Riding High: Round 5 Unleashes Rodeo Magic at the NFR

We've reached the halfway mark at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge, after a thrilling five rounds.

PRCA Photo by Clay Guardipee

Round 5 of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge highlighted Resistol Rookie of the Year winners and marched forward with the rodeo performances. The rodeo kicked off with contest winner 6-year-old Christopher Sverdsten performing the national anthem. 

Jayco Roper and Clayton Biglow split the Round 5 win in the bareback riding with a pair of 89.5-point rides. Roper was aboard 110 Virgil of C5 Rodeo Company and Biglow spurred 172 Night Crawler of Pickett Pro Rodeo, the 2023 "Pendleton Whisky Let 'er Buck Bareback Horse of the Year." The Kansas cowboy, Jess Pope was third in Round 5, as he rode 153 OLS Tubs Stevie Knicks from Macza Pro Rodeo for 88.5 points.

The Round 5 win in the steer wrestling went to J.D. Struxness with his 3.3-second run. Struxness earned a $30,706.41 paycheck on the run. Second place went to Jacob Talley; he was 3.6 seconds. Ty Erickson and Stan Braco both ran a 3.7 to split the third-place prize in Round 5 of the steer wrestling.

Dynamic duo, Luke Brown and Hunter Koch lit up the Thomas and Mack Tuesday night in Round 5 of the NFR. The team busted out of the roping chutes to make a 3.8-second run. 2022 NFR Average champions Tanner Tomlinson and Patrick Smith split a second-place win with Rhen Richard and Jeremy Buhler. Both teams were 4.0 seconds on their fifth steer in the little yellow arena.

Zeke Thurston and Calgary Stampede's Xplosive Skies met again, and it was electric. Thurston marked a 91.5-point ride and cashed a $30,706.41 check for first place in Round 5 of the saddle bronc riding at the NFR. Xplosive Skies was the 2023 "Pendleton Whisky Let 'er Buck Saddle Bronc Horse of the Year." Ryder Wright rode 303 All Or Nothin owned by Andrews Rodeo Inc. for a second-place win in Round 5. Third place in the round went to California cowboy, Lefty Holman and his 88.5-point ride.

In Round 5 of the tie-down roping, Caleb Smidt and his trusty steed, Pockets, clenched a first-place win. His 6.9-second run landed him in the top spot. The current leader of the tie-down roping standings, Riley Webb ended up in second place in Round 5, tying one down in 7.4 seconds. Third place went to Shad Mayfield with his 7.8-second run in Round 5.

Summer Kosel broke the Round 5 NFR record and ran the fastest time at the 2023 NFR thus far in Round 5. She was 13.42 and won first place in Round 5. The second-place winner was Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi with her 13.58-second run. She will earn $24,267.97 on the run. Round 4 winner, Sissy Winn and Scoop landed in third place this round. They ran the cloverleaf pattern in 13.59 seconds.

Seven-time world champion bull rider, Sage Kimzey drew 286 Polar Express of State Smith Pro Rodeos and rode him for 92 points to keep his momentum flowing at the 2023 NFR in the bull riding. Trey Kimzey was the only other qualified ride in the fifth round, scoring 87.5-points.

Round 6 of the Wrangler National Finals will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 13 at 12 p.m. EST.

See the results for Round 5 below:

Bareback Riding

1/2. Clayton Biglow, on Pickett Pro Rodeo Co 's Night Crawler, and Jayco Roper, on C5 Rodeo's Virgil, 89.5 points, $27,487 each
3. Jess Pope, 88.5, $18,325
4. Mason Clements, 87.5, $12,877
5/6. Jacob Lees and Cole Reiner, 87, $6,438 each

Steer Wrestling

1. J.D. Struxness, 3.3 seconds, $30,706
2. Jacob Talley, 3.6, $24,268
3/4. Stan Branco and Ty Erickson, 3.7, $15,601 each
5. Dalton Massey, 4.0, $7,924
6. Jesse Brown, 4.1, $4,953

Team Roping

1. Luke Brown/Hunter Koch, 3.8 seconds, $30,706 each
2/3. Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler and Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, 4.0, $21,296 each
4. Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord, 4.1, $12,877
5. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, 4.7, $7,924
6/7. Jake Clay/Tyler Worley and Clay Smith/Paden Bray, 8.9, $2,476 each

Saddle Bronc Riding

1. Zeke Thurston, 91 points on Calgary Stampede's Xplosive Skies, $30,706
2. Ryder Wright, 89.5, $24,268
3. Lefty Holman, 88.5, $18,325
4/5. Damian Brennan and Wyatt Casper, 87.5, $10,401 each
6. Brody Cress, 87, $4,953

Tie-Down Roping

1. Caleb Smidt, 6.9 seconds, $30,706
2. Riley Mason Webb, 7.4, $24,268
3. Shad Mayfield, 7.8, $18,325
4. Haven Meged, 8.1, $12,877
5. Kincade Henry, 8.3, $7,924
6. Shane Hanchey, 8.7, $4,953

Barrel Racing

1. Summer Kosel, 13.42 seconds
2. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 13.58, $24,268
3. Sissy Winn, 13.59
4/5/6. Emily Beisel, Jordon Briggs and Paige Jones, 13.60, $8,585 each.

Bull Riding

1. Sage Kimzey, 92 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeos 's Polar Express, $52,746
2. Trey Kimzey, 87.5, $46,307