Two legendary rodeos known to the sport, the Reno (Nev.) Rodeo and West of the Pecos (Texas) Rodeo. The chances of winning both may be a dream to some, but for steer wrestler Tucker Allen, it is reality.
The 24-year-old cowboy from Ventura, Calif., won the West of the Pecos Rodeo with 9.4 seconds on two steers and tied for the win at the Reno Rodeo on Saturday night, putting the quest for his first National Finals Rodeo in clear sight.
“They’re both two pretty legendary rodeos that everyone wants, everyone wants to do good at, and for me to do good at both during the same week, it’s pretty cool,” Allen exclaimed.
Allen finished tied for fourth during the first round with a time of 4.9 seconds and earned $665. He wrapped up the average title at West of the Pecos with a 4.5-second run during the second round, totaling 9.4 seconds on two head.
Matching the first-round winners at the Reno Rodeo, Allen won the second round with a time of 4.1 seconds and walked away from that round earning $6,628. He clinched the Silver Spurs in the short round with 13.9 seconds on two head, tying Dalton Massey for the win.
Mastering this event takes practice, encouragement, and a community of friends Allen surrounds himself with.
“It all goes back to the practice pen and trying to practice as hard as we can,” Allen shared. “I got a good crew of guys with Justin Schaffer, Richard Anderson and Jacob Talley. We just feed off each other and, without them, it’d be a lot harder.”
When entering the box, anticipating each run, Allen focuses his attention on the moments ahead.
“I try to make the best run I can on whatever steer I draw and try to not let all the outside noise affect me to make it the best run I can on what steer I have,” Allen said.
Surrounding himself with previously qualified National Finals Rodeo competitors makes Allen eager for the rest of his summer run and entering Cowboy Christmas. Allen ended last year’s season ranked 20th in the PRCA | RAM World Standings and currently stands No. 12, while rising the ranks throughout this season.
“It just gives us a lot of confidence,” Allen said. “We’re knocking and going at each one like we have one dollar to last a couple months and you just got to stay hungry. I’m ready for a lot more rodeos.”
As both rodeos draw in crowds of thousands, Allen wants to give recognition to both.
“Both committees are outstanding. They are both legendary rodeos and they really make the cowboy feel like they’re the star there,” Allen said. “It means a lot for us when we show up and know we’re treated to first class for everything.”
Other winners at the PRCA Playoff Series rodeo were all-around cowboy Shad Mayfield ($3,220, tie-down roping, team roping, and steer roping); bareback rider Leighton Berry (87 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Fox Hole Gunner); team roper Roan Oldfield/Zane Pratt (15.2 seconds on two head); saddle bronc riders Jake Finlay (86.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Pretty Woman) and Sage Newman (86.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Smoke On The Water); tie-down roper Kyan Wilhite (17.9 seconds on two head); steer roper Reo Lohse (40.6 seconds on three head); breakaway roper Haley Sage (7.4. seconds on two head); barrel racer Keyla Costa (17.62 seconds); and bull rider Josh Frost (90 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Bayou Bengal).
Courtesy of PRCA
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