The Darby Rodeo Association will be hosting a one-of-a-kind match saddle bronc riding on Friday, September 15. Five cowboys from the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association will compete for a winner take all $10,000. The cowboys will have two broncs to ride and the top combined score will win the money.
For those who haven’t yet made it to the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas in December, this is a chance to see the current world champion, Zeke Thurston . of Big Valley, Alberta, Canada. He won $265,449 in 2016 and was first in the average with 7475 points on nine head. This year he is in second place with winnings of $166,367. Thurston is fresh off a win at the Lewiston Roundup over last weekend and is scheduled to ride at the Pendleton Round Up this week.
Cody DeMoss of Heflin, Louisiana, was scheduled to ride but broke his sternum over the weekend and will not be able to ride. He is currently in third place in the PRCA standings with earnings of $119,656.
Replacing DeMoss will be the Bitterroot’s own Josh Reynolds who now hails from Ekalaka. Reynolds has been a top bronc rider for years and is currently sitting in the top 15 in the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit.
Cort Scheer and Isaac Diaz both came last year to Darby for a two-man matched bronc riding. Both are back this year. Scheer is from Elsmere, Nebraska. He is currently ranked 16th in the world standings with earnings of $64,285. Diaz is from Desdemona, Texas. He is currently ranked 20th in the world with winnings of $52,845.
The final cowboy competing will be Montana’s own Jesse Kruse. Kruse is from Great Falls. He was the world champion saddle bronc rider in 2009. He suffered some injuries over the last couple of years and has slowed down competing some. He also has a family now and doesn’t travel as much. He is currently second in the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit and 11th in the Northern Rodeo Association.
There will also be a chicken scramble, boot race, wild pony races and mini broncs on Friday night.
Saturday night will be the 3rd annual Joe Reynolds Memorial Saddle Broncs and Open Barrel Race. Promoter Cal Ruark said there will be 36 head of saddle broncs brought in from all over the Northwest and western Canada. These are four year old horses who are bred to buck. They are vying for a chance to m are it to the championships in Las Vegas where they could be auctioned off. The horses are divided into teams of three horses each with $3,000 going to the top team. Cowboys from around the region will be competing on these horses for prize money as well.
In addition there will be a barrel race that is sanctioned by the NBHA and UBRC with $2,000 added.
Gates open both days at 4pm with the performances at 6pm. Cost for one night is $15 per person or $25 for both nights. A family of four can attend both nights for $30. There will be food and drinks available. For more information, see www.darbyrodeoassociation.com or on Facebook.