New legends rise as elite cowboys and cowgirls battle for top honors, crowning this year's International Professional Rodeo Association World Champions.
Round 4 of the IFR is affectionately known as Championship Sunday, as it is this day that the Aggregate Champions are announced and the newest World Champions are named.
The cowboys and cowgirls gave it their all Sunday afternoon and incredible displays of horsemanship and stockmanship were on display. The round brought some new names to the leaderboard and a few familiar ones with the following round winners:
- Bareback Riding: Stetson Bierman with an 82.5 point ride
- Steer Wrestling: Troy Orr with a 4.0 second run
- Team Roping: Pope/Dobbins with a 4.7 second run
- Saddle Bronc Riding: tie between Colt Bass and Jack Smithson with a 83.75 point ride
- Tie-down Roping: Zack Cargle with an 8.5 second run
- Breakaway Roping: Bleu Hall with a 1.6 second run
- Barrel Racing: Brandie Inman with a 16.300 second run
- Bull Riding: Elijah Jennings with an 84.25 point ride
Kenneth Glick of Pecatonia, IL. Photo by 870Sports PhotographyColt Bass and Jack Smithson were previous round winners and Troy Orr had a win under his belt in addition to having just set an arena record the night before. Zack Cargle and Elijah Jennings had also both won previous rounds, with Elijah Jennings winning three out of the four rounds he competed in. This consistent performance earned Elijah the High Money Earner Title as Aggregate Champion.
After the Round Winners were announced, the Aggregate Champions and Rookies of the Year were named as well, with the culmination of the event being the announcement of the World Champions.
The Aggregate Champions:
- All-Around: Marcus Theriot $5,555.57
- High Money Earner: Elijah Jennings $19, 444
- Bareback Riding: Lane Elsenpeter 322.75/4
- Steer Wrestling: Caleb Little 18.0/4
- Team Roping: Heath King/ Stephen Britnell 26.7/4
- Saddle Bronc Riding: Spur Montag 322.0/4
- Tie-Down Roping: Clay Livengood 41.1/4
- Breakaway Roping: Maelee Wade 11.0/4
- Barrel Racing: Payton Dalaney Askins 65.031/4
- Bull Riding: Elijah Jennings 252.75/3
The Rookies of the Year:
- All-Around: Colton Brumley $34,514.10
- Bareback Riding: Pedro Rivera $11,547.45
- Steer Wrestling: Colton Brumley $22,899.60
- Team Roping (Header): Ryan Pope $26,696.02
- Team Roping (Heeler): Whit Kitchens $19,998.66
- Saddle Bronc Riding: Tate Minor $46,697.27
- Tie-Down Roping: Brock Banks $15,511.75
- Breakaway Roping: Bleu Hall $22,400.30
- Barrel Racing: Dallas Philen $41,938.05
- Bull Riding: Elijah Jennings $49,934.70
Your newly crowned world champions are as follows:
- All-Around World Champion: Justin Thigpen of Waycross, GA with $66,459.39
- Bareback Riding World Champion: Tanner Phipps of Dalton, GA with $68,117.53
- Steer Wrestling World Champion: Caleb Little of Dexter, KY with $28,795.17
- Team Roping Heading World Champion: Heath King of Leicester, NC with $52,886.35
- Team Roping Heeling World Champion: Stephen Britnell of Knoxville, TN with $57,382.01
- Saddle Bronc Riding Champion: Jack Smithson of Springfield, TN with $67,335.35
- Tie-Down Roping World Champion: Cynch Whitesell of Marietta, SC with $70,601.67
- Breakaway Roping World Champion: Grace Toberer of Mount Ulla, NC with $47,871.11
- Barrel Racing World Champion: Brandie Inman of Nowata, OK with $46,089.40
- Bull Riding World Champion: Elijah Jennings of Marietta, SC with $49,934.70
These are the leading cowboys and cowgirls of the International Professional Rodeo Association (IPRA). Keep an eye on them and their continued success in the year to come!