Team Ropers set for back-to-back titles at Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo

FORT WORTH, Texas, (Feb. 5, 2025) — The audience at Wednesday night’s Wild Card round at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo’s ProRodeo Tournament saw contestants taking chances and giving their all trying to be among the two that advanced to the Semi-Finals.

Three former Fort Worth champions were in that category. One year ago, Clay Smith from Broken Bow, Oklahoma and Coleby Payne from Stephenville, Texas, won the team roping championship in Dickies Arena. They earned $25,000 each. That money gave them a good start on their season and helped to qualify them for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR). In fact, if they had left here with empty pockets, they would not have qualified for rodeo’s championships in Las Vegas this past December.

Knowing just how important a win here can be, Smith and Payne threw caution to the wind on Wednesday night. With Smith roping horns and Payne following at the heels, they stopped the clock in 3.8 seconds. Not only was that the fast time of the night, but it also earned each of them an additional $2,000. And they will be roping in the Semi-Finals where they have a chance to advance to Saturday night’s winner-take-all finals.

Dawson Hay, from Wildwood, Alberta, Canada, is no stranger to winning here. He won the saddle bronc riding title the year the legendary rodeo first moved to Dickies Arena—2020. Then he earned it again in 2023. This year, he qualified for the Wild Card and knew he needed a big score to have a chance to get another championship.

Hay rode the J Bar J horse named Painted J for 89.5 points, the high-marked ride of the night. The Canadian cowboy is currently ranked fourth in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world standings. A big win here could improve his position and help build momentum for him to qualify for his sixth NFR. His father Rod Hay was one of the most consistent saddle bronc riders in the history of the sport. He won this rodeo three times, in 1993, 2001 and 2008. He also qualified for the NFR on 20 occasions. Dawson Hay has competed at the NFR five times and is looking to make it six in 2025.

There are two Semi-Finals performances to determine who will advance to Saturday night’s Championship Finals. The top two from Wednesday will be among those riding in the Semi-Finals. Semi-Finals 1 starts at 7:30 on Thursday night where the best four in each event get to ride again on Saturday. Semi-Finals 2 is at 7:30 Friday night and again the top four advance.

FORT WORTH, Texas — The following are unofficial results from the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo’s Pro Rodeo Tournament, Wild Card Round, February 5, 2025.

Bareback riding: 1, Nick Pelke, Mondovi, Wis., 87.5 points on Calgary Stampede’s Bigtimin Houseton, $2,000. 2, Dean Thompson, Wheatland, Wyo., 87, $1,500. 3, (tie) Straubs Jones, Clermont, Queensland, Australia, and Kade Sonnier, Carencro, La., 85, $750 each.

Semi-finals qualifiers: Pelke and Thompson

Steer wrestling: 1, Rowdy Parrott, Mamou, La., 5.0 seconds, $2,000. 2, Seth Peterson, Minot, N.D., 5.2, $1,500 each. 3, Jace Melvin, Fort Pierre, S.D., 5.5, $1,000. 4, Ryan Shuckburg, Innisfail, Alberta, Canada, 5.6, $500.

Semi-finals qualifiers: Parrott and Peterson

Breakaway roping: 1, (tie) Macy Young, Wittmann, Ariz., and Kinlie Brennise, Craig, Colo., 2.3 seconds, $1,750 each. 3, Jill Tanner, Stephenville, Texas, 2.4, $1,000. 4, JJ Hampton, Stephenville, Texas, 3.6, $500.

Semi-finals qualifiers: Young and Brennise

Saddle bronc riding: 1, Dawson Hay, Wildwood, Alberta, Canada, 89.5 points on J Bar J Rodeo’s Painted J, $2,000. 2, Wyatt Casper, Miami, Texas, 87, $1,500. 3, Kolby Wanchuck, Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada, 86, $1,000. 4, Weston Patterson, Waverly, Kan., 85, $500.

Semi-finals qualifiers: Green, $4,136, and Macza, $2,460. Wild Card qualifier: Ira Dickinson, $2,436. (advances on tiebreaker)

Tie-down roping: 1, John Douch, Huntsville, Texas, 8.4 seconds, $2,000. 2, Glenn Jackson, Okmulgee, Okla., 8.5, $1,500. 3, Quade Hiatt, Canyon, Texas, 8.8, $1,000. 4, Seth Hall, Albuquerque, N.M., 9.5, $500.

Semi-finals qualifiers: Douch and Jackson

Team Roping: 1, Clay Smith, Broken Bow, Okla., and Coleby Payne, Stephenville, Texas, $2,000 each. 2, Clint Summers, Lake City, Fla., and Paul Eaves, Lonedell, Mo., $1,500 each. 3, (tie) Pedro Egurrola, Florence, Ariz., and Justin Davis, Cottonwood, Calif.; and Wyatt and Paden Bray, Stephenville, Texas, 5.1, $750 each,

Semi-finals qualifiers: Smith and Payne; and Summers and Eaves.

Barrel Racing: 1, Toria Madsen, Blackfoot, Idaho, 16.15 seconds, $2,000. 2, Megan McLeod-Sprague, Marsing, Idaho, 16.33, $1,500. 3, Keyla Costa, Tolar, Texas, 16.57, $1,000. 4, Ilyssa Riley, Hico, Texas, 16.41, $500.

Semi-finals qualifiers: Madsen and McLeod-Sprague

Bull Riding: (two rides) 1, Lukasey Morris, Union City, Okla., 87 points on Rafter G Rodeo’s Fifth Avenue, $2,750. 2, Bryce Jenson, Huntsville, Texas, 84.5, $2,250.

Semi-finals qualifiers: Morris and Jenson