The Great Debate: Saddle Bronc or Bareback?

SAN ANGELO, TX — It's a question as old as time. In the rodeo, which is better? Bareback Riding or Saddle Bronc Riding. At the 9th Performance of the 91st Annual San Angelo Rodeo, this question may have been answered. 

In the Saddle Bronc Riding, two Cowboys placed in the Top 12 heading into the finals this weekend. First, Ian McGivney from Kaycee, Wyoming, took "Blessed Day" for a ride and scored an 85.0. On the very next ride, Canadian Cowboy Dawson Hay scored a spectacular 90.5 on "South Point Gambler." He became the first Cowboy in the 91st San Angelo Rodeo to break into the 90s and claimed first place overall in the Saddle Bronc Riding.

On the opposite side of the rough stock competition, two more Cowboys pulled off another set of exhilarating rides in the Bareback Riding. Rookie Cowboy from Montana, Sam Peterson scored an 82.0 on the back of "Faded Night." While that score might have pushed him into the finals at any other rodeo, the competition in San Angelo is fierce. He missed the cut by a mere half of a point, but the rookie will be back in the future.

Finally, Utah native Bronc Marriott made his best case for Bareback Riders everywhere on "Queezy Roller." Bronc beat his bronc over the eight seconds to score in the Top 6 with an 85.5. San Angelo LIVE!'s Matt Trammell asked Bronc after his ride for his answer to the question. What is better? Bareback or Saddle Bronc Riding? Either way, it's the Bronc Riding, presented by Indeco Industrial Electric.

San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo
March 31-April 14

Bareback riding leaders: 

1. Jess Pope, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Painted River, Clayton Biglow, on Macza Pro Rodeo’s Stevie Knicks, Cole Reiner, on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Cat Nap, and Leighton Berry, on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Rip, 87 points; 5. Orin Larsen, 86.5; 6. Bronc Marriott, 85.5; 7. (tie) Richmond Champion and Jacek Frost, 84.5; 9. (tie) R.C. Landingham, Caleb Bennett and Kody Lamb, 84; 12. (tie) Ty Pope, Dean Thompson and Tim O’Connell, 83.5.

Steer wrestling: 

First round leaders: 1. Dakota Eldridge, 3.4 seconds, $6,530; 2. (tie) Will Lummus and Josh Garner, 3.5, $5,252 each; 4. Jay Williamson, 3.7, $3,975; 5. (tie) Eli Lord, Logan Kenline, Denard Butler and Remey Parrott, 3.8, $1,845 each. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Justin Shaffer and Cody Devers, 3.5 seconds; 3. (tie) Tanner Milan and Brandon Harrison, 3.8; 5. Stan Branco, 3.9; 6. (tie) Tucker Allen, Joe Nelson and Talon Roseland, 4.1. Average leaders: 1. Ty Erickson, 8.1 seconds on two runs; 2. (tie) Cody Devers, Will Lummus and Eli Lord, 8.2; 5. Jesse Brown, 8.3; 6. Jay Williamson, 8.4; 7. Talon Roseland, 8.5; 8. (tie) Paul Melvin and Mason Couch, 8.8; 10. Curtis Cassidy, 9.0; 11. (tie) Sam Powers and Stephen Culling, 9.1.

Team roping:

First round leaders: 1. (tie) Jaxson Tucker/Wyatt Cox and J.C. Yeahquo/L.J. Yeahquo, 3.9 seconds, $5,188 each; 3. Dustin Equsquiza/Levi Lord, Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira and Cyle Denison/Cody Hogan, 4.0, $3,378 each; 6. Chad Masters/Trey Yates, 4.1, $1,930; 7. (tie) Shay Carrol/Evan Arnold, Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins and Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, 4.2, $563 each. Second round leaders: 1. Erich Rogers/Paul Eaves, 3.4 seconds; 2. Brenten Hall/Paden Bray, 3.6 seconds; 3. (tie) Coy Brittain/Colton Brittain and Billy Bob Brown/Kirby Blankenship, 4.0 seconds; 5. Garett Chick/B.J. Dugger, 4.1; 6. (tie) Tanner Green/Caleb Green and Reno Stoebner/Whit Kitchens, 4.2; 8. Tyler Mangus/Max Kuttler, 4.3. Average leaders: 1. J.C. Yeahquo/L.J. Yeahquo, 8.4 seconds on two runs; 2. Tanner Green/Caleb Green, 8.7; 3. Ty Arnold/Kaden Michael Profili, 8.8; 4. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins, 9.1; 5. Tyler Mangus/Max Kuttler, 9.3; 6. (tie) Jake Clay/Kollin VonAhn, Jaxson Tucker/Wyatt Cox and Garrett Tonozzi/Corey Hendrick, 9.5; 9. Tanner James/Jason Johe, 9.6; 10. (tie) McCray Profili/McCoy Profili and Chris Francis/Cade Passig, 9.7; 12. Jase Staudt/Jhett Trenary; 9.8.

