SALT LAKE CITY – Riding an incredible wave of momentum, RC Landingham (Hat Creek, California) produced what was one of the most ferocious bareback title races in WCRA history. The 30-year-old was the undeniable star of the rodeo going last in delivering what would be the most groundbreaking performance of the event. As only one of two athletes remaining Triple Crown of Rodeo eligible in the Gold Medal Round of competition, his 90.5 ride elevated him to a $25,000 payday. For Landingham, fresh off his win at May’s Rodeo Corpus Christi, the event marked his second consecutive WCRA Major, putting him in contention to be a millionaire. If Landingham triumphs at WCRA’s Cowtown Christmas Championship, he will be the first victor of the WCRA Triple Crown of Rodeo $1 Million Bonus.
Not only did Landingham emerge victorious but did so by defeating 3x World Champion Tim O’Connell (Zwingle, IA) and Dean Thompson (Altamont, UT).
The Steer Wrestling was a tightly contested battle with three athletes notching times under five-seconds. Cash Robb (Altamont, UT) was second to last to go and found himself trying to beat Mason Couch’s (Cassville, MO) impressive 4.43-second time. The 19-year old emerged victorious after a 4.38-second time, defeating Couch and Sam Power’s (Sonora, TX) 4.76-secong run. Robb’s performance bested Riley Duvall’s (Checotah, OK) time, the victor from the 2022 Rodeo Corpus Christi who was seeking his second win in the Triple Crown.
Junior Nogueira (Stephenville, TX) and Kaleb Driggers (Hoboken, GA) was unstoppable in the team roping where they delivered the fastest time the Utah State Fairpark saw all week. The World Champions and now 2x WCRA champions recorded a 4.06-second run in the Gold Medal Round, besting Andrew Ward (Edmond, OK) and Buddy Hawkin’s (Stephenville, TX) 4.36-second time.
In the saddle bronc, Allen Boore (Axtell, UT)rode supreme. Capping his perfect 2-for-2 effort on Saturday evening, the 2x NFR Qualifier rode Big Bay for a monstrous 86 points to net an equally impressive check for $25,000. Kasper logged the highest-marked ride of the rodeo, to beat out Logan Cooke (Alto, TX) 78.0 ride and Cameron Messier’s (Stephenville, TX) 75.5-point score.
As the one of only three tie-down ropers to deliver a qualified run, Shane Hanchey (Sulphur, LA) found himself with a edging out Ace Sloan’s (Cuero TX) 10.33-second time and Nate Baldwin’s (Blackfoot, ID) 9.12-second run.
20x World Champion Jackie Crawford (Stephenville, TX) loaded into the box after no other breakaway ropers earned a qualified run. The 2x WCRA Champion, who set an arena record on Thursday afternoon with a 1.91, sprung out of the box in the Gold Medal Round to earn a swift 2.36-second time. Coming into the event as the No. 1 leaderboard athlete, Josie Conner (Iowa, IA) loading into the box with a winner-take all mentality. The Louisiana native not only won the event and beat the world champion, but set an arena record with an 1.85-second run.
Jordon Briggs (Tolar, TX) won the barrel racing courtesy of her 17.195-second run in the Gold Medal Round, the second fastest time of the week, behind Stevi Hillman’s (Granbury TX) 17.111-run on Thursday afternoon. Briggs’ time topped Hillman’s 17.220-second time in the Gold Medal Round.
In Bull Riding, two athletes delivered a qualified ride. Cole Fischer (Jefferson City, MO) was first out and set the bar high with an a 90-point ride. Deklan Garland (Foster, OK), edged Fischer’s score with an 89.5, to take home a silver medal.
On July 31 at Noon ET fans will be able to tune into the Gold Medal Round at the Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo on a CBS network broadcast.
Since launching in May of 2018, the WCRA and its partners have awarded more than $12,772,500 in new money to rodeo athletes.
All results from the event can be found here.
