Champion Saddle Bronc Rider Continues Winning Ways

By Susan Kanode

For the National Western Stock Show

            DENVER, Colo. --- Fans at the first of 23 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeos at the National Western Stock Show were lucky enough to world champion saddle bronc rider Jesse Kruse continue his winning ways.

            Kruse, from Great Falls, Mont., just earned the world title at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo last December. It was his first qualification to rodeo’s championship event and he left Las Vegas with over $64,000 in earnings.

            He is starting off his 2010 season with a bang in the Denver Coliseum. Kruse tied for first place with Jace Garrett from Alliance, Neb. They both rode horses from the Calgary Stampede and to earn 81 points.

            In bareback riding, it was Ryan Gray who held the top of the leaderboard with an 86-point effort on Peigan Warrior, also from the Calgary Stampede. Gray is a former Denver Champion having tied for the bareback riding title here in 2005.

            A bull from Cervi and Guidry Rodeo Company that is known to be rider friendly took Will Farrell to a 91-point score. Farrell had to be excited when he found out the bull that he would get on here was Hot Diggity Damn. The bull has bucked off over 60% of his riders, but most of those that have lasted the required eight seconds have scored over 89 points.

            The fast time in team roping came from a South Carolina duo. Kaleb Driggers and Adam Plyler made the trip here all the way from Pageland just to rope. They got into the National Western Stock Show Rodeo through the pre-qualifier on Wednesday and have stayed here to rope. They stopped the clock in 4.0 seconds.

            All of these contestants will have their second round competition Sunday evening beginning at 7 p.m. Then they will have to wait through the next 20 performances to see if they will qualify for the finals Sunday, Jan. 24^th at 2 p.m.