Reiner, Wright capture Shootout wins
Cole Reiner still was celebrating his RodeoHouston Super Series IV win when rodeo officials called and asked if he wanted to return the next day.
It was an offer he could have refused. It’s a good thing he didn’t.
Reiner, an alternate called up the night before, won the bareback riding championship after a tiebreaking ride-off with Orin Larsen on Saturday in the 10th running of the one-day RodeoHouston Super Shootout: North America’s Champions team rodeo, earning him a cool $25,000 — with potentially more to come.
He returns to compete in the Super Series semifinals next week.
“This is a great experience,” Reiner said. “I’m on top of the world right now.”
The Super Shootout features the champions of eight renowned North American rodeos — RodeoHouston, Rodeo Austin, Fort Worth, San Angelo, San Antonio, Calgary Stampede (Alberta, Canada), National Western (Denver) and Days of ’47 (Salt Lake City) — competing as teams in five fan-favorite events.
Reiner represented Houston because 2019 champion Kaycee Field couldn’t make it.
He was fourth in the eight-man round to advance to the Shootout, then scored 88 points on Bay Nation on the first ride of the short round. But Larsen, who went third, also recorded an 88, forcing the ride-off.
The Wyoming native prevailed with an 85 on Freshman 15.
“This is huge,” Reiner said. “The only time we have a chance to win anything bigger is in the main rodeo here, and in Vegas (at the National Finals Rodeo). So this is one of the biggest paydays of the year, for sure.”
Rusty Wright enjoyed the biggest payday Saturday.
He won the saddle bronc crown with an 88-point ride on Wild Cherry, and then pocketed an extra $2,500 after helping San Angelo secure the team title, giving him $27,500. San Angelo’s representatives combined for $46,083.
“That’s awesome,” Wright said. “Things have to really go right to win the team title, because everybody has to do well.”
The Super Shootout win was the second for Wright, who also won it in 2015.
“This one means a little bit more,” he said.
“I’ve been struggling the past two years. I’ve been healthy, but haven’t been there mentally, just doubting myself, and this dang sure helps. It reminds me I do belong here, and I can still ride with the best and win.”
He’ll also return for the Super Series semifinals after winning Super Series II.
Barrel racer Sherry Cervi, bull rider Josh Frost and steer wrestler Ty Erickson rounded out the Super Shootout champions.
Cervi, also a four-time RodeoHouston champ, won for the third time.
She won the Super Shootout in 2011 and 2014 on Stingray, and she circled the barrels in 14.96 seconds on Money May — Stingray’s daughter — to win it again Saturday. “It’s unbelievable,” Cervi said. “As a breeder, this is what you want.”
Frost hit the dirt in the long round but advanced on time, and was the only cowboy to last eight seconds in the Shootout, scoring 77 points on Predator.
“The bull is outstanding,” he said. “I actually rode him a few weeks earlier for 92 and was excited to have him again, but he beat me up a little bit (Saturday). I had to hang off the side, so I didn’t dress him up enough, and was 77 instead of 90, but the big deal here is getting a score with the four bulls they have in that Shootout.
“It was unlikely they were going to ride many.”
Frost’s brother, Joe Frost, also won the Super Shootout in 2015.
“It’s pretty cool we both have the buckle now,” he said.
Erikson caught his steers in 4.2 seconds in the long round, and four seconds in the short round for one of the biggest wins of his career.
“It’s dang sure up there,” he said.
“Not very many days can you go somewhere and win $25,000 — in front of all these people. That makes it very exciting.”