(Editor’s note: Cody Stampede release)
CODY, Wyo. – Tim O’Connell and Cole Franks came to the Cody Stampede in the same pickup, then rode bareback racehorses and went head-to-head.
It’s one of the unusual aspects of rodeo, the camaraderie between competitors, but this year it’s especially important. Rising fuel prices have changed the way competitors travel and when they can share trips and expenses, it improves their profit margins.
O’Connell and Franks started traveling together a year ago after Franks won the title at the College National Finals Rodeo. It was a title that O’Connell had also won. Franks went to school at Clarendon College in his home state of Texas and wanted to further his education and improve his riding skills.
So he decided to go to Missouri Valley College in Marshall, O’Connell’s alma mater who is on his way to becoming bareback riding champions. His decision paid off. He set his sights on winning the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Rookie of the Year.
O’Connell told him to make it his goal to qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and if he did, the rookie award would come with it. That’s exactly what happened and at the end of the season Franks was third in the world rankings. O’Connell was sixth and their other travel partner, Jess Pope of Waverly, Kansas, was second.
Pope did not make the trip to Cody with them after a horse fell on him in West Jordan, Utah on Friday night. So Franks and O’Connell made the trip without him. They both rode horses owned by Championship Pro Rodeo, a company owned by O’Connell’s older brother, Will.
Franks rode a horse named Vegas Confused and O’Connell rode Cajun Queen. When the judges added up their totals, they each had a score of 86.5 points by name. Now they have to wait two more performances to see if their scores will hold. They might drop in the rankings, but they still have a good opportunity to add money to their checking accounts.
Rodeo action continues Sunday nights starting at 8 p.m.
Here are the results of the 103rd Cody Stampede, Saturday, July 2, 2022.
Second performance —
Bareback riding: 1, (tie) Cole Franks, Clarendon, Texas, on Vegas Confused of Championship Pro Rodeo and Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa, on Cajun Queen of Championship Pro Rodeo, 86.5 points each. 3, Seth Hardwick, Ranchester, Wyo., 84. 4, Guage McBride, Kearney, Neb., 82.
Steer wrestling: 1, (three times) 1, Kyle Whitaker, Chambers, Neb., 5.5 seconds. 2, Dalton Burgener, Douglas, Wyo., 5.8. 3, Jhet Murphy, Helena, Montana, 8.7.
Team stringing: 1, Kaleb Driggers, Hoboken, Georgia, and Junior Nogueira, Presidente Prude, Brazil, 4.4 seconds. 2, Coy Rahlmann, Ellsinore, Mo., and Douglas Rich, Herrick, Ill, 5.0. 3, Dalton Turner, Sidney, Ark., and Blaine Turner, Batesville, Ark., 5.8. 4, Jason Burson, Sealy, Texas, and Corey Hendrick, Bedias, Texas, 8.3.
Riding in the saddle bronc: 1, Colt Gordon, Comanche, Okla., 80 points. 2, Ben Andersen, Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, 76. 3, Isaac Diaz, Desdemona, Texas, 75. 4, Damian Brennan, Injune, Australia, 74.
Escaped rope: 1, Paige Stout, Decatur, Texas, 3.5 seconds. 2, Tracey Bolich, Belgrade, Montana, 3.6 3, Shalee King, Kaysville, Utah, 5.5. 4, Shelli Scrivner, New Plymouth, Idaho, 12.2.
Lashing rope: 1, Michael Otero, Millsap, Texas, 9.5. 2, Clint Robinson, Spanish Fork, Utah, 11.3. 3, West Smith, Emmet, Ark., 14.6. 4, Kyle Dickens, Loveland, Colo., 20.5.
Barrel stroke: 1, Michelle Alley, Madisonville, Texas, 17.40 seconds. 2, Manchi Nace, Laurier, Montana, 5:50 p.m. 3, Sidney Forrest, Lipan, Texas, 5:70 p.m. 4, (tie) Katie Drosihn, Fort Collins, Colorado, and Bugg Beeler, Terrell, Texas, 5:80 p.m.
Bull riding: (one round) 1, Trey Benton III, Richards, Texas, 86 points on Liquid Smoke from Classic Pro Rodeo.
Current leaders –
Bareback riding: 1, (tie) Cole Franks, Clarendon, Texas, on Vegas Confused of Championship Pro Rodeo and Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa, on Cajun Queen of Championship Pro Rodeo, 86.5 points each. 3, Seth Hardwick, Ranchester, Wyo., 84. 4, Guage McBride, Kearney, Neb., 82.
Steer wrestling: 1, Tyler Pearson, Atoka, Okla., 3.4 seconds. 2, Jason Thomas, Bentonville, Ark., 3.6. 3, (tie) Dakota Eldridge, Elko, Nev., and Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont., 3.7.
Team string: 1, Coleman Proctor, Pryor, Okla., and Logan Medlin, Tatum, NM, 4.3 seconds. 2, (tie) Tanner Tomlinson, Angleton, Texas, and Patrick Smith, Lipan, Texas; and Kaleb Driggers, Hoboken, Georgia, and Junior Nogueira, Presidente Prude, Brazil; 4.4 seconds each. Pedro Egurrola, Florence, Arizona, and JC Flake, Laramie, Wyo., 4.5.
Riding in the saddle bronc: 1, Tanner Burner, Daniel, Wyoming, 84.5 points over Miss Ellie of Frontier Rodeo. 2, (tie) Logan Cook, Alto, Texas, and Riggin Smith, Winterset, Iowa, 84 apiece. 4 Chase Brooks, Deer Lodge, Montana, 82.
Escaped rope: 1, Charity Hoar, Pine Bluff, Wyo., 2.4 seconds. 2, Paige Stout, Decatur, Texas, 3.5. 3, Tracey Bolich, Belgrade, Montana, 3.6. 4, Suzanne Williams, Winnemucca, Nevada, 4.7.
Lashing rope: 1, Riley Pruitt, Gering, Neb., 7.7 seconds. 2, Zack Jongbloed, Iowa, Louisiana, 8.6. 3, Wyatt Muggli, Wayne, Oklahoma, 9.1. 4, JC McCuistion, Collinsville, TX, Okla., 9.2.
Barrel stroke: 1, Leslie Smalygo, Skiatook, Okla., 17.04. 2, Saebens Ivy, Nowata, Okla., 17.24. 3, Megan McLeod — Sprague, Marsing, Idaho, 5:38 p.m. 4, Michelle Alley, Madisonville, TX, 5:40 p.m.
Bull Riding: 1, (tie) Trevor Reiste, Linden, Iowa, on Yimmy of Championship Pro Rodeo and Trey Benton III, Richards, Texas, on Liquid Smoke of Championship Pro Rodeo, 86 points each. 3, Tristen Hutchings, Monteview, Idaho, 84. 4, Jace Trosclair, Chauvin, La., 79.