Flaco Guapo Media, Jim Sánchez, founder
Ted Harbin, Media Director for the San Angelo Stock Show, a contributor to the story
SAN ANGELO – Two-time Cinch-Cute Out bareback champion, Tim O’Connell’s attempt at a third consecutive title was derailed when Utah cowboy, Cole Reiner won the bareback riding crown, and the $7,500 top prize money. The San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo’s 10th annual, CCO championship was held Saturday, April 16, 2022, in the Foster Communications Coliseum.
Reiner set the tone in the chute-out with a 90.5-point ride on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Top Flight to win the bareback riding title. Reiner then had to wait out Cole Franks’ 88-point ride on Pickett’s Night Gazer and Tim O’Connell’s 87.5-point ride on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Dirty Jacket to become this year’s bareback rider champ. Cole rode aboard the 18-year-old bay athlete, named the 2020 Bareback Horse of the Year.
The most competitive event in the chute-out was tie-down roping, which featured three world champions: Shane Hanchey (2013), Haven Meged (2019), and Shad Mayfield (2020). In the end, though, Hanchey barely won with a time of 6.8 seconds over Mayfield’s clocked time of 6.9.
Reigning world champions Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nogueira pulled off a similar feat in team roping with a 4.3 time to claim the $7,500 first-place prize money.
In the steering wrestling competition, Tyler Waguespack, the three-time and reigning world champion steer wrestler, stopped the clock in 3.7 seconds to claim that title.
Bull rider from Utah, Josh Frost, fresh off his National Finals Rodeo aggregate title in December, rode Carr’s Curley Bill for about two seconds, earning an 87.5-point ride. The other two bull riders, Earnie Courson Jr. and Ky Hamilton did not stay on their bulls for the qualifying eight seconds, thus Frost walked away with the title.
In the women’s barrel racing which was an invitational, just four cowgirls were in the final mix. Reigning world champion Jordon Briggs posted a 14.19-second run to win the title.
Of the eight winners of Saturday’s Cinch Chute-Out, five owned world championships. Driggers, Nogueira, Waguespack, and Briggs all claimed gold buckles in 2021; it was Nogueira’s second (he won the 2016 all-around title) and Waguespack’s third.
Below are the official results for all seven crowned champions in their respective fields.
Bareback riding: 1. Cole Reiner, 90.5 points on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Top Flight, $7,500; 2. Cole Franks, 88, $3,000; 3. Tim O’Connell, 87.5, $2,000.
Steer wrestling: 1. Tyler Waguespack, 3.7 seconds, $7,500; 2. Tristan Martin, 4.2, $3,000; 2. J.D. Struxness, 5.5, $2,000.
Team roping: 1. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 4.3 seconds, $7,500 each; 2. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 4.4, $3,000.
Saddle bronc riding: 1. Brody Cress, 90 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Larry Culpepper, $7,500; 2. Layton Green, 84.5, $3,000.
Tie-down roping: 1. Shane Hanchey, 6.8 seconds, $7,500; 2. Shad Mayfield, 6.9, $3,000; 3. Haven Meged, 7.7, $2,000.
Barrel racing: 1. Jordon Briggs, 14.19 seconds, $3,000; 2. Sherry Cervi, 14.34, $2,250; 3. Loni Lester, 14.54, $1,500; 4. Jana Bean, 14.68, $750.
Bull riding: 1. Josh Frost, 87.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Curley Bill, $7,500.