SIOUX FALLS, SD (Sept 26, 2026) – Storylines abound at the 2026 Cinch Playoffs Governor’s Cup in Sioux Falls, S.D., whether you are talking the bubble race or the positioning at the top of standings.
Bareback rider Clayton Biglow was on the bubble end of the storylines coming into this weekend, but he is on the bubble no longer after winning the second round adding $12,533 to his 2026 earnings.
“It’s my first time on the bubble,” stated Biglow following the win. “I’ve got guys around me that have been there before, so, you know, they’ve obviously helped me out a lot. My faith has helped me out a lot. It’s been a stressful couple months, but it’s a blessing to now be in this situation, that’s for sure.”
Biglow made it all happen on Penthouse ProRodeo’s Sky Wars tallying 86.5 points to easily advance to the semifinal round with 170 points on two head, which was third in the average. Cooper Cooke won the average to join Biglow in the clean slate semifinals on Sunday afternoon in South Dakota.
On the other end of the coin was steer wrestler Jesse Brown having already punched his ticket to another Wrangler NFR before nodding his head in Sioux Falls, but he was looking for more money to move him closer to his goal of a gold buckle. Brown drew the steer Dalton Massey won the first round on but after the steer stumbled coming out of the chutes, he was given the extra. Being the veteran he is, he didn’t miss a beat and turned in a time of 3.6 seconds to win the round. He added $12,533 to move to No. 1 in the world over world champion Tyler Waguespack and set a new regular season earnings record with $215,047 with a chance to add $34,000 more on Sunday afternoon.
There are total of 12 contestants in each discipline – bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, breakaway roping, barrel racing, and bull riding. All 12 have competed in two rounds (Sept. 25 and 26) and now the top 8 scores/times in the average are advancing to a clean slate semifinal round that will kickoff at 2 p.m. CT on Sunday. The top four will then advance to the sudden death final round within the same performance with the winner taking home $34,000.
James Arviso and Levi Lord took the second round win with a time of 4.0 seconds after a rough team roping on night number two at the Denny Sanford Premier Center. The duo also landed atop the average leaderboard with a total time of 8.5 seconds on two head. Out of 12 teams there were only four that had times on two head and only two with clean runs. World standings leaders Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nogueria took second in the average in 9.6 seconds.
Four-time world champion saddle bronc rider Zeke Thurston put on a show on Saturday night spurring Championship Pro Rodeo’s Heartbreaker for 87.5 points. Thurston of Big Valley, Alberta, is looking to break up the Wright family strangle hold on the top three spots before heading to Las Vegas in December. The $12,533 winning check for round two moves him closer to that spot. A win on Sunday worth $34,000 could be just what he needs to finish out the regular season.
World champion tie-down roper Riley Webb was the fastest in the second round stopping the clock in 7.2 seconds with Tyler Calhoun a close second with a 7.5. Webb added another $12,533 to his 2026 earnings as he eyes yet another world title. Joel Harris landed atop the average leaderboard with a total time of 16.1 seconds on two head. Webb finished third with 17.0.
After a no-time in the first round 2025 National Breakaway Finals Average Champion Rylee George came back with a vengeance setting the bar high with a 1.7 seconds as the first gunner out. 2025 Rookie of the Year Haiden Thompson would take second with a 1.8 second run as she is headed to her first breakaway finals. Jordi Edens-Mitchell was the average winner with a time of 3.7 seconds on two head.
One would be hard pressed to find a more likeable rodeo athlete than barrel racer Lisa Lockhart whether you are talking just statewide in South Dakota or worldwide. She brought the crowd to their feet on Saturday night stopping the clock aboard a borrowed horse in a time of 13.73 seconds.
“I knew I had to lay it all on the line, so I had zero reservations tonight,” stated Lockhart of the electrifying run. “It is a great horse that a good friend of mine, Lana Tibbetts, owns and his registered name is When Stars Align and there is a full moon out there tonight. He is so talented.”
Lockhart of Oelrichs, S.D., will make history this December when she competes at her 20th consecutive Wrangler NFR. Not only has there never been a barrel racer to qualify that many times but to do it in consecutive years takes it to another level all together.
Hayle Gibson Stillwell, who took back the No. 1 spot after night No. 1 in Sioux Falls finished second in the second round with a time of 13.94 seconds. First round winner Megan McLeod-Sprague was third in 13.95 seconds but won the average in a time of 28.05 seconds. It should be an electrifying finish in the barrel racing to this year’s Governor’s Cup.
