DeMoss wins 4th round of saddle bronc
LAS VEGAS – Heith DeMoss won for the first time in the National Finals Rodeo, taking the saddle bronc Sunday with an 86.5-point ride on Big Jet.
DeMoss, from Crowville, La., celebrated with a dance in the arena.
“I just get a little excited,” said DeMoss, a 21-year-old NFR rookie. “For a kid who has wanted this his whole life … it’s a dream come true.”
Cody DeMoss, Heith’s older brother and the 2006 regular-season leader, dropped to second in the PRCA world standings, with Cody Wright of Milford, Utah, placing second with an 84 on Black Gold. Wright has $142,937, followed by Cody DeMoss’ $134,349.
In team roping, Trevor Brazile of Decatur, Texas, and Patrick Smith of Midland, Texas, tied for first at 4.0 seconds. Brazile, sixth in the season headers standings, increased his first-place all-around total to $325,868.
Brazile also is the first person in NFR history to earn at least $300,000 in two consecutive years.
Walt Woodard of Stockton, Calif., took over first place in the heeler world standings with $117,372. Woodard and Clay Tryan of Billings, Mont., tied for second with Colter Todd of Marana, Ariz., and Cesar de la Cruz of Tucson, Ariz., in 4.4.
In bareback riding, Bobby Mote of Culver, Ore., who leads the world standings with $168,577, won his first round of the NFR with a score of 85.5 on Multi-Chem Hostage. Ryan Gray of Cheney was 10th.
In bull riding, J.W. Harris of May, Texas, won with an 85 on High Waters. It was Harris’ second 2007 NFR win. He and Cody Hancock of Taylor, Ariz., were the only competitors out of 15 who had successful rides.
In tie-down roping, Matt Shiozawa of Chubbuck, Idaho, won with a 7.7-second run. Tyson Durfey of Colbert was ninth. Brazile is the world leader.
In barrel racing, Terra Bynum of Colorado City, Texas, placed first in a time of 13.87. World standings leader Brittany Pozzi-Pharr of Victoria, Texas, was third in 14.09 and increased her money total to $190,698.
In steer wrestling, Canada’s Lee Graves, and Sean Mulligan of Coleman, Okla., tied for first at 3.7 seconds.