Austin, Texas – Ahead of the 2022 Cowtown Christmas Championship Rodeo, WCRA (World Champions Rodeo Alliance) has announced the final roster of the 218 athletes who have qualified and entered for the December 14-17 event and their date of competition. The roster is comprised of 146 timed event athletes and 72 roughstock athletes who qualified to the WCRA Triple Crown of Rodeo Event.
The Triple Crown of Rodeo Presented by Lazy E Ranch and Arena is an annual bonus that will pay $1 million to any one athlete, or collection of athletes, who win first place in any three consecutive WCRA Major Rodeos. The most recent Triple Crown of Rodeo event was held in Salt Lake City, July 20-25, 2022.
The Cowtown Christmas Championship Rodeo is playing host to the final stop to the WCRA’s Triple Crown of Rodeo (TCR) during the 2022 series and will have a guaranteed payout of $360,000. Each champion will walk away with a minimum of $15,000.
Here’s the list of team ropers who will be competing in the first three performances.
Headers
Cash Hendrick
Beau Hebert
Ty Arnold
Seth Driggers
Jay Tittel
Cody Tew
Heelers
Jesse Jolly
Colt Ramsey
Tye Reddell
Whit Kitchens
Trey Johnson
Coy Brittain
Thursday, December 15
Headers
Cody Russell
Reno Stoebner
Joe Macoubrie
Caleb Green
Corben Culley
Hayden Blevins
Heelers
Tanner James
Gabriel Williams
Kent Nixon
Luke Miller
Joe Mattern
Teagan Taylor Roukema
Friday, December 16
Headers
Dustin Morgan
Austin Crist
Kent Nixon
Brody Maughan
Cody Wheeler
Walker Warkentin
Nelson Wyatt
Kaleb Driggers *seeded into showdown round*
Heelers
Nick Rowland
Josh Fillmore
Larry Hammons
Bronc Kothmann
Tydaniel Haller
Buddy Hawkins
Junior Nogueira *seeded into showdown round*
Cowtown Christmas at a Glance
The roster is highlighted by an $1 Million Triple Crown of Rodeo Contender, RC Landingham. The 32-year-old Bareback Rider earned his second consecutive win at July’s Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo, putting him in contention to be a millionaire. If Landingham triumphs at the Cowtown Christmas Championship Rodeo, he will be the first victor of the WCRA Triple Crown of Rodeo $1 Million Bonus.
Landingham will compete in the December 17 showdown round where the top three athletes in each discipline will earn a position in the Triple Crown of Rodeo Round. Landingham must place in the top spot in the TCR Round to take home the $1 million cash bonus.
RC Landingham (Bareback Riding), Kody Rinehart (Saddle Bronc), Josh Frost (Bull Riding) Michael Bates (Steer Wrestling), Kaleb Driggers (Team Roping Header), Junior Nogueira (Team Roping Heeler), Shad Mayfield (Tie-Down Roping), Kassie Mowry (Barrel Racing) Martha Angelone (Breakaway Roping) and all earned the No. 1 position on the leaderboard to be seeded into the Showdown Round.
A total of 72 athletes (eight athletes per night) in each of the nine disciplines will compete in the December 14-16 Qualifying Rounds with the top two fastest times or highest scores in each discipline of each performance will advance to the December 17 Showdown Round. The six qualifiers from the Qualifying Round along with the WCRA Leaderboard No. 1 will create for a total of seven athletes competing in each discipline of the December 17 Showdown Round. The top three fastest times advance to the Triple Crown of Rodeo Round where the fastest time or score will walk away with a minimum of $15,000.
The following seven athletes are entered and eligible for the Triple Crown of Rodeo:
DISCIPLINE | ATHLETE |
Bareback Riding | RC Landingham (Two Consecutive Wins) |
Saddle Bronc | Allen Boore |
Heading | Kaleb Driggers |
Heeling | Junior Nogueira |
Tie-Down Roping | Shane Hanchey |
Breakaway Roping | Josie Conner |
Steer Wrestling | Cash Robb |
To view complete roster, please click here.
Since launching in May of 2018, the WCRA and its partners have awarded more than $12,600,000 in new money to rodeo athletes. All rodeo athletes interested in learning more about the WCRA or the VRQ should visit wcrarodeo.com.
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About WCRA
WCRA is a professional sport and entertainment entity, created to develop and advance the sport of rodeo by aligning all levels of competition. In association with the PBR, WCRA produces major rodeo events, developing additional opportunities for rodeo-industry competitors, stakeholders, and fans. To learn more, visit wcrarodeo.com. For athletes interested in learning more about the WCRA Virtual Rodeo Qualifier (VRQ) system, visit app.wcrarodeo.com.