Since launching in May of 2018, the WCRA has worked to lift Western sports with its $1 million rodeos, attracting some of the top rodeo athletes in the world. In 2019, we got big-money performances, a champion or two that made history and agreements that broke new ground in the rodeo world.
Here are eight of the WCRA’s best moments of 2019.
1. Breakaway roping makes its debut
In the world of rodeo, the women’s event of breakaway roping had never been staged on a major platform – until 2019. The WCRA included breakaway roping in its $1 million rodeos, making it the first time breakaway roping champions earned the same payout as contestants in the men’s events. Jackie Crawford was the first to take home a big check at the Windy City Roundup in Chicago, etching her name in the rodeo history books.
2. Tonozzi and Mattern go back-to-back
So nice they did it twice. Team ropers Garrett Tonozzi and Joe Mattern walked away with $62,500 apiece when they won the Windy City Roundup in January, and then did it again at the Title Town Stampede in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
“To give the cowboys a chance to compete at a one-day, $1 million rodeo is amazing,” Tonozzi said. “There will be a few hiccups to iron out along the way with anything this big and new, but it’s awesome how the WCRA is for the cowboys in every way. The bottom line is they want to help the cowboys, and that is so refreshing and cool for all of us.”
3. Vieira cashes in at Titletown Stampede
No stranger to concluding a season near the top of the PBR world standings, Joao Ricardo Vieira had another banner year in 2019, finishing ranked No. 4 in the world. He also earned more than $900,000, helped greatly by his performances at rodeos, including his win worth $74,777.75 in Green Bay.
“This is a fantastic year,” Vieira said. “I cannot believe I have won this much money and have been riding so good, including away from my hand. I have worked hard for this, but it has been a fantastic year.”
4. Feild makes golden return to action
In March, four-time World champion bareback rider Kaycee Field suffered a head injury in a wreck. He returned to competition in July at the Days of ’47 Cowboy Games and Rodeo, winning the gold medal in front of an electric crowd.
“My dad left quite the legacy behind, so to ride in his name is a very humbling honor,” Feild said of his father, 2018 Ty Murray Top Hand Award recipient Lewis Feild. “And this rodeo is amazing. It felt like maybe somebody on the back of the chutes—my dad—was helping me tonight. To win $50,000 for getting on two horses is a dream come true. Seeing the sport going in the right direction makes me really happy. The future of rodeo looks better and better all the time. More cowboys and more big rodeos, where it doesn’t take so much wear and tear on a guy to make a living is positive progress.”
5. Kinsel becomes first three-time gold medalist at Days of ’47
Barrel racer Hailey Kinsel is known for many things – being a two-time World Champion and marrying fellow two-time champ Jess Lockwood, for starters. But this half of the royal couple of rodeo also has the claim to fame that she’s the first athlete to win three consecutive gold medals at Days of ’47, setting an arena record in the process.
“It’s definitely all Sister,” Kinsel said, giving credit to her horse. “I am so proud of this horse. She tries so hard. Every time I ask her to throw down in a pressure run, she does.”
6. Boisjoli sisters go 1-2 in Green Bay
Shelby and Makayla Boisjoli are just your average sisters, but their sibling rivalry happens to play out in rodeo arenas in front of thousands of fans. The two breakaway ropers were the only two left standing after the long round of the Title Town Stampede and faced off in the Championship Match Round. Shelby beat her older sister Makayla with her 2.88-second run earning her $50,000.
7. Kolbaba wins big in Chicago
Derek Kolbaba had a rough start to the 2019 Unleash The Beast season, going 0-for-5 at the season-opening event in New York City. The following weekend, though, Kolbaba went 2-for-2 at the Windy City Roundup to take home the title, 207.5 points towards the PBR world standings – moving him to No. 11 in the world at the time – and $67,675.91.
Between his performance in Chicago and his victory at the 2018 Days of ’47 Cowboy Games and Rodeo, Kolbaba won $125,675.91 in just two events.
“It is a cool organization and they are making a lot of opportunities for rodeo cowboys that they don’t have every day,” Kolbaba said. “As bull riders, we are lucky to have the PBR to have that. For these guys, it is big time. For anybody, really. It is huge to be able to ride one day and walk away with over $50,000.”
8. Triple Crown of Rodeo is announced
In September, the WCRA announced the Triple Crown of Rodeo, increasing the odds for athletes to take home $1 million.
The new rule in effect for the 2020 season is simple and lucrative: win three consecutive WCRA Majors and pocket $1 million.
In 2020, two of the $1,000,000 WCRA Major Rodeos will be coupled with a PBR Unleash the Beast event: Kansas City, Missouri, for the Royal City Roundup on Feb. 28 and Tacoma, Washington, with the Puget Sound Showdown on August 28.
The other WCRA Major that’s part of the TCR, the Stampede at The E in Guthrie, Oklahoma, will be held May 17, while the Days of ’47 Cowboy Games and Rodeo will be held July 21-25.
“We endeavor to lift the entire sport of rodeo,” said WCRA CEO Gary McKinney. “The WCRA Triple Crown of Rodeo is another tremendous advancement for all stakeholders; the athletes, the rodeos and the fans. Historically, outside of the road to the finals there has been no platform or continuity to align major rodeos – the TCR provides that vehicle.”