Gloria takes top prize at Stampede

CALGARY — Brazilian bull rider Marcos Gloria made the most of his second chance to win $100,000 at the Calgary Stampede rodeo on Sunday.

Gloria, who is currently based in Edmonton, was originally bucked off Happy Camper but was given another chance because the other three finalists — Fabiano Vieira of Brazil, Joe Frost of Randlett, Utah, and Ty Wallace of Collbran, Colo. — were all thrown off their bulls as well.

During his re-ride, Gloria scored 76 points atop Rattler, while Vieira, Frost and Wallace were all bucked off their bulls once again. Vieira, Frost and Wallace each won $16,666.67 for finishing in a tie for second place.

Ten competitors in each of the six events qualified to compete on Sunday, and only the top four from the first go-round advanced to the finals. The winner of each event was awarded $100,000 while the second-place finisher took home $25,000. Third and fourth spots paid out $15,000 and $10,000 respectively.

Tuf Cooper of Weatherford, Texas, won the tie-down roping title in a time of 6.8 seconds to edge out Caleb Smidt of Bellville, Texas. It’s the second Calgary Stampede title for Cooper, who also won in 2011.

Thanks to his 92.5-point ride atop Virgil, Richie Champion of Dublin, Texas, won his second straight Stampede title in the bareback event. Champion edged out Jake Vold of Airdrie, Alta., by just half a point to finish first. Vold still took home the secondplace prize of $25,000 following his 92-point ride aboard Trail Dust.