Bryce Derrer looked to his left at Bonnie, a 7-year-old sorrel mare.
He knows there’s something special flowing through her equine blood, and it’s the reason why he’s having a strong tie-down roping season. The two proved it together during the July 30 performance of Dodge City Roundup Rodeo. He roped and tied two calves in a cumulative time of 17.8 seconds and sits No. 2 in the aggregate race.
That should be enough to secure his spot in Sunday’s championship round, which will feature only the top 12 contestants in each event from the preliminary performances.
“This is Bonnie’s first time out, so it’s amazing to take a horse like this out this young and be winning on her at the level I’m winning at,” said Derrer, 25, the No. 15 man in the world standings from Portales, New Mexico. “That blessing is amazing. The year’s going great.
“The Lord’s been amazing and has blessed me in so many different ways trying to get down the road. This is a great horse. I can’t thank the Young family enough for letting me take her out this year. Hopefully it just keeps rolling on and I can make the finals.”
That’s the National Finals Rodeo, a place he has yet to compete. Only the top 15 in the standings at the end of the regular season play for the biggest pay in the game. He was close in 2024, his inaugural campaign in ProRodeo. He finished 17th that year and was the runner-up to the Rookie of the Year. He likes his chances to advance to the NFR in December, mainly because of Bonnie.
“I just started roping on her in October, and then it’s been history since,” said Derrer, who entered this week of rodeos with almost $87,000 in earnings. “We’ve been rocking and rolling.”
“Rodeo is an amazing sport. It’s one of a kind. You can’t beat the family part of it, because you know everybody. If you need help, somebody’s going to help you somewhere. The horsepower in all events is amazing. The athletes, even the horse athletes, is just pretty cool.”
His father, Richard, shows draft horses for a living, so there’s something about powerful and athletic equines that runs in his blood. While he’s doing it in a different capacity, Derrer is chasing his dreams horseback. On Aug. 2, he’ll chase his first Roundup Rodeo title.
Dodge City, Kan.
July 30-Aug. 3
Bareback riding leaders: 1. Garrett Shadbolt, 87 points on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Pistol Princess; 2. Lane McGehee, 84.5; 3. Roedy Farrell, 83.5; 4. Andy Gingerich, 81.5; 5. Gauge McBride, 81; 6. Bryce Eck, 80; 7. Tucker Carricato, 76; 8. Connor Griffith, 72; 9. Ethan Crouch, 71; 10. Colt Eck, 69.5; 11. Carson Hildre, 69; 12. Rhett Roibbins, 68.
Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Kall Mayfield, 4.1 seconds; 2. (tie) Chance Howard and Darcy Kersh, 4.3; 4. Dalton Massey, 4.5; 5. Jacob Edler, 4.7; 6. Landris White, 4.9; 7. Colt Madison, 5.9; 8. Chase Crane, 6.1. Second round leaders: 1. Boyd Sawyer, 3.8 seconds; 2. (tie) Emmett Edler, Tanner Brunner and Jeff Miller, 4.2; 5. Chance Grill, 4.4; 6. Mike McGinn, 4.6; 7. Darcy Kersh, 4.8; 8. (tie) Kall Mayfield and Jude Leonards, 5.1. Average leaders: 1. Darcy Kersh, 9.1 seconds on two runs; 2. Kall Mayfield, 9.2; 3. Chance Howard, 10.2; 4. Boyd Sawyer, 10.3; 5. Mike McGinn, 12.5; 6. Jude Leonards, 13.1; 7. Nathan Duvall, 16.6; 8. Jacob Edler, 18.7; 9. Emmett Edler, 19.6; 10. Dynamo Musil, 20.6; 11. Jarek VanPetten, 21.1; 12. Colt Madison, 21.5.
Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Clay Tryan/Will Woodfin, 5.2 seconds; 2. (tie) Clayton Van Aken/Jaydon Warner and Dawson Graham/Dillion Graham, 5.4; 4. Luke Brown/Hunter Koch, 5.9; 5. Brye Crites/Ross Ashford, 6.0; 6. Garrett Tonozzi/Cullen Teller, 6.1; 7. Coy Rahlmann/Logan Medlin, 6.2; 8. Jett Hillman/Ryon Boatright, 6.3. Second round leaders: 1. Nelson Wyatt/Jonathan Torres, 4.9 seconds; 2. Cole Eiguren/Dylan Hancock, 5.3; 3. Tyson Thompson/Kelvin Medeiros, 5.4; 4. Kellan Johnson/Trae Smith, 5.5; 5. Brandon Farris/Braden Harmon, 6.0; 6. Clayton Van Aken/Jaydon Warner, 6.3; 7. Baylor Pool/Trigger Hargrove, 6.5; 8. Jace Bland/Truman Mangus, 6.7. Average leaders: 1. Nelson Wyatt/Jonathan Torres, 11.3 seconds on two runs; 2. Clayton Van Aken/Jaydon Warner, 11.7; 3. Clay Tryan/Will Woodfin, 11.9; 4. Brandon Farris/Braden Harmon, 12.4; 5. Ryon Boatright/Jett Hillman, 13.3; 6. Coy Rahlmann/Logan Medlin, 16.7; 7. Blaine Turner/Scout McElroy, 17.7; 8. Garrett Tonozzi/Cullen Teller, 18.8; 9. Riley Kittle/Trey Yates, 21.7; 10. Jace Bland/Truman Mangus, 25.1; 11. Cole Eiguren/Dylan Hancock, 5.3 seconds on one run; 12. (tie) Dawson Graham/Dillon Graham and Kelvin Medeiros/Tyson Thompson, 5.4.
Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. (tie) Brody Cress, on Double J Rodeo’s Weekend Fling, and Mitchie Story on Double J Rodeo’s Jerry’s Justice, 84.5 points; 3. Blake Steuck, 84; 4. Waitley Sharon, 82; 5. (tie) Traven Sharon and Jett Williams, 81; 7. Regan Lyons, 80; 8. Bryett Larsen, 79.5; 9. (tie) Wyatt Lavergne and Ross Griffin, 78.5; 11. Brody Harrison, 76.5 12. Joe Macqueen, 76; 8. Will Pollock, 75.
Breakaway roping: First round leaders: 1. Shelby Boisjoli-Meged, 2.4 seconds; 2. (tie) Reagan Davis and Molly Hamilton, 2.4; 4. Marlee Quarles, 2.9; 5. Jackie White, 3.0; 6. (tie) Clare Burcalow, Cali Griffin, McKenna Brennan and Emilee Charlesworth, 3.1. Second round leaders: 1. Suzanne Williams, 1.9 seconds; 2. Winter Williams, 2.1; 3. (tie) Kendyl Rogers and Hanna Giger, 2.3; 5. Jessi Everett, 2.5; 6. Kiley Slavin, 2.6; 7. Alli Masters, 2.7; 8. Delani Beatty, 2.9. Average leaders: 1. Shelby Boisjoli-Meged, 5.8 seconds on two runs; 2. Delani Beatty, 6.1; 3. Alli Masters, 6.7; 4. Jackie White, 7.0; 5. (tie) Jade Mitchell and Cali Griffin, 7.7; 7. (tie) Kimberly Williams and Josey Murphy, 8.3; 9. Karrigan Graves, 8.4; 10. Suzanne Williams, 14.0; 11. Molly Hamilton, 14.8; 12. McKenna Brennan, 15.8.
Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Semaj Collins Jr., 8.1 seconds; 2. Shad Mayfield, 8.2; 3. Haven Meged, 8.9; 4. 4. Zane Rampey, 9.3; 5. Bryce Derrer, 9.4; 6. Cole Clemons, 10.0; 7. Zack Jongbloed, 10.1; 8. Dylan Hancock, 10.2. Second round leaders: 1. Austin Lawrence, 7.7 seconds; 2. Bryce Derrer, 8.4; 3. Chizm KuyKendall, 8.8; 4. Shad Mayfield, 9.1; 5. (tie) Kason Dyer and Buck Calhoun, 9.3; 7. Dylan Hancock, 10; 8. Haven Meged, 10.4. Average leaders: 1. Shad Mayfield, 17.3 seconds on two runs; 2. Bryce Derrer, 17.8; 3. Haven Meged, 19.3; 4. Austin Lawrence, 20.0; 5. Dylan Hancock, 20.2; 6. Semaj Collins, 20.3; 7. Chizm KuyKendall, 20.9; 8. Zane Rampey, 21.7; 9. Landyn Duncan, 24.8; 10. Dillon Grote, 24.8; 11. Bryce Loyd, 27.6; 12. Chance Oftedahl, 28.6.
Barrel racing: First round leaders: 1. Loralee Ward, 17.01 seconds; 2. Kylie Kanngiesser, 17.22; 3. Emma Parr, 17.25; 4. Piper Cordes, 17.31; 5. Lanita Peirce, 17.38; 6. Acey Pinkston, 17.44; 7. Morgan Addison, 17.50; 8. Ari-Anna Flynn, 17.53. Second round leaders: 1. Makenzie Mayes, 16.92 seconds; 2. Piper Cordes, 17.17; 3. Loralee Ward, 17.30; 4. Blake Molle, 17.39; 5. Ari-Anna Flynn, 17.40; 6. Acey Pinkston, 17.,42; 7. Emma Parr, 17.44; 8. Kaden Burger, 17.47. Average leaders: 1. Loralee Ward, 34.31 seconds on two runs; 2. Piper Cordes, 34.48; 3. Makenzie Mayes, 34.58; 4. Emma Parr, 34.69; 5. Acey Pinkston, 34.86; 6. (tie) Ari-Anna Flynn and Lanita Peirce, 34.93; 8. Morgan Addison, 35.02; 9. Kaden Burger, 35.05; 10. Blake Molle, 35.08; 11. Torrie Edge, 35.12; 12. Brett Woolsey, 35.22.
Bull riding leaders: 1. Hudson Bolton, 89.5 points on Rafter G Rodeo’s Riser; 2. Luke Mackey, 87; 3. Noah Lee, 86; 4. Macate Trammell, 84.5; 5. Braxton Whitesell, 80.5; 6. Billy Quillan, 72; no other qualified rides.
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