COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Cody Wright did just a little better this year. Wright, of Milford, Utah, repeated as saddle bronc riding champion at the Greeley (Colo.) Independence Stampede, and earned a ProRodeo-best $24,288 at three rodeos during the past week, known in rodeo as Cowboy Christmas.

Wright, who entered last year’s Wrangler National Finals Rodeo ranked No. 1, only to finish fourth in the final world standings, moved to within $10,000 of event leader Billy Etbauer following last week’s feeding frenzy, which was highlighted by his encore performance in Greeley.

By scoring 170 points on two head, Wright bagged $15,261, the most of any Greeley competitor. Add a share of second place at the St. Paul (Ore.) Rodeo worth $7,524 and a first-place check at the Black Hills Round-Up in Belle Fourche, S.D., and Wright had himself quite a week. Last year, Wright earned $23,822, winning more than $17,000 in Greeley.

Although Wright was the high-money winner over the period, he was far from the only contestant to earn big bucks. Wright topped the list of 12 cowboys who earned more than $15,000 since the start of Cowboy Christmas on June 25 at the Ponoka (Alberta) Stampede.

Trevor Brazile, the reigning and five-time World Champion All-Around Cowboy, finished a close second, winning $23,813 in tie-down roping and team roping. Brazile, of Decatur, Texas, won the tie-down roping title at the St. Paul (Ore.) Rodeo, bagging $9,467 after roping and tying two calves in 16.7 seconds. He also claimed checks at the World’s Oldest Rodeo in Prescott, Ariz.; the Livingston (Mont.) Round-Up; and the Molalla (Ore.) Buckeroo.

After Wright and Brazile, three Colorado cowboys – bareback riders Tim Shirley of Conifer and Royce Ford of Briggsdale along with steer wrestler Casey McMillen of Craig – took their places among the top Cowboy Christmas performers.

Shirley continues to make a push for his first Wrangler NFR by earning $21,052 and vaulting into the top 10 in the Crusher Rentals PRCA World Standings. He won the two-head average title in Ponoka, good for $10,479, and claimed additional earnings in St. Paul, Livingston and Belle Fourche.

Ford earned $18,396 during the past week, highlighted by a first-place showing in St. Paul ($10,452) and an additional $6,685 in Greeley. McMillen earned the most among steer wrestlers with $17,701, including $9,810 in Greeley, where he finished a close second to Jake Rinehart of Highmore, S.D.

The tandem of Nick Sartain and Rhen Richard earned $14,475, the most of any team ropers. Sartain, of Pilot Point, Texas, and Richard, of Roosevelt, Utah, had their top payday at the Cody (Wyo.) Stampede, where their second-place finish gave them $6,584 each. They later earned $5,158 each by winning the title in Livingston.

Cory McFadden, a 1999 NFR qualifier, led bull riders during Cowboy Christmas by earning $17,075, thanks in large part to victories in Prescott, Ariz., and the Fourth of July Youth Celebration and PRCA Rodeo in Window Rock, Ariz.