NFR Notebook: Hancock sets new gold standard by going from No. 15 to No. 1

Monday, Dec. 11, 2000 | 10:43 a.m.

Cody Hancock came to Las Vegas just hoping to earn a nice paycheck during the $4.5 million National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack.

He not only won a hefty $83,355, the 25-year-old bull rider from Taylor, Ariz., will head home with something truly unexpected: a gold buckle signifying a world championship.

Hancock was the 15th and final qualifier for the NFR in bull riding but a steady 10-performance run allowed him to become only the second cowboy to go from 15th in the world to a championship during the NFR.

"I don't think it has really sunk in yet, but it's pretty amazing," Hancock said. "To go from 15th to first, I think only Allen Bach has done that (in team roping in 1990).

"It's a great honor and I'm just happy I was healthy and able to ride good when it counted."

Hancock, who missed qualifying for last year's NFR by $106, said the idea of winning a world championship never crossed his mind going into his NFR debut.

"I never even thought of that," he said. "My No. 1 goal here was to win a lot of money here, that's all. If you win a (go-round) buckle or two, they can throw that in but my main goal was to win a lot of money.

"I never thought about the gold until a couple nights a go."

Hancock vaulted to the top of the world standings after winning the first two rounds, then added another win on Friday night. In Sunday's final go-round, he was unable to stay on a bull named River Dance for the required eight seconds.

Josh O'Byrne won Sunday's final bull riding performance with a score of 94 on Skoals Yellow Jacket. Lee Akin took second with a 93 on Young Gun and Tyler Fowler was third with a 91 on Red Dog.

Phillip Elkins won the NFR average title in bull riding with a combined score of 665 on eight bulls.

Other world champions crowned Sunday:

Thompson entered the NFR ranked 11th in the world standings.

Pogue and Bockius finished second in the world and Daniel Green and Allen Bach took third.

Scott Johnston finished second in the world standings with $176,018 and Glen O'Neill was third with $145,728.

Lewis finished second in the world with $192,243 and Blair Burk was third with $159,928.

Charmayne James finished second in the world with $142,348 and Kristie Peterson was third with $134,499.