SALT LAKE CITY, UT – It was a golden night on Tuesday, July 24, at the Komatsu Equipment Days of ‘47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo presented by Zions Bank in Salt Lake City with gold, silver and bronze medals awarded to the champions.
The night started off similar to 2017 with bareback rider Wyatt Denny atop the medal podium after turning in an 88-point ride aboard Sankey Rodeo’s Sozo. Denny of Minden, Nev., added a second gold medal to his collection and another $50,000 to his bank account.
“I had that horse a few weeks ago so when I saw I had drawn him tonight I was pretty excited,” said Denny. “It is great to be back here and capture another gold medal.”
Taking the silver medal was JR Vezain of Melstone, Mont. It took two horses but Vezain made the second one count after receiving a reride. He tallied 85 points on the second horse, which was Andrews Rodeo’s PTDS Power Play to take second and a check totaling $25,000. There was a tie for third with Ty Breuer of Mandan, N.D. and Tristan Hansen of Victor, Idaho, who both spurred their way to 84.5 points. Due to the tiebreaker rules, Breuer received the bronze medal as his score coming in was a half a point higher than Hansen. However they will share the money each receiving $9,000.
Saddle bronc rider Cody DeMoss joined Denny as a repeat champion after spurring Bar T Rodeo’s Pinto Pass for 87.5 points. DeMoss adds another gold medal to his collection and another $50,000 in cold hard cash. This was actually DeMoss’ third time to win the Days of ’47 Rodeo.
“I really like this rodeo,” said DeMoss moments after receiving the gold medal. “I was in Cheyenne earlier today and have to thank Stace Smith for flying me over here and for Young Living Farms and their essential oils to help me move tonight. I pulled a hamstring and have been rubbing their oil all over. I am a big believer in their product.
“God has blessed me here at this great arena in front of these great fans.”
Taking the silver medal was Wyatt Casper of Pampa, Texas with an 86.5-point ride on Bar T Rodeo’s Hell Boy. Isaac Diaz and Taos Muncy tied for third with 86 points rides but it was Diaz who collected the bronze medal after coming into the Finals with a half point better ride than Muncy. Diaz rode Andrews Rodeo’s Fire Lane, while Muncy did battle with Bar T Rodeo’s Son of Sadie.
Not to be outdone by the cowboys, barrel racer Hailey Kinsel repeated as the gold medalist at the Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo. Kinsel of Cotulla, Texas, and her mount DM Sissy Hayday “Sister” turned in a lighting fast 17.09 second run to lead the way and continue their winning ways.
“I have faith in God and He never let’s anyone down who puts their faith in Him,” said Kinsel when asked what her secret was to dominating the barrel racing. “Plus, I have a great yellow mare who believes the same.”
Joining Kinsel on the medal stand for the second year in a row was Lisa Lockhart of Oelrichs, S.D. Lockhart moved up one spot capturing the silver medal in 2018 with a time of 17.19 seconds aboard An Oakie With Cash “Louie.” Two-time world champion Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi took the bronze with a 17.24 aboard KissKiss BangBang “Mona.”
There was a new man atop the podium in the steer wrestling as defending champion Ryle Smith received a no time. Justin Shaffer of Hallsville, Texas, and a former Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo Champion won his first gold medal and picked up $50,000. He stopped the clock in 4.2 seconds. Close on his heels was Rowdy Parrott of Mamou, La., with a 4.4 and Bridger Anderson of Alva, Okla., with a 4.5.
It was a family affair in the team roping with brothers Kellan and Carson Johnson atop the podium with their very first gold medals. Kellan, 19, and Carson, 17, stopped the clock in 4.1 seconds to add $50,000 each to their bank accounts. Their father, Jhett, won the PRCA world title in 2011 as a heeler and is now watching his sons make a name for themselves in the rodeo arena. The duo who call Casper, Wyo., home also turned in the fastest time in the semifinals just 24-hours earlier with a 4.9-second run and collected $3,200 each for that run.
Matt Sherwood of Pima, Ariz., teamed with Will Woodfin of Marshall, Texas, this week and they finished as silver medalists with a time of 4.3 seconds. Another brother team took the bronze when Riley and Brady Minor stopped the clock in 4.4 seconds.
Tie-down roper Cory Solomon brought his A-game to Salt Lake City on Tuesday night standing atop the podium with his first gold medal. Solomon of Prairie View, Texas, stopped the clock in 6.6 seconds to capture the win and $50,000 that goes to the champion. His run was the fastest of the event with Utah cowboy JC Malone hot on his heels with a 6.7-second run. Malone of Plain City added $25,000 to his bank account and a silver medal to his trophy case. Rounding out the top three was Caleb Smidt of Bellville, Texas, with a 7.0.