Saddle bronc riding leaders: 

1. Dawson Hay, 90.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s South Point Gambler; 2. Brody Cress, 87.5; 3. Wyatt Casper, 86; 4. Ian McGivney, 85; 5. Sage Newman, 84.5; 6. (tie) Cash Wilson and Tanner Butner, 84; 8. (tie) Ryder Wright, Statler Wright, Jacobs Crawley and Chet Johnson, 83.5; 12. (tie) Wade Sundell, Ross Griffin, Brandon Lansford, Zac Dallas and Kolby Wanchuk, 83.

Tie-down roping: 

First round leaders: 1. (tie) Brush Minton, Hayden Ford and Chase Webster, 7.6 seconds, $6,105 each; 4. King Pickett, 7.8, $4,273; 5. (tie) Quade Hiatt, Michael Otero and Ty Harris, 7.9, $2,442 each; 8. Kyle Lucas, 8.0, $610. Second round leaders: 1. Justin Smith, 6.9 seconds, 2. J.T. Adamson, 7.2; 3. (tie) Cory Solomon and Preston Pederson, 7.4; 5. (tie) John Douch and Trenton Smith, 7.6; 7. (tie) Caleb Smidt, Cimarron Boardman and Beau Cooper, 7.7. Average leaders: 1. Justin Smith, 15.3 seconds on two runs; 2. J.T. Adamson, 15.8; 3. Trevor Hale, 16.5; 4. Brush Minton, 16.6; 5. Hayden Ford, 16.7; 6. Cody Waldrop, 16.8; 7. (tie) Westyn Hughes, Joel Harris, Kyle Lucas and Chase Webster, 17.0; 11. Beau Cooper, 17.1; 12. (tie) King Pickett and Quade Hiatt, 17.3. 

Barrel racing: 

Second round leaders: 1. Shelley Morgan, 14.12 seconds; 2. Dona Kay Rule, 14.13; 3. Ilyssa Riley, 14.17; 4. Jennifer Driver, 14.22; 5. (tie) Wenda Johnson and Kelly Allen, 14.23; 7. Kaycee Killingsworth, 14.25; 8. Nicole Love, 14.27; 9. (tie) Rachelle Riggers and Kalli McCall, 14.28. Average leaders: 1. Kelly Allen, 30.19 seconds on two runs; 2. Taycie Matthews, 30.20; 3. Dona Kay Rule, 30.27; 4. Shelley Morgan, 30.27; 5. Lindsay Sears, 30.31; 6. Emily Beisel, 30.33; 7. Ilyssa Riley, 30.34; 8. (tie) Jordon Briggs and Kalli McCall, 30.47; 10. Mallee Jones, 30.48; 11. Stephanie Fryar, 30.50; 12. (tie) Wenda Johnson and Tasha Welsh, 30.51.

Bull riding leaders: 

1. Deklan Garland, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Smokin Again, and Trey Benton III, on Stockyards Rodeo’s Just Another Gangster, 88.5 points; 3. Koby Radley, 86; 4. (tie) Jax Woodward and J.C. Mortensen, 85.5; 6. Ernie Courson Jr., 85; 7. (tie) Colby Demo and Coy Pollmeier, 83.5; 9. (tie) Colton Kelly and Sage Kimzey, 82.5; 11. Cody Teel, 82; 12. (tie) Trey Kimzey and Maverick Smith, 81.5.