Luke Mackey ended the night as the top bull rider in the second round posting an 89.75 on Sankey Rodeo’s Wild and Blue. Mackey of Ignacio, Colorado, edged world standings leader Noah Lee who finished with an 89.5. Lee finished atop the leaderboard in the average with 178.75 on two followed by Stetson Wright with 178 and Hayden Welsh with 174.
Earlier in the day the second annual Governor’s Cup steer roping was held with four-time world champion Cole Patterson taking the title.
All action from the richest South Dakota rodeo is being televised on The Cowboy Channel.
Photos courtesy Cinch by Click Thompson
Results:
Bareback riding: First round: 1. Cooper Cooke, Victor, ID, 88 points on Muddy Creek Pro Rodeo’s Wanda’s Medicine, $12,533; 2 . Garrett Shadbolt, Merriman, NE, 86.5, $9,400; 3. Keenan Hayes, Hayden, CO, 85.75, $6,266; 4. Jacob Lees, Caldwell, ID, 84.75, $3,133. Second round: 1. Clayton Biglow, Clements, CA, 86.5 points on Penthouse Rodeo’s Sky Wars, $12,533; 2. Jacob Lees, Caldwell, ID, 86.25, $9,400; 3. Bradlee Miller, Huntsville, TX, 86, $6,266; 4. Jess Pope, Waverly, KS, 85.75, $3,133. Average: 1. Cooper Cooke, 172.75 on two head; 2. Jacob Lees, 171; 3. Clayton Biglow, 170; 4. Keenan Hayes, 169.50; 5. Garrett Shadbolt, 168.50; 6. R.C. Landingham, 167.5; 7. (tie) Jayco Roper and Jess Pope, 167.
Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Dalton Massey, Hermiston, OR, 3.4 seconds, $12,533; 2. Jesse Brown, Baker City, OR, 4.0, $9,400; 3. (tie) Eli Lord, Sturgis, SD and Rowdy Parrott, Mamou, LA, 4.2, $4,700 each. Second round: 1. Jesse Brown, Baker City, OR, 3.6 seconds, $12,533; 2. Seth Peterson, 3.7, $9,400; 3. Cash Robb, Altamont, UT, 4.0, $6,266; 4. J.D. Struxness, Milan, MN, 4.3, $3,133. Average: 1. Jesse Brown, 7.6 seconds on two head; 2. Dalton Massey, 7.9; 3. Cash Robb, 8.6; 4. J.D. Struxness, 8.7; 5. Rowdy Parrott, 9.0; 6. Seth Peterson, 9.2; 7. (tie) Justin Shaffer and Tristan Martin, 9.6.
Team roping: First round: 1. Kaleb Driggers, Hoboken, GA/Junior Nogueira, Presidente Prudente, Brazil, 3.8 seconds, $12,533 each; 2. Lightning Aguilera, Athens, TX/Ross Ashford, Lott, TX, 4.1, $9,400; 3. Dawson Graham/Dillon Graham, Wainwright, AB, 4.2, $6,266; 4. Tyler Tryan, Lipan, TX/Nicky Northcott, Stephenville, TX, 4.3, $3,133. Second round: 1. James Arviso, Seba Dalka, AZ/Levi Lord, Sturgis, SD, 4.0 seconds, $12,533; 2. Cory Kidd, Statesville, NC/Carson Johnson, Casper, WY 4.4, $9,400; 3. Kaleb Driggers, Hoboken, GA/Junior Nogueira, Presidente Prudente, Brazil, 5.8, $6,266; 4. Tyler Tryan, Lipan, TX/Nicky Northcott, Stephenville, TX, 10.4, $3,133. Average: 1. James Arviso/Levi Lord, 8.5 seconds on two head; 2. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 9.6; 3. Tyler Tryan/Nicky Northcott, 14.7; 4. Jake Smith/Douglas Rich, 21.6; 5. Lightning Aguilera/Ross Ashford, 4.1 on one; 6. Dawson Graham/Dillon Graham, 4.2; 7. Cory Kidd/Carson Johnson, 4.4; 8. Andrew Ward/Jake Long, 4.8.
Saddle bronc riding: First round: 1. Brody Cress, Hillsdale, WY, 87.25 on Three Hills Rodeo’s Devil’s Advocate, $12,533; 2. Kade Bruno, Challis, ID, 87, $9,400; 3. Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, AB, 86.25, $6,266; 4. (tie) Statler Wright, Beaver, UT and Waitley Sharon, Ordway, CO, 85.75, $1,566 each. Second round: 1. Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, Alberta, 87.5 points on Championship Rodeo’s Heartbreaker, $12,533; 2. Ryder Wright, Beaver, UT, 87, $9,400; 3. (tie) Zac Dallas, Las Cruces, NM and Rusty Wright, Milford, UT, 85.5, $4,700. Average: 1. Zeke Thurston, 173.75 on two head; 2. Ryder Wright, 172.25; 3. Kade Bruno, 170.75; 4. Rusty Wright, 169.75; 5. (tie) Wyatt Casper and Waitley Sharon, 169.25; 7. Statler Wright, 168.25; 8. Stetson Wright, 168.
