Webb Finds Redemption in Salt Lake City, Advances to Gold Medal Round
SALT LAKE CITY (July 20, 2024) – The tie-down roping was the event to watch on Saturday night at the 2024 Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo presented by Zions Bank and it didn’t disappoint. Riley Webb of Denton, Texas, put on a show for the fans in Utah finishing with a lighting quick 6.9-second run.
"It's a great night to be here in Utah,” stated Webb. “These are the best fans in the world. I got to rope in these performances for the last five years with the WCRA events and the PRCA rodeos and this is the first one I've caught in a performance so I'm really excited."
Reigning world champion Webb would like nothing more than to add to his gold collection by adding a gold medal from the only Gold Medal Rodeo in the World. In 2021, Webb had a chance for a $1 million paycheck at just 17 years old, but it wasn’t meant to be at that time. He is hoping 2024 will be the time for him to capture that gold medal. Joining him will be another PRCA World Champion Marty Yates who has never graced the medal stand in Salt Lake either. Shane Hanchey, who had won the last two gold medals, came up short on Saturday night and unfortunately will not be back on Wednesday to make it three in a row.
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).
While Webb is looking for his first gold in Salt Lake City, four-time world champion barrel racer Hailey Kinsel will be looking to add her fourth gold medal to her collection if she can turn in the fastest time once again on July 24. Kinsel took the victory lap on Saturday night after she and Sister stopped the clock in 16.83 seconds. In 2017, the Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo moved to the Days of ’47 Arena at Utah State Fairpark and Kinsel took home her first gold that year. She repeated in 2018 and 2019. She has not been back to this rodeo since then, but she made it a priority to get back here in 2024 as she knew how much Sister loved the arena. Shelley Morgan set the pace on the night with a time of 16.94 as the first gunner out and stood until Kinsel took to the cloverleaf pattern as the next to last cowgirl.
Leighton Berry of Weatherford, Texas, took the victory lap in the bareback riding after posting an 87.5-point ride aboard Three Hills Rodeo’s Hopes N Dreams to advance to the championship round on July 24. Joining him for a chance for gold is fellow Texan Cole Franks of Clarendon with an 86.5-point ride on Andrews Rodeos Fresno.
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.
Shane Frey of Duncan, OK, was the quickest in the steer wrestling on night No. 2 with a 4.1 second run. Frey will advance to go for gold along with Don Payne of Stephenville, TX with a 4.5. Both will be looking for their first medal from the Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo.
Bodie Mattson is a two-event cowboy competing in the team roping and the tie-down roping and he will have a chance for gold in the team roping after roping with Trae Smith on Saturday night to stop the clock in 4.7 seconds. Brentan Hall took home gold in 2023 with Paden Bray but this year he has teamed up with Kaden Profili, and this team will also be back for the final round after finishing second on the night in a time of 4.8 seconds.
Brody Wells took top honors in the saddle bronc riding with an 86-point ride on Three Hills Rodeo’s Bobbi Shows to get another 8-second ride at the Utah Days of ’47 Arena. Isaac Diaz finished second with an 85.5 on Three Hills Rodeo’s Devil’s Advocate and will be looking to add to his medal collection as he won the bronze medal in 2018.
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.
Kendal Pierson of Wardlow, AB, took the victory lap in the first women’s event of the night, the breakaway roping. Pierson stopped the clock in a time of 2.9 seconds. Finishing right behind her was Shayla Hall with a 3.0-second run.
Utah Cowboy made the ride of the night in the bull riding with the only qualified ride. Bodee Burr of Mount Pleasant rode Sankey Rodeo’s Riskey Business for 84 points to easily advance to the Gold Medal Round on Wednesday, July 24.
After a night off on Sunday, action resumes at the Utah Day of ’47 Rodeo on Monday, July 22 at 7:30 p.m. MT.
Tickets are still available. For more information on the event visit www.utahdaysof47rodeo.com.
