Competition in The World's Greatest Roper event came to a close with Farmington phenom roper Russell Cardoza roping his way into history by claiming $25,000 and the 2010 title of "World's Greatest Roper."
After a three long rounds of competition and an intense short go at the Reno Livestock Events Center, Cardoza bested a field of PRCA World Champions, former World's Greatest Roper Champions, multiple Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Qualifiers, Pro Rodeo Hall of Famers, and the overall best ropers on the planet to win the prestigious $71,000 World's Greatest Roper event presented by Silver Legacy Resort Casino.
Cardoza is no stranger to big time competition or winning some of the most prestigious events on the pro rodeo circuit. A National Finals Rodeo qualifier in the Team Roping - Heeling last year, Cardoza placed third at the NFR and finished ninth in the final year-end PRCA standings. Also in 2009, Cardoza was crowned the Dodge National Circuit Finals Champion. Cardoza is also a contestant at the "Ironman" of Pro Rodeo, the Wrangler Timed Event Championship in Guthrie, Oklahoma each year. The consensus of industry professionals knew that it was only a matter of time before Cardoza would win the WGR crown. Cardoza took home $25,000 and had a total time of 107.6 on 12-head of livestock.
In the reserve spot, Madisonville, Texas roper Colby Lovell finished the event with 112.1 seconds ($12,000), followed by 2-Time WGR Champion Daniel Green of Oakdale, California - 123.6 ($7,000), Nevada favorite and Fallon native Jade Corkill - 131.7 ($4,000), and rounding out fifth was NFSR Qualifier Landon McClaugherty from Tilden, Texas - 134.8 ($5,500).
In the Fastest Go-Round, Lance Harvey of Oakdale took second ($3,000) with a time of 23.4 seconds.
Lazy E Productions made a minor change in the event format from previous years. The entire event took place one-day only - June 20 and any cowboy could enter this year's event - thus again making the WGR a true world competition. All totaled, the WGR action was fast and furious boasting 345 runs in a one-day showcase of the best Timed Event cowboys in the world.
The event was again held in conjunction with two of the greatest western events in the world "The Reno Rodeo" and "The Bob Feist Invitational Team Roping."
The World's Greatest Roper is one of pro rodeo's most unique events and is patterned after the highly successful Wrangler Timed Event Championship - which is a true all-around test of roping skills. At the WGR, each contestant is required to compete in all three roping disciplines: team roping heading, tie-down roping, and team roping heeling. The World's Greatest Roper was developed by Lazy E Productions in 2006 to determine the best roper in the world - the man who could stand out in more than his specialty roping event, the man who could be consistent over multiple rounds of overall competition. This event attracted the biggest names in the rodeo industry in addition to thousands of fans from across the country.
After a three long rounds of competition and an intense short go at the Reno Livestock Events Center, Cardoza bested a field of PRCA World Champions, former World's Greatest Roper Champions, multiple Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Qualifiers, Pro Rodeo Hall of Famers, and the overall best ropers on the planet to win the prestigious $71,000 World's Greatest Roper event presented by Silver Legacy Resort Casino.
Cardoza is no stranger to big time competition or winning some of the most prestigious events on the pro rodeo circuit. A National Finals Rodeo qualifier in the Team Roping - Heeling last year, Cardoza placed third at the NFR and finished ninth in the final year-end PRCA standings. Also in 2009, Cardoza was crowned the Dodge National Circuit Finals Champion. Cardoza is also a contestant at the "Ironman" of Pro Rodeo, the Wrangler Timed Event Championship in Guthrie, Oklahoma each year. The consensus of industry professionals knew that it was only a matter of time before Cardoza would win the WGR crown. Cardoza took home $25,000 and had a total time of 107.6 on 12-head of livestock.
In the reserve spot, Madisonville, Texas roper Colby Lovell finished the event with 112.1 seconds ($12,000), followed by 2-Time WGR Champion Daniel Green of Oakdale, California - 123.6 ($7,000), Nevada favorite and Fallon native Jade Corkill - 131.7 ($4,000), and rounding out fifth was NFSR Qualifier Landon McClaugherty from Tilden, Texas - 134.8 ($5,500).
In the Fastest Go-Round, Lance Harvey of Oakdale took second ($3,000) with a time of 23.4 seconds.
Lazy E Productions made a minor change in the event format from previous years. The entire event took place one-day only - June 20 and any cowboy could enter this year's event - thus again making the WGR a true world competition. All totaled, the WGR action was fast and furious boasting 345 runs in a one-day showcase of the best Timed Event cowboys in the world.
The event was again held in conjunction with two of the greatest western events in the world "The Reno Rodeo" and "The Bob Feist Invitational Team Roping."
The World's Greatest Roper is one of pro rodeo's most unique events and is patterned after the highly successful Wrangler Timed Event Championship - which is a true all-around test of roping skills. At the WGR, each contestant is required to compete in all three roping disciplines: team roping heading, tie-down roping, and team roping heeling. The World's Greatest Roper was developed by Lazy E Productions in 2006 to determine the best roper in the world - the man who could stand out in more than his specialty roping event, the man who could be consistent over multiple rounds of overall competition. This event attracted the biggest names in the rodeo industry in addition to thousands of fans from across the country.
