With the potential for high payouts, getting on electric bucking horses, and its rich history, Cheyenne Frontier Days is a stop rodeo contestants look forward to all year long. Winning Cheyenne is a bucket list item for every cowboy and as Championship Sunday came to a close in Cheyenne, Wyoming, that dream became a reality for four bronc riders.
History was made in the bareback riding as for the first time, three cowboys tied at the top of the leaderboard to claim the coveted Montana Silversmith buckle and champion trophy saddle. The sold-out crowd watched in suspense as Kade Sonnier, Cole Reiner, and Clayton Biglow each spurred their broncs to earn 87.5 points and tie for the championship.
Just two weeks prior, Kade Sonnier was the champion bareback rider at the Calgary Stampede earning him a $50,000 check. His win in Cheyenne atop Sankey Pro Rodeo’s “MLW’s Irish Eyes,” helps to solidify Sonnier’s spot in the bareback world standings and ensure him a trip to the National Finals Rodeo come December.
“To be able to win Cheyenne Frontier Days and Calgary Stampede and be able to have the month of July that I’ve had, it just doesn’t get any better,” explains Sonnier.
For Cole Reiner who grew up just 300 miles north of Cheyenne in Buffalo, Wyoming, a win like this was something he’s been dreaming of and with the help of New Star Pro Rodeo’s bronc “Chosen One,” he was able to capitalize on the opportunity.
“When you’re little you watch Cheyenne Frontier Days, and now to be a champion is really just a cool experience,” describes Reiner. “One day when I look back on my career, this will be a moment that I remember.”
Being a Cheyenne Frontier Days Champion is a familiar feeling for Clayton Biglow who won the title back in 2019. Before Cheyenne, Biglow was sitting tenth in the world standing but his matchup with Sankey Pro Rodeo’s “Atomic Blonde,” this weekend helped him make the leap to number seven.
“I honestly haven’t won a rodeo in awhile and to come out to Cheyenne and win this one, it’s a pretty big deal for me,” expressed Biglow. “I’m very blessed that God’s put me here and to split it with these two great guys it’s a pretty humbling feeling.”
In the saddle bronc riding, seeing your name next to 2022 Horse of the Year “The Black Tie” of Sankey Pro Rodeo is something all cowboys hope for and as the draw for Championship Sunday came out, Ryder Sanford was the next lucky cowboy to try his hand on the world-class bronc.
“It’s a world champion bucking horse for a reason. You match up with that one, great things are going to happen,” says Sanford.
As the chute gate cracked open, Sanford put together a textbook ride going jump for jump with each powerful buck, not missing a beat. As soon as the ride was over and he hit the dirt, Ryder knew he did his job, and the points were going to be big. Rodeo announcer Garrett Yerigan broke the news that not only did Sanford get a monster score, but he had broken the previous arena record with an outstanding 92.5-point ride to clench the Cheyenne Frontier Days Championship title.
“A lot of guys dream about that throughout their whole career without getting the win here and it’s just amazing doing it in my rookie year.”
For Sanford who is just outside of the top 15 in the PRCA World Standings and third in the Resistol Rookie Race, a win like this has huge potential to set you up for the rest of the 2022 rodeo season.
“This time of year, it’s awesome momentum to carry me through the rest of the summer into the finals,” says Sanford.
It was a year of records being broken and history being made at Cheyenne Frontier Days. For Sonnier, Reiner, Biglow, and Sanford, each can now add being crowned 2023 Champions at the Daddy of ‘Em All to their resume.