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Results: - Performance 2 – July 20, 2024
Bareback riding: 1. Leighton Berry, Weatherford, TX, 87.5 points on Three Hills Rodeo’s Hopes N Dreams, $2,000; 2. Cole Franks, Clarendon, TX, 86.5 on Andrews Rodeos Fresno, $1,500; 3. Waylon Bourgeois, Church Point, LA, 84 on C5 Rodeo’s Kay Jacket, $1,000; 4. Nick Pelke, Mondovi, WI, 82.5 on Andrews Rodeos Red Bone, $500.
Gold Medal Round current qualifiers: Garrett Shadbolt, RC Landingham, Leighton Berry, Cole Franks
Steer wrestling: 1. Shane Frey, Duncan, OK, 4.1 seconds, $2,000; 2. Don Payne, Stephenville, Texas, 4.5, $1,500; 3. Harley Cole, Okotoks, AB, 4.7, $1,000; 4. Clayton Hass, Weatherford, TX, 5.0, $500.
Gold Medal Round current qualifiers: Jesse Brown, Gavin Soileau, Shane Frey, Don Payne
Team roping: 1. Bodie Mattson, Sturgis, SD/Trae Smith, Georgetown, ID, 4.7 seconds, $2,000 each; 2. Brenten Hall, Jay, OK/Kaden Profili, Jacksonville, TX, 4.8, $1,500; 3. Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, UT/Clay Futrell, Union Grove, NC, 5.1, $1,000; 4. Ben Jordan, Benjamin, UT/JR Gonzalez, Maypearl, TX, 5.4, $500.
Gold Medal Round current qualifiers: Marcus Theriot/Cole Curry, Shay Carroll/Jace Helton, Bodie Mattson/Trae Smith, Brentan Hall/Kaden Profili
Saddle bronc riding: 1. Brody Wells, Powell, WY, 86 points on Three Hills Rodeo’s Bobbi Shows, $2,000; 2. Isaac Diaz, Desdemona, TX, 85.5 on Three Hills Rodeo’s Devil’s Advocate, $1,500; 3. Damian Brennan, Injune, Australia, 81.5 on Sankey Rodeo’s Overserved, $1,000; 4. Cash Wilson, Wall, SD, 79.5 on Three Hills Rodeo’s Harry Rocks, $500.
Gold Medal Round current qualifiers: Dawson Hay, Kade Bruno, Brody Wells, Isaac Diaz
Tie-down roping: 1. Riley Webb, Denton, TX, 6.9 seconds, $2,000; 2. Marty Yates, Stephenville, TX, 7.6 seconds, $1,500; 3. Dylan Hancock, San Angelo, TX, 8.5, $1,000; 4. Austin Hurlburt, Norfolk, NE, 9.4, $500.
Gold Medal Round current qualifiers: Kincade Henry, Bryce Derrer, Riley Webb, Marty Yates
Breakaway roping: 1. Kendal Pierson, Wardlow, AB, 2.9 seconds, $2,000; 2. Shayla Hall, Belle Fourche, SD, 3.0, $1,500; 3. Jackie Crawford, Stephenville, TX, 12.4, $1,000; no other qualified times
Gold Medal Round current qualifiers: Shaya Biever, Rickie Fanning, Kendal Pierson, Shayla Hall
Barrel racing: 1. Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, TX, 16.83 seconds, $2,000; 2. Shelley Morgan, Eustace, TX, 16.94, $1,500; 3. McKenna Coronado, Kanarraville, UT, 17.02, $1,000; 4. Amanda Butler, Payson, UT, 17.14, $500.
Gold Medal Round current qualifiers: Dona Kay Rule, Jymmy Kay Cox, Hailey Kinsel, Shelley Morgan
Bull riding: 1. Bodee Burr, Mount Pleasant, UT, 84 points on Sankey Rodeo’s Riskey Business, $5,000; no other qualified rides
Gold Medal Round current qualifiers: TJ Gray, Bodee Burr