Reno Rodeo Crowns 2026 Champions As Summer Run Heats Up

The champions of the 2026 Reno Rodeo have been crowned, and another memorable edition of the "Wildest, Richest Rodeo in the West" is in the books. With nearly $900,000 awarded throughout the week, Reno once again proved why it's one of the biggest stops of the summer run, giving athletes a chance to cash in and climb the world standings as the race to the 2026 NFR continues to heat up.

Bareback rider Kade Sonnier turned in one of the most consistent performances of the week, placing second in every round and securing the average win. His strong showing in Reno earned him $20,305, providing a significant boost as he sits just outside the Top 15 in the world standings. Jess Pope and Jayco Roper each had a five-figure payday as well, taking home $14,105 and $10,287, respectively.

After finishing runner-up for two straight years, Emily Beisel finally broke through for her first Reno Rodeo barrel racing championship. Her three-run aggregate time of 50.74 seconds earned her $18,843 payday, strengthening her push toward a world championship. No. 5-ranked Carlee Otero was close behind, finishing just seven-hundredths of a second behind Beisel.

Steer wrestlers Tristan Martin and Dalton Massey shared the average title after each finished with 13.2 seconds on three head. Bridger Anderson finished third in the average, while Mike McGinn rounded out the top four after a lightning-fast 3.7-second run in the finals.

Team roping featured one of the biggest highlights of the rodeo when brothers Dawson and Dillion Graham shattered the arena record with a 3.7-second run in the second round. But when the dust settled, it was James Arviso and Levi Lord who claimed the average championship, finishing with a three-head time of 15.0 seconds.

Saddle bronc riding champion Ryder Wright capped off the week with a spectacular 91.5-point ride in the finals aboard Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics' Irv's Legacy. Kade Bruno also had a successful week, taking home nearly $12,000 as he continues his bid for a world title in 2026.

Bryce Derrer emerged as the tie-down roping champion after posting an average time of 26.5 seconds on three head. The win comes at an important time for Derrer, who currently sits No. 14 in the world standings as he looks to qualify for his first NFR. No. 2-ranked Kincade Henry also had a strong week, winning more than $10,000 while narrowing the gap on world leader Riley Webb. Another encouraging storyline was the return of Shad Mayfield, who finished tied for third in the average after recently returning from hip surgery.

In breakaway roping, Madison Outhier secured the average title with 8.2-seconds on three head. The inaugural American Rodeo breakaway champion entered Reno ranked 23rd in the world standings, making her championship performance a timely boost as she works her way into NFBR contention. Bradi Good finished just one-tenth of a second behind Outhier after winning the finals.

No. 4-ranked Hayden Welsh delivered a 90-point ride in the finals before securing the average title with 177.5 points on two head, collecting one of the biggest paydays of the week. Hudson Bolton finished second in the average while banking nearly $18,000 to strengthen his position in the world standings. John Crimber recorded the highest-marked ride of the rodeo at 90.5 points in the opening round but was unable to cover his second bull.

It’s officially time for one of the busiest weeks of the season: Cowboy Christmas. Rodeo Roundtable will continue full coverage throughout the week, bringing you results, highlights, and standout performances as the summer run rolls on.