Muncy clinches second world title during final go-round of National Finals Rodeo
It was a special night of saddle bronc riding for the Wright brothers, Jesse and Cody, who claimed the National Finals Rodeo title and 10th go-round in the event, respectively, Saturday at the Thomas & Mack Center.
But Taos Muncy rode off with the biggest saddle bronc prize — his second world title.
Muncy, who also won a championship in 2007, took sixth place Saturday with an 81.5-point ride on Flying Five Rodeo’s Spring Planting — the 2009 Saddle Bronc Horse of the Year — to clinch the crown.
“The first time I won the world it was my first year, I was really going hard, and everything fell into place,” said Muncy, 24, who suffered a broken leg in 2008 and a broken ankle in 2009.
“I didn’t really know how hard you have to work to get another one,” he said. “This took a lot of work and it means a lot to me.”
Muncy, who hails from Corona, N.M., held off Jesse Wright (Milford, Utah) by less than $9,000. Jesse Wright didn’t place Saturday, but scored 80 points on Harry Vold Rodeo’s Painted Valley, the 2010 Saddle Bronc Horse of the Year, to win the event title and finish with an NFR 10-head record of 848.5 points — which broke older brother Cody’s mark from last year.
“It was awesome to watch him ride; I’ve never seen someone spur over a horse’s head like he did,” Muncy said of Jesse Wright. “He had a heck of a week and I’m thankful to have another gold buckle.”
Cody Wright, who won his second world title here last year, won the final go-round with an 87.5-point ride on Bar T Rodeo’s Eight Ball.
ALL-AROUND
Trevor Brazile wrapped up his sixth straight and record ninth all-around world title in the fourth go-round. The all-around crown was Brazile’s 16th world championship overall, which ties the 35-year-old roper with Jim Shoulders for second-most in PRCA history.
TOP 3: 1. Trevor Brazile (Decatur, Texas) $365,293; 2. Bobby Mote (Culver, Ore.) $192,919; 3. Shane Proctor (Grand Coulee, Wash.) $185,515.
BAREBACK
Kaycee Feild set an NFR record by winning his sixth go-round en route to his first world title. Feild, 24, capped his dominant performance by winning Saturday’s 10th go-round with an 87-point ride on Carr Pro Rodeo’s MGM Deuces Night. Feild also set an NFR 10-head record of 860.5 points and a single-season earnings mark of $319,986.46.
WORLD CHAMPION: Kaycee Feild (Payson, Utah)
NFR WINNER: Feild
10TH GO-ROUND WINNER: Feild
STEER WRESTLING
Luke Branquinho rallied from third place in the standings to win his third world championship when he turfed his steer in 4.7 seconds. Branquinho also won his second NFR title.
WORLD CHAMPION: Luke Branquinho (Los Alamos, Calif.)
NFR WINNER: Branquinho
10TH GO-ROUND WINNER: Tie between Trevor Knowles (Mount Vernon, Ore.) and Mickey Gee (Wichita Falls, Texas)
TEAM ROPING
Turtle Powell and Jhett Johnson won their first world championship and also captured the NFR title while earning an event-record $125,625 each.
WORLD CHAMPION: Turtle Powell (Stephenville, Texas) and Jhett Johnson (Casper, Wyoming)
NFR WINNER: Powell and Johnson
10TH GO-ROUND WINNERS: Tie between Spencer Mitchell (Colusa, Calif.) and Broc Cresta (Santa Rosa, Calif.) and Chad Masters (Cedar Hill, Tenn.) and Jade Corkill (Fallon)
TIE-DOWN ROPING
WORLD CHAMPION: Tuf Cooper (Decatur, Texas)
NFR WINNER: Matt Shiozawa (Chubbuck, Idaho)
10TH GO-ROUND WINNER: Clif Cooper (Decatur, Texas)
BARREL RACING
Lindsay Sears, the lone Canadian in this year’s NFR, placed second Saturday with a time of 13.75 seconds to clinch the event and world titles.
WORLD CHAMPION: Lindsay Sears (Nanton, Alberta)
NFR WINNER: Sears
10TH GO-ROUND WINNER: Jane Melby (Backus, Minn.)
BULL RIDING
Shane Proctor won the world title at his first NFR but paid the price for it. He was bucked off and stomped Saturday by Powder River Rodeo’s Black Attack and was carried out of the arena on a stretcher with a broken left arm. J.W. Harris, who claimed the last three crowns, had to settle for second in the world standings after he was bucked off by Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Drop Time. L.J. Jenkins won the event title after tying for second Saturday with an 87.5-point ride on Robinson Pro Rodeo’s Mr. Slim.
WORLD CHAMPION: Shane Proctor (Grand Coulee, Wash.)
NFR WINNER: L.J. Jenkins (Porum, Okla.)
10TH GO-ROUND WINNER: Wesley Silcox (Santaquin, Utah)
Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354.
