2016 Bareback Riding Race to the Gold Buckle
2016 Bareback Riding Race to the Gold Buckle
Vegas Stage Set for Top 15 Bareback Riders to Battle 10 Rounds for WNFR Title
In less than two weeks, the bright lights of Las Vegas welcome 15 of the world's best bareback riders for the first round of the 2016 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Only after 10 grueling rounds of competition will we find out who leaves Las Vegas with the coveted gold buckle.
Watch the 2016 WNFR International Stream LIVE Dec. 1-10 (not available in the U.S.)
Heading into the WNFR, Tim O'Connell of Zwingle, Iowa, is leading the pack by $41,000. O'Connell's season was jammed packed with big wins, including the RAM National Circuit finals, The Great Lakes Circuit finals, Pendleton Round-Up, and Fort Worth.
However, in the scope of money available to win in 10 rounds and the average race, it is still anybody's game. Each round will pay out over $26,000 for first, and the average will pay out over $67,000 for first at the end of the 10 rounds. Sitting in the closest striking distance to O'Connell is Orin Larsen, who heads to Vegas with a total of $138,295.67 coming off victories at San Antonio and Cheyenne Frontier Days. Right on Larsen's heels at less than $6,000 behind is Caleb Bennett from Tremonton, Utah. Bennett's wins this season come from across the Canadian border and include the Ponoka Stampede among many Champions Challenges. Rounding out the top five is WNFR rookie R.C. Landingham with a total of $104,678.41.
Currently sitting in sixth place in the standings is Leesville, Louisiana's Winn Ratliff, who is heading to Vegas on a hot streak. Ratliff has notched two wins since October 1, including the All-American finals in Waco, Texas, and the Southeastern Circuit Finals in Davie, Florida. In 2016, he has won a total of $96,294.90 before heading to Vegas.
Jake Brown remains in the conversation as one of the best in the world after winning the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo and entering the WNFR in the No. 9 position. Jake Vold, 10th in the world, is making his second trip to the WNFR, and 11th-place J.R. Vezain is headed to his fourth WNFR qualification. Richmond Champion, the winner of The American in 2014, sits in 13th overall and Minden, Nevada's Wyatt Denny rounds out the field in 15th place.
Bareback Riding World Standings
1. Tim O'Connell, $178,963.85
2. Orin Larsen, $138,295.67
3. Caleb Bennett, $132,494.06
4. Tanner Aus, $112,684.47
5. R.C. Landingham, $104,678.41
6. Winn Ratliff, $96,294.90
7. Evan Jayne, $81,581.12
8. Clayton Biglow, $76,871.86
9. Jake Brown, $76,154.23
10. Jake Vold, $74,821.33
11. J.R. Vezain, $74,200.33
12. Ty Breuer, $71,118.39
13. Richmond Champion, $69,169.02
14. Jessy Davis, $67,800.67
15. Wyatt Denny, $66,797.81
STREAMING: SIGN UP HERE (not available in the U.S.)
In less than two weeks, the bright lights of Las Vegas welcome 15 of the world's best bareback riders for the first round of the 2016 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Only after 10 grueling rounds of competition will we find out who leaves Las Vegas with the coveted gold buckle.
Watch the 2016 WNFR International Stream LIVE Dec. 1-10 (not available in the U.S.)
Heading into the WNFR, Tim O'Connell of Zwingle, Iowa, is leading the pack by $41,000. O'Connell's season was jammed packed with big wins, including the RAM National Circuit finals, The Great Lakes Circuit finals, Pendleton Round-Up, and Fort Worth.
However, in the scope of money available to win in 10 rounds and the average race, it is still anybody's game. Each round will pay out over $26,000 for first, and the average will pay out over $67,000 for first at the end of the 10 rounds. Sitting in the closest striking distance to O'Connell is Orin Larsen, who heads to Vegas with a total of $138,295.67 coming off victories at San Antonio and Cheyenne Frontier Days. Right on Larsen's heels at less than $6,000 behind is Caleb Bennett from Tremonton, Utah. Bennett's wins this season come from across the Canadian border and include the Ponoka Stampede among many Champions Challenges. Rounding out the top five is WNFR rookie R.C. Landingham with a total of $104,678.41.
Currently sitting in sixth place in the standings is Leesville, Louisiana's Winn Ratliff, who is heading to Vegas on a hot streak. Ratliff has notched two wins since October 1, including the All-American finals in Waco, Texas, and the Southeastern Circuit Finals in Davie, Florida. In 2016, he has won a total of $96,294.90 before heading to Vegas.
Jake Brown remains in the conversation as one of the best in the world after winning the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo and entering the WNFR in the No. 9 position. Jake Vold, 10th in the world, is making his second trip to the WNFR, and 11th-place J.R. Vezain is headed to his fourth WNFR qualification. Richmond Champion, the winner of The American in 2014, sits in 13th overall and Minden, Nevada's Wyatt Denny rounds out the field in 15th place.
Bareback Riding World Standings
1. Tim O'Connell, $178,963.85
2. Orin Larsen, $138,295.67
3. Caleb Bennett, $132,494.06
4. Tanner Aus, $112,684.47
5. R.C. Landingham, $104,678.41
6. Winn Ratliff, $96,294.90
7. Evan Jayne, $81,581.12
8. Clayton Biglow, $76,871.86
9. Jake Brown, $76,154.23
10. Jake Vold, $74,821.33
11. J.R. Vezain, $74,200.33
12. Ty Breuer, $71,118.39
13. Richmond Champion, $69,169.02
14. Jessy Davis, $67,800.67
15. Wyatt Denny, $66,797.81
How to Watch
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