Photo by Hillary Maybery for SI Rodeo Daily
Leighton Berry and Frontier Rodeo’s Painted Smoke Take Top Honors in Round 4
Leighton Berry might have grown up with a rope in his hand, but his choice to switch to bareback horses in high school is paying off. Berry was the cream of the crop in Round 4 of the 2023 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. The brown and white paint horse, Frontier Rodeo's Painted Smoke, and Berry battled back and forth to show off their talents. At the end of eight seconds, the duo racked up 87.5 points to take the win and the $30,706 paycheck.
The Weatherford, Texas cowboy is making his third appearance at the NFR after finishing in the fifth-place position in 2022. Berry started the 2023 season with a bang by winning RodeoHouston. Berry entered the 2023 NFR in the fifth position. Tonight’s win moved the 24-year-old to No. 3 in the world.
After winning Round 2, Mason Clements came back strong to split second three ways with Jayco Roper and Keenan Hayes. The trio all scored 85.5 points to earn $18,490 toward their world standings earnings.
Hayes has earned three checks in four rounds to keep chipping away at his bid toward his first world title. This would be a feat few have accomplished as he is a rookie in the PRCA this year. The paycheck tonight pushed Hayes past the $300k mark to $312,120. With Hayes's consistent performances in the first four rounds, he is well on his way to a world championship.
NFR Bareback Riding Round 4 Results:
1. Leighton Berry, 87.5 points on Frontier Rodeo's Painted Smoke, $30,706
2/3/4.Mason Clements, Keenan Hayes and Jayco Roper, 85.5, $18,490 each
5. Kade Sonnier, 85, $7,924
6. Dean Thompson, 83.5, $4,953
NFR Average Results:
1. Mason Clements, 340.0/4
2. Keenan Hayes, 339.0/4
3. Cole Reiner, 337.5/4
4. Jesse Pope, 335.0/4
5. Kade Sonnier, 333.5/4
6. Leighton Berry, 332.5/4
