Women’s events at Puyallup Rodeo steal the show

By Susan Kanode for the Puyallup Rodeo

PUYALLUP, Washington – Friday night lights were all about female competitors at the second performance of the Cinch Playoffs at the Puyallup Rodeo.

Breakaway roping has been added here for the first time and it has proven to be very popular with the fans. They were cheering loud on Friday when Josie Connor of Iowa, Louisiana, stopped the clock in 2.7 seconds, the fastest time at the rodeo so far.

It was an important win for Connor. She is currently outside the top 15 that qualify to compete for world titles. She will add $3,600 to her earnings. Unfortunately, that’s the only check that she will get at the Washington State Fair. She failed to connect on Thursday night so won’t be advancing to the Puyallup Rodeo’s semifinals on Sunday.

Barrel racer Leslie Smalygo is making a bid for her first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and helped her cause substantially on Thursday and Friday. She placed third in the first round Thursday, came back and had the fastest time of the rodeo on Friday night and she will be running again here on Sunday at the semifinals.

Riding her great horse “Gus” she stopped the clock in 13.82 seconds to win $3,600. Combined with her First round time of 13.90, she will be a crowd favorite on Sunday at the semifinals. Prior to the Puyallup Rodeo, Smalygo was one spot out of the top 15. She has already earned enough to edge her into a better position, but if she wins the big prize here on Sunday, she will be competing in Las Vegas at rodeo’s championships in December.

A new group of contestants will make their first appearance at the Cinch Playoffs on Saturday at 1:00 and 6:30 p.m. Their times and scores will be added together with the top four from that set joining the top four from the first group to make an 8-man semifinals in all of the events.

The following are unofficial results from the Cinch Playoffs at the Puyallup Rodeo, part of the Washington State Fair. Payoffs are subject to change.

Second Performance—

Bareback riding: 1, Jayco Roper, Oktaha, Okla., 86.5 points on Bridwell Pro Rodeo’s Ninja Bob, $3,600. 2, Caleb Bennett, Corvallis, Mont., 84, $2,700. 3, Leighton Berry, Weatherford, Texas, 83.5, $1,800. 4, Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn., 83, $900. 

Breakaway roping: 1, Josie Connor, Iowa, La., 2.7 seconds, $3,600. 2, Erin Johnson, Fowler, Colo., 3.1, $2,700. 3, (tie) Beau Peterson, Council Grove, Kan., and Tacy Webb, Midway, Texas, 3.2, $1,350 each.

Steer wrestling: 1, Kyle Irwin, Robertsdale, Ala., 3.8 seconds, $3,600. 2, Rowdy Parrott, Mamou, La., 4.0, $2,700. 3, Justin Shaffer, Hallsville, Texas, 4.4, $1,800. 4, Dakota Eldridge, Elko, Nev., 4.5, $900.

Saddle bronc riding: (in progress) 1, 1, Layton Green, Millarville, Alberta, 88 points on Korkow Rodeo’s Onion Ring. 2, Mitch Pollock, Winnemucca, Nevada, 86. 3, Kolby Wanchuck, Sherwood Park, Alberta, 83. 4, Kole Ashbacher, Arrowood, Alberta, 81.5.

Team roping: 1, Tyler Wade, Terrell, Texas, and Trey Yates, Pueblo, Colo., 4.6, $3,600. 2, Tanner Tomlinson, Angleton, Texas, and Patrick Smith, Lipan, Texas, 4.9, $2,700. 3, Clint Summers, Lake City, Fla., and Ross Ashford, Lott, Texas, 5.8, $1,800. 4, Cody Snow, Los Olivos, Calif., and Wesley Thorp, Throckmorton, Texas, 6.5, $900.

Tie-down roping: 1, Marcos Costa, Iretama, Brazil, 7.5 seconds, $3,600. 2, Taylor Santos, Creston, California, 7.7, $2,700. 3, Shad Mayfield, Clovis, N.M., 7.8, $1,800. 4, Cooper Martin, Alma, Kan., 8.4, $900.

Barrel Racing: 1, Leslie Smalygo, Skiatook, Okla., 13.82, $3,600. 2, Shelley Morgan, Eustace, Texas, 13.88, $2,700. 3, Molly Otto, Grand Forks, N.D., 14.00, $1,800. 4, Emily Beisel, Weatherford, Okla., 14.11, $900.

Bull riding: 1, (tie) Ky John Hamilton, Mackay, Australia, on Korkow Rodeo’s Mental Case and Reid Oftedahl, Raymond, Minn., on Corey and Lange Rodeo’s Cold Turkey, 82 points and $3,150 each. 3, Jordan Wacey Spears, Redding, Calif., 80.5, $1,800. 4, Trey Kimzey, Strong City, Okla., 74, $900.

For more information and tickets: https://www.thefair.com/rodeo/

Last Updated on 03/12/2025 by Patrick OD O’Donnell

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Patrick OD O'Donnell

Biography:

The moment a bull's gate swings open—that's when Patrick "OD" O'Donnell feels most alive. From his early days riding bareback through Arizona pastures to revolutionizing the bull riding industry as President of Bull Riders Only, OD has lived the Western lifestyle he now champions as Founder of Cowboy Lifestyle Network. Growing up in Casa Grande's sunbaked agricultural heartland, he didn't just learn about horses and ranching, he lived it daily, developing the instincts and grit that would later attract 4 million followers to CLN's authentic voice.

After his baseball days at the University of Arizona, OD saw something others missed: bull riding wasn't just a sport, but was compelling entertainment waiting for the right vision. Between 1990-1997, his leadership transformed local rodeo competitions into sold-out arena events that changed Western sports forever. Today, that same pioneering spirit drives CLN's coverage of everything from championship rodeos to the quiet heroism of ranch life. When he's not building the digital home for cowboy culture, you'll find OD supporting Harris Brothers Charity Foundation, leading CLN’s 25-year Christmas Toy Drive for Arizona kids, or sharing his love of horsemanship with special needs riders through Arizona's own Horses Help. Living proof that authentic Western values still have the power to transform lives.

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