2005 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo

Six new champions were crowned at the close of Round 10 on Sunday. This was one of the closest finals in recent memory with all events except the bull riding coming down to the last ride or run, just like it should be. Rodeo is experiencing a changing of the guard as the young warriors step up to challenge the heroes of old. One thing is certain; rodeo's future is bright and filled with talent.

Bareback Riding:
The best horses in the world awaited the bareback riders as it came down to a one header and an exciting finish.
Cody DeMers rides Free Fall (Beutler & Son) to first with an 89.
Andy Martinez (on River Boat Annie) and Wes Stevenson (on Horse 173) split an 88-point score to top the round.
Kelly Timberman made one heck of a ride on Bareback Horse of the Year Real Deal, but a controversial 83.5 score cost him the championship.
It was the bottom-half of the top 15 that collected most of the money in the NFR this year.
Will Lowe wins his second World Championship cashing in $57,674 during the 2005 NFR.
The average was split between Timberman and Gerke which helped Lowe keep his lead.

Steer Wrestling:
It was a real nail-biter in the bulldogging as each run moved the earning numbers all over the place.
Birch Negaard in first with 3.7 seconds.
Dean Gorsuch with 3.9.
Beau Franzen with a 4.3.
Lee Graves faced a must catch situation and tossed his steer in 4.9 seconds.
An emotional Lee Graves won his long overdue World Championship and set an NFR earnings record with $126,412.

Team Roping:
Speed Williams and Rich Skelton win their last round as a team with a 3.9 second run. Next year Williams will rope with Clay O’Brien Cooper and Skelton with rope with Trevor Brazile.
David Key and Clayton Grant score third place with 4.4.
Clay Tryan and Patrick Smith take second place and a World Championship in the team roping. Tryan and Smith won $71,683 at the NFR.
b
Saddle Bronc Riding:
Billy Etbauer 90 Big Jet (Stace Smith)
Cody DeMoss 90 Cool Alley (Kesler)
Jeffery Willert 89.5 Kool Toddy
Rod Warren wins the Average for the third time in a row.
Jeffery Willert takes home a World Championship in the classic event.

Tie-down Roping:
Cody Ohl- 6.7
Stran Smith- 6.8
Fred Whitfield- 7.4
Fred Whitfield wins his 7th World Championship in the tie-down.

Barrel Racing:
Sheri Sinor Estrada- 13.77
Denise Adams Fea- 13.90
Linda Vick- 14.06
Kelly Kaminski is the only 2004 Champion to successfully defend the title.

Bull Riding:
Bobby Welsh 89.5 on Hot Damn
Matt Austin 88.5 on Razor Sharp
Zack Oakes 87.5 on Rocking Sidney
Matt Austin wins the Bull Riding World Championship title and the Average race. He also breaks the single-season earning record (with $320,766) set in 1993 by Ty Murray.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5