Cowboys are starting to feel the rhythm of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo by Round 3. Each night is a chance to set a record for that round, and bull rider Colby Yates is one of the few ProRodeo athletes to hold two round records.
At the 2002 Wrangler NFR, the Texas cowboy set the Round 3 record of 94 points on Growney Brothers’ Splinter (pictured above) and set the Round 8 record of 95 points on Big Bend Rodeo’s Smokeless Unforgiven. Yates finished third in the 2002 Wrangler NFR average to earn $82,750 and finished third in the world standings that year with $147,524.
Although his ProRodeo career only lasted from 2002-05, he won some of the most coveted buckles in the country, including the Red Bluff (Calif.) Round-Up in 2003 and Deadwood (S.D.) Days of ’76 in 2004.
The following is the breakdown of the highest scores and fastest times recorded for the third round of the Wrangler NFR.
Bareback Riding
91.5 points
• Justin McDaniel on J Bar J Ranch’s Delta Ship, 2007
•
Tim O'Connell on C5 Rodeo's Virgil, 2017
Steer Wrestling
3.1 seconds
• Ricky Huddleston, 1985
Team Roping
3.8 seconds
•
Wade Wheatley/
Kyle Lockett, 2002
• Daniel Green/
Kory Koontz, 2003
•
Travis Tryan/Michael Jones, 2009
Saddle Bronc Riding
90 points
•
Billy Etbauer on Beutler Brothers and Cervi’s Rio Bravo, 1999
•
Billy Etbauer on Sankey Rodeo’s Skitso, 2005
•
Isaac Diaz on Sutton Rodeo's South Point, 2018
Tie-down Roping
6.6 seconds
• Cody Ohl, 2014
Barrel Racing
13.11 seconds
•
Hailey Kinsel, 2017
Bull Riding
94 points
• Colby Yates on Growney Brothers Rodeo’s Splinter, 2002
These records, and the records of the other nine rounds, could be broken Dec. 5-14. Fans can check with
ProRodeo.com for updates throughout the competition and watch the action unfold on CBS SportsNetwork or on delay at
ProRodeoTV.com.