Raleigh bucked and roared as elite riders conquered beasts. High-scoring cowboys and cowgirls battled for glory and substantial prize money.
Raleigh, North Carolina welcomed the top rough stock riders in the industry on Friday night, January 30, as they competed at the Lenovo Center in the Cinch World’s Toughest Rodeo for a total payout of $60,160. It was an event filled with explosive action as rough stock from Harper & Morgan Rodeo Co. alongside Championship Pro Rodeo, Penthouse Pro Rodeo, and Rocky Mountain Rodeo battled to give their riders more airtime than riding time.
The cowboys stuck with it though and put some high points on the scoreboard with top times across the bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, and bull riding all in the high 80s.
Caldwell, Idaho bareback rider Jacob Lees had an 87 point ride on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Squaw Stomper and took home $6,007 of the prize money. Lees had his first National Finals Rodeo (NFR) qualification in 2024, and is relatively new to the scene but is proving he is here to stay on the leaderboard. Just behind him was Cooper Cooke, another Idaho cowboy with an 86.5 point ride. 2025 was Cooke’s second year qualifying for the NFR and he has continued this momentum. Cooke took home $4,605. Third place was a tie between Keenan Hayes and Garrett Shadbolt with an 85.5 point ride, both taking home $2,803. Fifth place went to Waylon Bourgeois with an 85 point ride and a $1,402 payout and sixth place to Richmond Champion with an 84 point ride and a $1,001 payout. Closing out the leader board for bareback riding were Luke Thrash with an 83.5 point ride and an $801 payout and Dean Thompson with an 82 point ride and a $601 payout.
The saddle bronc champ was one of the famous Wright brothers, Statler Wright. Wright had an 88 point ride on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Rip, earning $6,007. A four way tie blocked out second place with Ben Andersen, Wyatt Casper, Logan Hay, and Q Taylor all scoring 86.5 point rides and earning $2,903 each. Another tie followed with Gus Gaillard and Kolby Wanchuk scoring 84.5 with a $901 payout and then Isaac Diaz rounding out the night with an 81.5 point ride and a $601 payout.
The cowboys of the bull riding were led by Brandon Ballard who had an 86.5 point ride on Penthouse Pro Rodeo’s King of Diamonds for a $10,762 payout. The only other qualified ride of the night was second place winner Creek Young who scored 82 points and earned $9,354.
Not only did the cowboys put on a great show with their talent and finesse, but local cowgirls competed in barrel racing and put more fast times on the clock. Bullfighters Nick Kaup and Ethan Pittman worked to keep riders safe as did pick up men Denton Good and Jake Pettit and flankmen Will O’Connell and Chase Richter. The speciality act was trick rider Summer Boyd & Co. and the clown/barrelman was Boom Boom Thompson, who kept the crowd entertained and laughing.