Well, as Radney Foster once said, “The horses are trailered, and the lights are shut down”. This is true as the Cinch Playoffs: Governor’s Cup and San Bernardino County Sheriff’s PRCA Rodeo come to a close. The Governor’s Cup and the Sheriff’s Rodeo were two of the last major rodeos of the 2025 PRCA season, and for some, the last chances to earn money and points to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo.
For many, this will mark a moment of “what ifs” as professional athletes stand outside the qualifications, in some cases, the difference between making the NFR and watching from the sidelines was as little as several hundred dollars leading into the weekend. For others, these last two rodeos were an opportunity to make the final push to qualify for NFR. A great example of this came in the Bareback Riding. While Rocker Stiener holds a considerable lead (one stretched when he won the Governor’s Cup). Tilden Hooper, a Carthage, Texas, Cowboy, went into the weekend in 16th place, a mere $562 behind Mason Clements, who was sitting in the 15th spot. Unfortunately for them, Mason Clements (15th), Nick Pelke (14th), and Waylon Bourgeois (13th) did not qualify for the Governors Cup. This was an excellent opportunity for Hooper to move up the ladder and qualify for a return to the NFR.
Night One saw Hooper score an 84.25 on Prairie Rose (Sankey Pro Rodeo). A solid score, but one that left him a quarter of a point behind Jesse Pope and Bradlee Miller, who both rode an 84.5, tying them in 4th place. Tilden finished sixth due to that quarter of a point; it also left him out of the money for Friday night.
A second opportunity on Saturday night provided Hooper with the ride he needed to qualify for the finals on Sunday. Jesse Pope started the night out with 83.75. Then came Shadbolt and Roper, scoring 81 and 84.75, respectively. After Roper, Hooper screws down onto Wild Child (Burch Rodeo) and gives the nod. Wild Child comes out of the chutes, twisting and turning, and Hooper has a great ride, scoring 86.25. This score will be good enough for a third-place finish for the go around and, more importantly, for Hooper, a payday of $5,956. His combined two-night total scores were enough to propel him into Round 3 on Sunday. Hooper would not qualify for the final four but added an additional $4,000 to his earnings, bringing him to a total payout of $9,596 for his time in South Dakota. The question is, would this be enough?
Meanwhile, out in California at the Sheriff’s PRCA Rodeo. Mason Clements, Nick Pelke, and Waylon Bourgeois were all entered for a Sunday Night showdown and still had a chance to add to their totals. Clements and Bourgeois had entered and added to their totals at the Kern County Fair, Poway Rodeo, and the Young Living Last Chance Rodeo. Unfortunately, for Clements, a second-place finish at the Sheriff’s PRCA Rodeo was not enough to propel him back into the top 15. Tilden Hooper is now sitting in 14th place and will return to the NFR for the first time since 2022.
1. Rocker Steiner $302,564.22
2. Sam Petersen $222,801.45
3. Bradlee Miller $207,474.02
4. Jesse Pope $202,645.94
5. Cole Franks $200,362.07
6. Kade Sonnier $170,851.63
7. Garrett Shadbolt $168,261.06
8. Dean Thompson $162,658.13
9. Jacek Frost $142,864.48
10. Cooper Cooke $142,593.79
11. Jayco Roper $139,283.31
12. Wacey Schalla $136,108.92
13. Waylon Bourgeois $130,591.18
14. Tilden Hooper $129,950.66
15. R.C. Landingham $124,024.93