Former Medalists Looking to Return to Medal Stand in Salt Lake City

SALT LAKE CITY (July 19, 2024) – The 2024 Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo presented by Zions Bank kicked off Friday night, July 19 and it was action packed from start to finish. This is the only Gold Medal rodeo in the world and the only professional rodeo that awards gold, silver and bronze medals, a staple of the rodeo since 2017.

            Garrett Shadbolt took home the bronze medal back in 2021 and is looking to improve on that finish this year as he advanced to the Gold Medal Round after winning the first performance with an 86-point ride. Shadbolt of Merriman, Nebraska, rode Three Hills Rodeo’s Spanish Feather.

            “I did medal here, it wasn’t the medal I was looking for, but I’m here for the gold this year and hopefully the cards line up for me,” said Shadbolt. “This is the only rodeo that gives a medal and that’s always something that’s really awesome to hang on your wall. At the end of the day, to us rodeo cowboys, this is one of the biggest bumps, biggest purses to get us to the NFR and get us to a world title and that’s the end goal”

            Shadbolt will be joined on Wednesday, July 24 by RC Landingham who finished in a three-way for second but won the tiebreaker based on his higher place in the world standings. Landingham won gold in 2022 and will be looking to add to his collection.

            The Gold Standard in Rodeo features a total of 288 competitors, who will take their shot at a share of close over three-quarters of a million in prize money and a gold, silver or bronze medal that will be awarded on Wednesday, July 24. There will be 32 competitors in all the roughstock events (Bareback riding, Saddle Bronc riding and Bull riding) and timed events (Steer Wrestling, Team Roping, Tie-down Roping, Breakaway Roping and Barrel Racing).

            Jesse Brown of Baker City, Oregon, went to the top of the leaderboard in the steer wrestling with a time of 4.6 seconds followed by Gavin Soileau of Bunkie, LA with a 5.5. Brown won the silver medal in 2021 and will now be looking to add gold to that in 2024.

            The full field is divided into four groups of eight contestants each per performance. The top two scores or times per performance will advance to the Gold Medal Round. Scores/times from the Semi-Final performances will NOT carry forward to the Gold Medal Round (only to break ties). The eight (8) competitors in each event in the Gold Medal Round will compete in a sudden-death format with the winner collecting a Gold Medal and $10,000 cash.

            Team ropers that will be advancing to the gold medal round will be Marcus Theriot and Cole Curry along with Shay Carroll and Jace Helton. Theriot and Curry stopped the clock in 4.3 seconds with Carroll and Helton with a 4.5. Theriot and Curry took bronze in 2023.

            It was a Canadian atop the leaderboard in the saddle bronc with Dawson Hay taking the victory lap. Hay of Wildwood, Alberta, spurred Andrews Rodeo’s Gypsy Rose for 87.5 points to advance to the championship round. Kade Bruno took second with an 85.5 aboard C5 Rodeo’s Classic Bear.

            Kincade Henry of Mount Pleasant, Texas, was the fastest tie-down roper on opening night with an 8.4-second run. Henry took home the silver in 2023 and will be looking to be back on the medal stand. Bryce Derrer of Portales, N.M., took second in a time of 9.1 seconds and will advance to his first Gold Medal Round in Salt Lake City.

            It was none other than High Valor and Dona Kay Rule atop the leaderboard in the women’s barrel racing in a quick time of 16.91. Rule of Minco, Oklahoma will be looking for her first medal at the Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo and will be joined in the final round with Jymmy Kay Cox of Ruidoso Downs, N.M. Cox turned in a 17.24 to advance for a shot at gold.

            The Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo presented by Zions Bank, is taking 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.

            It was a rough night in the women’s breakaway roping with only two qualified runs. Shaya Biever from Claresholm, Alberta, didn’t waste any time finishing with a 2.9 second run. Rickie Fanning of Spearfish, S.D., was second in a time of 3.1 seconds.

            The bulls had the upper hand on opening night bucking off all but one cowboy. TJ Gray of Dairy, Oregon, was the only one to make the 8-second whistle. He was awarded 87.5 points aboard Championship Rodeo’s Yela Wolf and easily advanced to the championship round.

            Action at the Utah Day of ’47 Rodeo continues July 20 at 7:30 p.m. MT.

            Tickets are still available. For more information on the event visit www.utahdaysof47rodeo.com.