Cooper Earns The Most, WPRA Sanctions 2 Events, $2.8M: Numbers In April

Cooper Earns The Most, WPRA Sanctions 2 Events, $2.8M: Numbers In April

Cooper leads two events after a strong month, the ladies came to play in 2 events at Red Bluff, and millions were awarded. Check out the numbers in April.

May 1, 2018
Cooper Earns The Most, WPRA Sanctions 2 Events, $2.8M: Numbers In April

Almost a million more PRCA dollars were awarded this month than last, Canadians and Brazilians are making appearances on the standings lists, and 11 people were given a great honor. 

Here's a look at some standout stats in April.

1 New Tagline

In April the PRCA announced the creation of a new tagline for the association: "We Are ProRodeo."


2 WPRA Events At Red Bluff

WPRA Ladies had double the opportunity to compete at the 2018 Red Bluff Round-Up with the association sanctioning not only the barrel racing but also breakaway roping at the pro rodeo.

6 Canadians Inside The Top 15

There are currently six Canadian within the top 15 in the PRCA world standings: Orin Larsen and Luke Creasy in bareback riding, Curtis Cassidy and Scott Guenthner in steer wrestling, and Zeke Thurston and Clay Elliott in saddle bronc riding.

11 Hall Of Fame Inductees

The 2018 Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame inductees were announced in April, with 11 new names being recognized next to some of the greatest athletes, entertainers, and supporters rodeo has ever seen.

2018 inductees include:

Notable: Walt Garrison

Contract Personnel: Leon Coffee

Team Roping: Speed Williams

Team Roping: Rich Skelton

Stock Contractor: Billy Minick

Bareback Riding: Deb Greenough

Barrel Racing: Billie McBride

Barrel Racing: Kristie Peterson

Livestock: French Flash Hawk “Bozo”

Committee: Black Hill Round Up, Belle Fourche, SD

Ken Stemler Pioneer Award: Kay Bleakly

12 Brazilians Inside The Top 25

The PBR world standings race is almost 50 percent populated by Brazilian bull riders. Claudio Montanha Jr. and Ramon de Lima, both natives of Brazil, hold the top two spots in the world. 

See Montanha Jr.’s latest ride at the Columbus, Ohio, PBR where he split the win in the championship round with a 90.75-point score:

Claudio Montanha Jr. Makes 90.75-Point Ride

Video courtesy of PBR

30 Rodeos 

There are 22 full PRCA rodeos in the month of April, plus four steer roping events and four bull ridings that were also sanctioned by the PRCA. 

92 Points

Jacobs Crawley scored 92 points in Corpus Christi, Texas, on April 28. Crawley made his ride aboard the 2013 PRCA Saddle Bronc Horse of the Year, Maple Leaf, who was also responsible for the current high score of the entire 2018 season at 90.5 points with Brody Cress earlier in the winter. 

$29,691.85 April Earnings

Tuf Cooper went to work in the month of April. At $29,691.85 won this month, Cooper earned more in April than any other competitor that currently sits in a No. 1 spot in the PRCA standings.

The reigning all-around champion sits atop the 2018 all-around standings ($95,713.81), second in the tie-down roping ($54,762.57), and he’s now first in the steer roping ($43,577.01).

$2.8 Million Payout

Over $2.8 million was awarded during PRCA rodeos this month. The highest-paying rodeo by far was the RAM National Circuit Finals in Kissimmee, Florida, with its $758,112 payout at the beginning of the month. Four regular-season rodeos had payouts in the $200,000 range: Logandale, NV; Corpus Christi, TX; Red Bluff, CA; and Clovis, CA. 

While there were seven fewer rodeos this month compared to March, almost $1 million more was paid out.