Sellars gets much needed win at Douglas County Xtreme Bulls

Clayton Sellars walked out of the arena at the Douglas County Fair and Rodeo Xtreme Bulls with a limp in his step and a smile on his face.

Sellars, from Fruitland Park, Florida, won the event with an 87-point ride on Summit Pro Rodeo’s bull named Electric Steel. It added $3,947 to his checking account and increased his hopes of a second Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualification. In 2018, he was the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Rookie of the Year and just missed his first trip to Las Vegas. The top 15 in the world standings qualify and he finished the season in 19^th place.

That lit a fire that wouldn’t be put out. He competed at rodeo’s championships last year and ended the season in 12^th. This year he was determined to do even better and was on his way in February when disaster struck. Sellars was 20^th in the world standings and was looking forward to the big winter rodeos. He was at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo Xtreme Bulls when he tore the ligaments in his knee. He had surgery to repair it and was focusing on his return to competition.

Then rodeos started cancelling because of The Coronavirus known as COVID-19. While his fellow competitors were missing the action too, Sellars found himself with more ground to make up than he had hoped for. When he entered the Xtreme Bulls at Castle Rock, Colorado, he was 26^th in the standings. It was also an improvement over his appearance here last year when he finished in sixth place.

“I can’t thank the committee enough for having this bull riding,” Sellars said. “Castle Rock has gone out of their way to keep going and we appreciate it a lot. Rodeo is a lot different this year. I’m just glad to be here riding bulls.

Right behind Sellars was Idaho’s Dallee Mason who had an 85. Mason who makes his home in Weiser was 80 points to win $3,039. He is 20^th in the world standings and needs money to move into the top 15. If he is there at the end of the regular season on September 30^th, he will qualify for his first NFR. Third place went to Matt Palmer, from Poplar Grove, Ill., with 83.5 points. He won $2,261.

Josh Frost of Randlett, Utah was wearing his trademark green chaps and red boots when he rode to the eight-second mark. Frost got $1,483 for his 82.5-point ride. Fifth was Australian Ky Hamilton with 80.5 for $964. Montana’s Parker Breding was sixth with 80 earning $704. The final bull rider to have a qualified ride was Jeff Askey from Athens, Texas who won $574.

The junior livestock sale will be featured on Friday at the Douglas County Fair & Rodeo with PRCA rodeo action coming back to the arena on Saturday and Sunday.