With all eyes on Shad Mayfield and Ty Harris, there hasn’t been much focus on 2019 World Champion Haven Meged—and that probably suits the quiet Montana cowboy just fine.

But after two straight sub-7 second runs to clinch his first Calgary Stampede Championship, it’s definitely time to talk about what Meged has accomplished in the last two weeks.

Here’s the number and it’s a big one . . . $95,660.

That’s what Meged has collected since the start of the Fourth of July run with much of it coming North of the border.

Just about a week after taking the win at the second biggest rodeo in Canada in Ponoka, Meged added another illustrious win to his career resume with the dramatic Calgary win worth $61,500.

“It’s been a good two weeks,” Meged agreed with a laugh. “Let’s hope we can keep it rolling.”

Haven Meged’s Calgary Stampede Victory

It all began in Calgary during Pool B. Meged earned money in all three rounds thanks to consistent runs of 8.0, 9.0 and 7.5 seconds, respectively.

Thanks to the return of the Meged’s unicorn, Lil Punch, he won $11,500 in pool competition, finishing second behind reigning World Champ Riley Webb to advance to Showdown Sunday on July 14.

Meged has been in that position at least once before and was extremely happy to have Lil Punch under him; after carrying Meged to his second NFR championship back in December, the tough little gelding suffered an injury back in March.

“He’s been out since The American,” Meged noted. “We just got him back and I’ve just ridden him at two rodeos so far.”

Under the unique circumstances at Calgary with its fast start and tough ground rules regarding jerk downs, the right horse is key and Lil Punch is just that for Meged.

“He’s tough to beat in those fast setups,” Meged said. “He’s fast and flat across there. Obviously, he was great at the NFR and Calgary is an even faster start. He gives me so much confidence in those setups.”

On Showdown Sunday, Meged was unstoppable. He won the Semi-Final round with a 6.9 and never blinked as the last roper in the final four round staring down a 7.1 mark set by Macon Murphy.

“The biggest thing for me was just to take care of business,” Meged said of his mindset. “The calves were good and I knew I couldn’t back off. I had to rope for first.”

The plan scrambled in Meged’s mind when when Lil Punch stumbled right at the scoreline.

“I thought ‘oh sh#&! There’s no way I can win now,’” Meged joked. The run was further complicated when the calf stepped to the left. “I had planned to go to the outside [with my slack] but I had to switch it back to the inside.”

Despite the added drama, Meged was flawless on the ground to post his best run of the Stampede, 6.7 seconds to collect the big win.

“There were a lot of moving pieces but it all worked out,” Meged said. “It was God’s plan for sure.”

While not all of the Calgary money counts towards standings (just $33,050 — half of the Showdown $50K and 70% of pool money according to PRCA/Calgary Ground Rules), Meged still jumped from eighth to third in the newest standings, ensuring that battle at the top is at least a three-horse race for the World Championship.

Meanwhile, Murphy’s Calgary performance was clutch and worth $27,667. He made a huge leap up the standings, moving from 32nd to 14th and in contention for a second Wrangler NFR trip.

John Douch took the bronze finish in Calgary, earning just over $20,000 for his efforts at the Stampede. He is solidly fifth in the standings.

NFR Open Champion: Bodie Mattson

It’s been a busy summer for Sturgis, South Dakota’s Bodie Mattson. The top two-event hand finished up his marketing degree at the University of Wyoming and represented his school in two events at the College National Finals Rodeo where he made the finals in the team roping and landed fourth in the All Around race.

Turned out, that performance was merely a preview to his biggest win yet, a National Championship earned at the NFR Open Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo in Colorado Springs on July 13. After roping his way through the pool competition, the reigning Badlands Circuit champ captured the title with a run of 7.6 seconds in the sudden death finals to bank $13,750.

Not bad for a guy who calls himself primarily a team roper.

Though Mattson did not have success in Colorado Springs in the team roping, he and partner Trae Smith won second at the Sheridan WYO Rodeo, banking $7,080 there. Mattson grabbed some tie down money in Casper, too, leaving his weekend haul in two events over $22,000.

Luke Potter, Riley Webb, Dylan Hancock start rolling

Luke Potter is heating up at the most opportune time. A week after winning better than $10,000 and the World’s Oldest Rodeo in Prescott on the NFR Playoff Series, Potter snared another Playoff Series win, this time in Wyoming at the Sheridan WYO Rodeo.

Potter placed third or better in both rounds to land at 17.4 on two calves, good enough for the win and $9,359. Proving the Cowboy State suits him, Potter also grabbed second down the interstate in Casper for another $5,985. His two weeks of heroics have moved him from 41st before the Fourth of July to 18th this week.

The Central Wyoming Fair & Rodeo belonged to reigning World Champion Riley Webb. Webb has been ranked amongst the world leaders all year but has done so much more quietly than he did a year ago en route to new regular season and year long earnings records. In Casper, Webb ensured no one has forgotten him in the ever tightening race for the World title after tying for second in round one, dominating the short go and taking the average for $8,324. He also won a round in Sheridan.

The Silver State Stampede in Elko, Nevada is a newer stop on the Playoff Series but with a growing purse, it’s become and important step towards the NFR and Dylan Hancock took advantage of the opportunity. Hancock roped his calf in 8.8 seconds to win the one-header, banking $4,594. Hancock also won second in Sheridan, fourth in Nephi, and picked up some day money in Calgary for a nearly $14,000 weekend.

What’s Next

There is no slowing down the train on this track as July rolls into its midway point with another huge week of rodeos.

There’s Pioneer Week in Utah with three rodeos offering $2 million in payout (Spanish Fork, Salt Lake and Ogden) and an additional $15,000 bonus to the high money winning female and male athletes at the three outings.

There’s the famed California Rodeo (pronounced Ro-DAY-oh) and all its tradition in Salinas.

There’s also the Snake River Stampede in Nampa, Idaho with its big purse.

Oh and also long rounds and qualifying at the Daddy of ‘em All in Cheyenne, Wyoming beginning Monday, July 15.

And might as well mention, there’s also about two dozen other rodeos happening across the country.

PRCA World Standings as of July 15, 2024