 4. Hayle Gibson-Stillwell, 15.59; 5. Cally Goyins, 15.63; 6. Hailey Garrison, 15.65.
Bull riding leaders: 1. Tristen Hutchings, 88 points on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics' Time Wasted; 2. Stran Smith, 75; no other qualified rides.