Bringing the night to an exciting close Derek Kolbaba rode PBR and PRCA bull of the year D&H Cattle Sweet Pro’s Brusier to an 89.5-point ride. Kolbaba of Walla Walla, Wash., added $50,000 and his very first gold medal to his resume. Fellow PBR rider Alisson De Souza joined Kolbaba on the podium as the silver medalist and the only other one to have a qualified ride on the final night. De Souza of Brazil rode Broken Arrow’s Cut the Cord for 87 points. Garrett Smith of Rexburg, Idaho, captured the bronze after coming into the finals with the highest marked ride of 86.5 points.
The Komatsu Equipment Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo presented by Zions Bank, took place at the $17.5 million state-of-the-art Days of ’47 Arena at the Utah State Fairpark, custom designed and built for rodeo. The venue—an outdoor arena located in the heart of Salt Lake City—features over 10,000 stadium-style seats.
For only the fourth time in the history of rodeo, riders had the opportunity to compete for gold, silver or bronze medals. The first two times were in conjunction with the Olympic Winter Games in Calgary (1988) and Salt Lake City (2002), when rodeo was part of the Cultural Olympiad and the third being the Days of ’47 Cowboy Games and Rodeo in 2017. The medals awarded at the Days of ‘47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo were produced by OC Tanner, the same company that made the Olympic medals for the champions of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.
Results: Performance 5, July 24, 2018
Bareback riding: 1. Wyatt Denny, Minden, Nev., 88 points on Sankey Rodeo’s Sozo, $50,000; 2. JR Vezain, Melstone, Mont., 85 on Andrews Rodeo’s PTDS Power Play, $25,000; 3. (tie) Ty Breuer, Mandan, N.D., on Sankey Rodeo’s Thunder Monkey, and Tristan Hansen, on Summit ProRodeo’s Revolving Door, 84.5 points, $9,000 each.
*tie for third for medals was broken based on score coming into the Finals. Breuer had an 85.5 while Hansen came in with an 85.
Gold medalist: Wyatt Denny
Silver medalist: J.R. Vezain
Bronze medalist: Ty Breuer
Steer wrestling: 1. Justin Shaffer, 4.2 seconds, $50,000; 2. Rowdy Parrott, Mamou, La., 4.4, $25,000; 3. Bridger Anderson, Alva, Okla., 4.5, $12,000; 4. Hunter Cure, Holliday, Texas, 6.6, $6,000.
Gold: Justin Shaffer
Silver: Rowdy Parrott
Bronze: Bridger Anderson
Team roping: 1. Kellan Johnson, Casper, Wyo./Carson Johnson, Casper, Wyo., 4.1 seconds, $50,000 each; 2. Matt Sherwood, Pima, Ariz./Will Woodfin, Marshall, Texas, 4.3, $25,000; 3. Riley Minor, Ellensburg, Wash./Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash., 4.4, $12,000; 4. Derrick Begay, Winslow, Ariz./Cory Petska, Marana, Ariz., 4.5, $6,000.
Gold: Kellan Johnson/Carson Johnson
Silver: Matt Sherwood/Will Woodfin
Bronze: Riley Minor/Brady Minor
Saddle bronc riding: 1. Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., 87.5 points on Bar T Rodeo’s Pinto Pass, $50,000; 2. Wyatt Casper, Pampa, Texas, 86.5 on Bar T Rodeo’s Hell Boy, $25,000; 3. (tie) Isaac Diaz, Desdemona, Texas, on Andrews Rodeo’s Fire Lane and Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., on Bar T Rodeo’s Son of Sadie, 86, $9,000 each.
*tie for third for medals was broken based on score coming into the Finals. Diaz had an 86.5 while Muncy came in with an 86.
Gold: Cody DeMoss
Silver: Wyatt Casper
Bronze: Isaac Diaz
Tie-down roping: 1. Cory Solomon, Prairie View, Texas, 6.6 seconds, $50,000; 2. JC Malone, Plain City, Utah, 6.7, $25,000; 3. Caleb Smidt, Bellville, Texas, 7.0, $12,000; 4. Bryson Sechrist, Apache, Okla., 7.3, $6,000.
Gold: Cory Solomon
Silver: JC Malone
Bronze: Caleb Smidt
Barrel racing: 1. Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, Texas, 17.09 seconds, $50,000; 2. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 17.19, $25,000; 3. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, Victoria, Texas, 17.24, $12,000; 4. Chani Graves, Sulphur Springs, Texas, 17.32, $6,000.
Gold: Hailey Kinsel
Silver: Lisa Lockhart
Bronze: Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi
Bull riding: 1. Derek Kolbaba, Walla Walla, Wash. 89.5 points on HD Page’s Sweet Pro’s Bruiser, $50,000; 2. Alisson De Souza, Brazil, 87 on Broken Arrow’s Cut the Cord, $25,000; no other qualified rides. Garrett Smith received the bronze after having the highest score coming into the final round.
Gold: Derek Kolbaba
Silver: Alisson De Souza
Bronze: Garrett Smith