For over three decades, Shawnee, Okla., has welcomed thousands of the brightest youth rodeo stars to compete for one of the most prosperous and prestigious youth titles. Events include cowgirls barrel racing, cowgirls pole bending, cowgirls breakaway roping, cowgirls goat tying, team roping, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, bull riding, saddle bronc riding, and bareback riding. The IFYR features 11 performances, with competition beginning on Sunday, July 7 at 7:30 p.m. and concluding on Friday, July 12, with the finals performance at 7:30 p.m.
With the competition past the halfway mark, storylines are beginning to take shape. Catch up on the biggest storylines from Round 1.
In barrel racing, home-state cowgirl DJ Birdsong (Claremore, Okla.) laid down a lightning-quick run of 16.125 seconds, pocketing $2,078.21 at the pay window.
Photo Credit: IFYR/ 870 Photo
Fellow Lone Star State cowgirl Hadley Spence (Venus, Texas) snuck into the number one spot in the pole, bending with a smooth 20.540-second run, earning her $1,151.31.
Channing Wescott (Denton, Texas) turned heads in the breakaway roping arena, becoming the quickest cowgirl in Round One. With a 1.8-second run, she led the competitive pack of breakaway ropers in style, earning $2,648.61.
In goat tying, all eyes were on Alli Autrey (Anson, Texas), as she became the only goat tier to crack the 7-second barrier with a smoking 6.7-second run, earning her the number one spot and $1,336.07.
The hotly contested tie-down roping race concluded in a tie, with Cort Boyd(Centerville, Texas) and Brodey Clemons(Weatherford, Texas) splitting the win with an 8.4-second run.
With a smooth 4.0-second run, Kreece Dearing led the steer wrestlers and earned himself a $912.26 payday.
The saddle bronc riding narratives were written by leading cowboy Colt Bass (Statesville, N.C.), who took home the Round One “W” with an 81.50-point ride.
Also laying down an 81.50-point ride was bareback rider Kash Loyd(Cleburne, Texas). The Texan not only made the 8-second mark but profited $930.86.
Team ropers Cason Richey(Sunset, Texas) and Beldon Cox(Weatherford, Texas) laid down the quickest run of the round with a smooth 5.1-second run. Richey, who is the reigning champion header, looks to repeat history with this first-go win.
Maintaining his lead in the bull riding was North Carolina cowboy Clay Guiton, who concluded the round on top with an impressive 86-point ride.
The rodeo action will continue with the start of round two, performance six taking place at 9:00 a.m. at the Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center, and will continue through the evening of July 12.
A full list of results can be found HERE.
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