Tie-down roping: First round: 1. Kincade Henry, Mount Pleasant, TX, 7.5 second, $12,533; 2. Joel Harris, San Angelo, TX, 7.7, $9,400; 3. (tie) Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, LA and Haven Maged, Miles City, MT, 8.0, $4,700 each. Second round: 1. Riley Webb, Denton, TX, 7.2 seconds, $12,533; 2. Tyler Calhoun, Richards, TX, 7.5, $9,400; 3. Trevor Hale, Perryton, TX, 8.3, $6,266; 4. Joel Harris, San Angelo, TX, 8.4, $3,133.Average: 1. Joel Harris, 16.1 seconds on two head; 2. Haven Meged, 16.9; 3. Riley Webb, 17.0; 4. (tie) Tyler Calhoun and Trevor Hale, .1; 6. Shane Hanchey, 17.9; 7. Shad Mayfield, 18.4; 8. Cory Solomon, 19.7.
Breakaway roping: First round: 1. (tie) Jordi Eden-Mitchell, Stephenville, TX and Josie Conner, Iowa, La, 1.7 seconds, $10,966 each; 3. Hali Williams, Comanche, TX, 1.9, $6,266; 4. Jill Tanner, Stephenville, TX, 2.1, $3,133. Second round: 1. Rylee George, Oakdale, CA, 1.7 seconds, $12,533; 2. Haiden Thompson, Yoder, WY, 1.8, $9,400; 3. Hali Williams, Comanche, TX, 1.9, $6,266; 3. Jordi Edens-Mitchell, Stephenville, TX, 2.0, $3,133. Average: 1. Jordi Edens-Mitchell, 3.7 seconds on two head; 2. Hali Williams, 3.8; 3. Danielle Lowman, 4.4; 4. Bradi Good, 4.6; 5. Martha Angelone, 4.9; 6. Jackie Crawford, 6.2; 7. Jill Tanner, 14.2; 8. (tie) Josie Conner and Rylee George, 1.7. – Josie will advance due the tiebreaker going back to world standings.
Barrel racing: First round: 1. Megan McLeod-Sprague, Marsing, Idaho, 14.10, $12,533; 2. Hayle Gibson-Stillwell, Redcrest, CA, 14.17, $9,400, 3. Katelyn Scott, Odessa, TX, 14.37, $6,266; 4. Emily Beisel, Weatherford, OK, 14.45, $3,133. Second round: 1. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, SD, 13.73 seconds, $12,533; 2. Hayle Gibson-Stillwell, Redcrest, CA, 13.94, $9,400; 3. Megan McLeod-Sprague, Marsing, ID, 13.95, $6,266; 4. Tricia Aldridge, Sanger, TX, 13.99, $3,133. Average: 1. Megan McLeod-Sprague, 28.05 seconds on two runs; 2. Hayle Gibson-Stillwell, 28.11; 3. Emily Beisel, 28.61; 4. Tayla Moeykens, 28.75; 5. Katelyn Scott, 28.80; 6. Makenzie Mayes, 29.53; 7. Andrea Busby, 33.12; 8. Lisa Lockhart, 33.26.
Bull riding: First round: 1. Qynn Andersen, Koumala, Australia, 90 points on Sankey Pro Rodeo’s and Phenom Genetics Humboldt, $12,533; 2. John Crimber, Decatur, TX, 89.75, $9,400; 3. Lane Vaughan, Klamath Falls, OR, 89.5, $6,266; 4. Noah Lee, Mineral Wells, TX, 89.25, $3,133. Second round: 1. Luke Mackey, Ignacio, CO, 89.75 points on Sankey Pro Rodeo’s Wild and Blue, $12,533; 2. Noah Lee, Mineral Wells, TX, 89.5, $9,400; 3. Stetson Wright, Beaver, UT, 89.25, $6,266; 4. Hayden Welsh, Gillette, WY, 86.5, $3,133 Average: 1. Noah Lee, 178.75 on two head; 2. Stetson Wright, 178; 3. Hayden Welsh, 174; 4. Luke Mackey, 172.75; 5. Colten Fritzlan, 169.5; 6. T.J. Gray, 166; 7. Qynn Andersen, 90 points on one; 8. John Crimber, 89.75.