ProRodeo Sports News - July 12, 2019

ZekeThurston already had won the Ponoka Stampede, but his 2019 title there won’t be one he soon forgets. Thurston made a clean sweep of the Alberta rodeo that’s close to home, finishing with an 89-point ride on Calgary Stampede Rodeo’s Ancient Delivery in the Showdown Round. Thurston also won the first round, the finals and the average, taking home $21,388 during the June 25-July 1 rodeo. “It’s really cool,” saidThurston, the 2016 PRCA Saddle Bronc Riding World Champion. “Anytime you win close to home especially a rodeo of that caliber and with the whole family there, it makes it that much more special.” As of July 9, Thurston was in second place in the world standings with $142,398. He’s chasing 2017 world champion Ryder Wright for first place in the standings. “In a way, we don’t pay attention to what the other one is doing,” Thurston said. “But we’re good buddies, and it is kind of fun. At the end of the day, we’re going to ride our broncs and do our best.” sweeps up in Canada PONOKA STAMPEDE PONOKA, ALBERTA Thurston

Jim Fain photo Clayton Biglow had one of the biggest Cowboy Christmas hauls with $26,183 thanks in part to the 87.5-point ride he made in Oakley City for $5,139. OAKLEY INDEPENDENCE DAY RODEO OAKLEY CITY, UTAH

Biglow adds to Tour lead in Oakley City

Bareback rider Clayton Biglow had been to the Oakley Independence Day Rodeo plenty of times, but he had never earned a check there. That changed when he rode Bar T Rodeo’s Bitter Times for an 87.5-point trip and the win, earning $5,139. As of July 9, he was third in the world standings with $102,171. “It’s great to get any win,” said Biglow, 23. “That’s a really cool rodeo. I’ve been going there a while, but I never pulled a check there let alone won it. Oakley is definitely a rodeo a guy wants to win – it’s got a lot of history and it’s been around a while. It’s usually tough too, since it’s during the Fourth of July.” Biglow picked up more ProRodeo Tour points in Oakley to add to his substantial lead in the bareback riding standings. He leads the way with 4,666.22 points in the Tour. Kaycee Feild is second, more than 1,300 points behind. “It’s good, that’s what you want to do (add points) especially this time of year,” Biglow said. “If you can get to Puyallup and do well there you pretty much have secured a spot in the Finals.”

Jeremy Wombold photo Zeke Thurston had a clean sweep in Ponoka, winning each round and the average.

ProRodeo Sports News 7/12/2019

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