Riders tried their best to hold on to their bucking mounts in the arena during the inaugural Women’s Ranch Bronc Championships (WRBC) event at the West Texas Ranch Rodeo.
It was one of several exciting competitions now featured at the annual rodeo, hosted April 24-25 at the Amarillo National Center at the Tri-State Fairgrounds.
The weekend event featured blacksmith farriers, ranch teams, women riders, youth competitors and much more, and it brought in a record attendance, according to Randy Whipple.
“The crowd was good, and the competition was fantastic,” he said.
In the two-day women’s bronc riding competition, first place went to Gentry Goats, with Ally Bradley in second place and Bailey Zuehike and Syd Cardinal tied for third and fourth.
Selena Murry, who was injured in the first round of competition, required some stiches but is in good shape and was back at the rodeo on Saturday, according to Whipple.
First place in the Youth Ranch Rodeo went to Powder Creek Ranch, who won $4,000. Earning second place and $3,000 was the Sand Creek Ranch, with third going to Patterson Ranch ($2,000) and fourth to Soon/Hat Creek Ranches ($1,000). The Twin Wells Ranch won in Top Horse and for Top Hand, going to Bryce McCutcheon.
WTRR hosted 20 WRCA Ranch Rodeo teams, with a total payout of nearly $50,000, along with premier gear, tack awards and a new American Hat. The champion team, the Hat Creek Ranch, earned 72 points for their spot to compete at the World Championship Ranch Rodeo in Amarillo in November, as well as a $19,400 prize. Second place went to 6666 Ranch, who had with 71 points and won $14,550. Sooner Cattle Co. notched 65.5 points for third place to bring home $9,700, and Durrett Cattle came in fourth with 58.5 points to win $4,850.
In the World Blacksmith Championship, 10 coal forges were set up for more than 110 farriers from across the nation competing at the event. Troy Wood reached the top of the overall standings with a score of 235.
“Huge Congratulations to Mr. Troy Wood for being the 2026 West Texas Ranch Rodeo Competition Champion! Well done Troy! We are very proud of you for working so hard and can’t wait to see what this year holds for you!” the World Championship Blacksmiths said in a Facebook post. “Huge Congratulations also to Mr. Chris Madrid for picking up a terrific win in today’s Liberty Live Shoeing. We aren’t sure if there has ever been a closer result than this one with Stan Mullen in second by the skin of his teeth!”
The championship also shared congratulations to their winners in category 3, Jake Yinguez; category 2, Luke Dufrene; and category 1, Cortez Waddell, who also had the Best Shod foot in their respective categories. In the top five overall standings, Stan Mullen sat at second with a total of 228, Chris Madrid in third with 220, Gavine Cooper in fourth with 205 and Luke Dufrene in fifth place with 201.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: See who won at the 2026 West Texas Ranch Rodeo events
Reporting by Kristina Wood, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
