Saturday afternoon’s third round of the CINCH Timed Event Championship featured a lead change, but then it went right back.

Trevor Brazile held the lead since midway through Friday’s opening round and kept it until the 14th run of the 25-run event. Clay Smith, who trailed Brazile by more than 10 seconds heading into the performance, slowly made up ground and eventually overtook the seven-time champion after steer wrestling.

Smith took a 2.2-second lead heading into steer roping, but that’s one of Brazile’s specialties – he has won 23 PRCA world titles, six of which have come in steer roping. After Brazile posted a solid 15.8-second run, Smith struggled to keep his animal on the ground and finished off a 35.3-second score.

Brazile now owns a 16.6-second lead over Paul David Tierney, who won the third round with the fastest score so far, a 53.0-second round. Paul David Tierney added $3,000 to his earnings while his older brother, Jess Tierney, finished second and Brazile third. Brazile has now pocketed $7,000 so far this weekend with two more rounds remaining.

Injury Update: KC Jones is out due to an injury with his hand during the steer wrestling in round 2. 

Third round: 1. Paul David Tierney, 53.0 seconds, $3,000; 2. Jess Tierney, 62.1, $2,000; 3. Trevor Brazile, 63.0, $1,000.
Average leaders: 1. Trevor Brazile, 174.0; 2. Paul David Tierney, 190.6; 3. Clay Smith, 191.3; 4. Jess Tierney, 194.5; 5. Josh Peek, 218.1.

For full results click here. 

By: Ted Harbin