2016 WNFR Saddle Bronc Race to the Gold Buckle
2016 WNFR Saddle Bronc Race to the Gold Buckle
Family Ties Run Deep Among Saddle Bronc Riders at National Finals Rodeo
By Cassie Emerson
When you talk about the 2016 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in saddle bronc riding, you have to talk about family.
There are three sets of brothers set to compete at the Thomas & Mack Center on December 1-10, and none of them are strangers to the bright lights of Las Vegas or the winners circle.
Watch the 2016 WNFR International Stream LIVE Dec. 1-10 (not available in the U.S.)
The first family members competing in the fan favorite event are the Crawley brothers. Defending champion Jacobs Crawley is coming into his sixth WNFR in the No. 1 position in the standings with $172,304 and has won two average titles in the past three years. His brother, Sterling, is starting in the No. 12 position.
The second family is the Wrights and Bradshaws. Cody Wright is competing alongside his two eldest sons, Rusty and Ryder; his twin brothers, Jake and Jesse; and his brother-in-law, CoBurn Bradshaw. The average runner-up in 2015, Bradshaw checks in at No. 2 overall with $130,752 and is competing under the Vegas lights for the second time. Rusty Wright checks in at third place with $118,461 after tallying 19 wins in the regular season .
Yes, you read that correctly, six of the top 15 saddle bronc riders are related! Rounding out the families competing in the saddle bronc riding at the 2016 WNFR are brothers Cody and Heith Demoss, who are no strangers to the WNFR with 20 qualifications between the pair.
This year's payout at the WNFR is more than ever, and the gold buckle is still well within reach of competitors outside of these families. Each round is paying over $26,000 for first place, and the average champion's payout is set for $67,000.
Zeke Thurston is coming into his second WNFR in the No. 4 position with $105,046. Thurston placed fifth in the average at his first WNFR a year ago and won 10 regular season rodeos in 2016. Rounding out the top five in the standings is Jake Wright, who enters his fifth WNFR with $91,524.
Top 15 Standings
1. Jacobs Crawley, $172,303.97
2. CoBurn Bradshaw, $130,751.78
3. Rusty Wright, $117,942.34
4. Zeke Thurston, $105,045.60
5. Jake Wright, $91,523.56
6.Heith Demoss, $85,333.01
7. Cody Demoss, $84,768.01
8. Clay Elliott, $80,048.26
9. Allen Boore, $77,289.31
10. Jesse Wright, $76,116.11
11. Cody Wright, $75,446.39
12. Sterling Crawley, $74,991.61
13. Chuck Schmidt, $71,128.98
14. Ryder Wright, $70,604.16
15. Jake Watson, $68,095.35
STREAMING: SIGN UP HERE (not available in the U.S.)
By Cassie Emerson
When you talk about the 2016 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in saddle bronc riding, you have to talk about family.
There are three sets of brothers set to compete at the Thomas & Mack Center on December 1-10, and none of them are strangers to the bright lights of Las Vegas or the winners circle.
Watch the 2016 WNFR International Stream LIVE Dec. 1-10 (not available in the U.S.)
The first family members competing in the fan favorite event are the Crawley brothers. Defending champion Jacobs Crawley is coming into his sixth WNFR in the No. 1 position in the standings with $172,304 and has won two average titles in the past three years. His brother, Sterling, is starting in the No. 12 position.
The second family is the Wrights and Bradshaws. Cody Wright is competing alongside his two eldest sons, Rusty and Ryder; his twin brothers, Jake and Jesse; and his brother-in-law, CoBurn Bradshaw. The average runner-up in 2015, Bradshaw checks in at No. 2 overall with $130,752 and is competing under the Vegas lights for the second time. Rusty Wright checks in at third place with $118,461 after tallying 19 wins in the regular season .
Yes, you read that correctly, six of the top 15 saddle bronc riders are related! Rounding out the families competing in the saddle bronc riding at the 2016 WNFR are brothers Cody and Heith Demoss, who are no strangers to the WNFR with 20 qualifications between the pair.
This year's payout at the WNFR is more than ever, and the gold buckle is still well within reach of competitors outside of these families. Each round is paying over $26,000 for first place, and the average champion's payout is set for $67,000.
Zeke Thurston is coming into his second WNFR in the No. 4 position with $105,046. Thurston placed fifth in the average at his first WNFR a year ago and won 10 regular season rodeos in 2016. Rounding out the top five in the standings is Jake Wright, who enters his fifth WNFR with $91,524.
Top 15 Standings
1. Jacobs Crawley, $172,303.97
2. CoBurn Bradshaw, $130,751.78
3. Rusty Wright, $117,942.34
4. Zeke Thurston, $105,045.60
5. Jake Wright, $91,523.56
6.Heith Demoss, $85,333.01
7. Cody Demoss, $84,768.01
8. Clay Elliott, $80,048.26
9. Allen Boore, $77,289.31
10. Jesse Wright, $76,116.11
11. Cody Wright, $75,446.39
12. Sterling Crawley, $74,991.61
13. Chuck Schmidt, $71,128.98
14. Ryder Wright, $70,604.16
15. Jake Watson, $68,095.35
How to Watch
ON TV: Now Available on Roku & Apple TV 4STREAMING: SIGN UP HERE (not available in the U.S.)