St. Paul Rodeo marked a major Cowboy Christmas stop as top ProRodeo competitors battled for one of the summer's biggest payouts.
Cowboy Christmas is one of the most demanding and pivotal weeks of the rodeo season, and the St. Paul Rodeo in Oregon remains one of its most lucrative stops. With a total payoff surpassing $558,000, the event drew a deep field of top-tier competitors, including a standout rookie bull rider who is steadily climbing the 2026 world standings.
After topping the bull riding leaderboard in St. Paul with an 89-point ride aboard Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics' Humboldt, Noah Lee took home $16,963. He now sits comfortably atop the rookie standings with over 172,000 won so far – nearly $30,000 ahead of No. 2-ranked rookie Hayden Welsh. Lee also sits second in the world standings, trailing No. 1-ranked Tristen Hutchings by $14,000.
In bareback riding, former World Champion Jess Pope put together an outstanding 88.5-point ride on Land Of Fancy to collect the championship and a $16,593 payday. Saddle bronc riding belonged to Cash Wilson, whose 87.5-point ride aboard Big Bend Rodeo's Major Huckleberr secured the title.
Will Lummus claimed the steer wrestling average in 8.4 seconds on two head, followed by Tyler Waguespack with an 8.5 and Ty Erickson with an 8.6. Brenten Hall and Wyatt Cox won the team roping average with a consistent 10.2 seconds on two head. Their $7,671 payday helps solidify their position inside the Top 10 in the world standings.
Cory Solomon and Riley Webb split the win in the tie-down roping, each finishing with a 15.2-second aggregate. The win officially moves Solomon, a 10-time NFR qualifier, into the Top 15 in the world standings. Reigning World Champion Webb maintains his lead in the world standings with nearly $200,000 won for the season thus far.
Anneliese McCurry laid down a winning 17.16-second run in the barrel racing worth $13,459. 2026 American Rodeo Champion Hayle Gibson-Stillwell finished second with a 17.29, and Julia Johnson claimed third place with a 17.32. Breakaway roping featured a four-way tie for first, as Martha Angelone, Josie Conner, Jordi Edens-Mitchell, and Bailey Patterson each stopped the clock in 2.2 seconds.
Cowboy Christmas may be coming to a close this week, but there are still plenty of large paychecks on the line throughout the rest of the season. Stay tuned for this week’s biggest winners and standout performances.
