FORT WORTH, Texas -- Reigning world champions in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association are trying for repeat titles, and many are using the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo as a stepping stone in their quest to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and a gold buckle.

Among those competing was also the son of a former Fort Worth champion, who is hoping to carry on the family legacy.

The last time an Etbauer left Fort Worth with a title was in 2000, when Robert Etbauer won the saddle bronc riding. His oldest son Trell, from Goodwell, Oklahoma, took the lead in the second round of the steer wrestling and is also at the top of the overall leaderboard after a stellar performance on Monday night. He stopped the clock in 3.9 seconds and has a total time of 8.1. Former world champion Luke Branquinho, from Los Alamos, California, is now in second place with 8.3.

The saddle bronc riding is led by Jake Wright, from Milford, Utah, last year's Fort Worth champion with 168 points. Cody DeMoss from Heflin, Louisiana, who won this rodeo 10 years ago, is second with 166.5 points. Zeke Thurston, the saddle bronc riding champion from Big Valley, Alberta, rode here on Sunday night and Monday afternoon. He had scores of 84, then 80.5 to give him a total of 164.5 and put him third in the average standings. Thurston was the first Canadian to capture a world title in saddle bronc riding since 2002. If he wins the title in Fort Worth, he would be the first Canadian to do so since Rod Hay from Wildwood, Alberta, won in 2008.

The fastest time in the tie-down roping here so far goes to world champion Tyson Durfey, who makes his home just west of Fort Worth in Weatherford. Durfey stopped the clock in 7.9 seconds riding Nikko, the same horse he rode in Las Vegas to win his gold buckle. He didn't have as much luck in the first round. He had a time of 13.2 and has a total of 21.1. Durfey is currently in 10th place, so he will wait through the next nine performances to see if he is among the top 12 who qualify for Saturday night's championship finals.


Another world champion, Caleb Smidt from Bellville, Texas, stopped the clock in a time of 9.4 seconds to move him into the second place spot in the average with a time of 18.6 on two. Three-time world champion Tuf Cooper still leads the average in the tie-down roping with his time of 18.5 seconds on two calves.

There is a new leader in the women's barrel race, and she is also from Weatherford. Stevi Hillman came to Fort Worth late Saturday night to make a practice run and get her horses some experience in the coliseum. Then, she loaded up her horses and headed to San Angelo, Texas, where she placed seventh in the first round to qualify her for the second round of competition.

Hillman came back to Fort Worth to compete on Monday night and had the fastest time of the rodeo so far at 16.48 seconds. Hillman qualified for her first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo last December.

The 121st Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo continues on Tuesday with rodeo performances at 2 PM and 7:30 PM.

-Information from Susan Kanode

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