Brazile wins his record 8th world all-around rodeo title

Associated Press

Friday, Dec. 3, 2010 | 10:38 p.m.

National Finals Rodeo - First Go Round

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Trevor Brazile won his record eighth all-around gold buckle Friday night during the second round of the National Finals Rodeo, breaking a tie for the mark with Ty Murray.

Brazile, the Decatur, Texas, cowboy who has 12 world titles _ in steer roping, team roping, tie-down roping and all-around _ overall, finished second in team roping and sixth in tie-down roping Friday night to wrap up the all-around title earlier than he ever has. With season earnings of $323,526, he has a $186,065 lead over second-place Curtis Cassidy of Donalda, Alberta.

"It's pretty amazing (to clinch in the second round)," Brazile said. "They told me I had a chance to clinch tonight, but Ryan (Jarrett in tie-down roping) had made a good run right in front of me. I was out back getting my horse situated, and I heard everybody talking about it and I thought, 'No way.'

"It makes me feel great. Awkward, but great, I've been chasing the greatest cowboys that have ever lived. That's what my career has been about. It's awesome to know that I've met that milestone, not only for me but for pro rodeo."

Brazile, who missed 40 days of competition this year because of a partially torn tendon in his right elbow, officially clinched the all-around crown when fellow tie-down roper and brother-in-law Clif Cooper, also from Decatur, missed his calf with his first loop. Cooper was the final competitor in tie-down roping.

"I've got one title down and a couple to go," Brazile said. "I've got a tie-down roping championship to win, and with the team roping, you never know. Patrick (Smith) and I were the high-money winners here two years ago, but we were the low money guys last year. We're off to a good start."

In tie-down roping, Fred Whitfield of Hockley, Texas, making his 19th NFR appearance, tied for first with Jerome Schneeberger of Ponca City, Okla., at 7.6 seconds.

Brazile, who was timed in 8.1, is the world standings leader with $145,561.

In team roping, header Luke Brown and heeler Martin Lucero, both of Stephenville Texas, won with a 3.9-second run. Brazile and Patrick Smith of Midland, Texas, finished second in 4.3. They moved into fourth place in the both the header and heeler world standings.

Header standings leader Clay Tryan of Billings, Mont., and heeler leader Travis Graves of Jay, Okla., earned a paycheck by coming in fifth in 4.7.

In saddle bronc, Cody Wright of Milford, Utah, won with an 87 on Friendly Fire and took over the world lead from Wade Sundell of Boxholm, Iowa, who tied for eighth with an 81.5 on Lori Darlin. Wright leads the world standings at $120,476, while Sundell dropped to seconds with $116,777.

In bareback, Kaycee Feild of Payson, Utah, won with an 88 on RD Mercer.

"Once you start winning in the first of the week, it just keeps on carrying on and snowballs," Feild said.

Defending world champion Bobby Mote of Culver, Ore., was second with an 86 on Night Bells and moved into third place in the world standings with $117,065. Ryan Gray of Cheney, Wash., leads with $159,024, but he did not place among the top six during the first two rounds of the NFR.

In steer wrestling, two-time world champ Luke Branquinho of Los Alamos, Calif., and NFR rookie Ethen Thouvenell of Napa, Calif., tied for first at 3.9 seconds.

"Ethen's been very capable of making the finals," Branquinho said. "This year, he decided to go hard, and he made it. That goes to show you his talent level. Just to be here with two other Californians, him and Billy (Bugenig, who won the first round), it's great to have California represented like this in the bulldogging."

World standings leader Cassidy and second-place Trevor Knowles of Mount Vernon, Ore., tied for third at 4.0.

In bull riding, defending world champion J.W. Harris of Mullin, Texas, won with an 89.5 on Red Onion.

In barrel racing, Kelli Tolbert of Hooper, Utah, won at 13.68. World standings leader Sherry Cervi of Marana, Ariz., was sixth in 13.93.