Reigning Tie-Down Roping World Champion Riley Webb made a bold statement in the first round of the 2024 National Finals Rodeo, clinching the win with a 7.0-second run, earning the hefty $33,687 payout.

“I came in with a big lead last year that I was trying to defend to win the world,” Webb reflected. “I had to rope smart every night, not make any mistakes and win as much money as I could. This year, I’m coming from behind, so I get to play offense. I get to rope the way I want and go fast. I like coming in a little bit behind and playing offense better.”

Webb entered the NFR fourth in the world standings with $216,906.92 in regular-season earnings. His first-round win catapulted him to No. 2 in the world standings with $260,594.10, overtaking Haven Meged and Ty Harris.

The Denton, Texas, cowboy capitalized on a prime calf provided by Jeff Yates and Lanham Mangold.

“This was a great set of calves,” Webb said. “I knew my calf was good and thought everyone would have been faster than they were. When I rode in the box, a 7.7 was winning it. I knew if I could get ahead of the 7.7, I was going to win good money with only three guys left to go. My horse was great, and I’m really blessed to be back in this spot.”

Webb’s gelding, Marked Up Cat, aka Rudy, played a key role in his first-round victory. After switching to Rudy during the 2023 NFR following a slow start on his other horse, Boots, Webb committed to riding Rudy for the 2024 NFR.

“I plan on riding Rudy in all 10 rounds unless something changes,” Webb said. “After getting a slow start last year, I’m glad to get things kicked off and rolling this year. Rudy felt great; everything was great.”

At just 22 years old, Webb is already a seasoned NFR competitor. He qualified for his first Finals in 2022 at the age of 19 and claimed his first world title at 20. Now in his third NFR, Webb approaches the competition with a refined mindset.

“Year after year, it never gets easier as long as you go at them every run,” Webb explained. “Now that I have some experience, it’s easier to practice, know what to practice for, and what I need to do to prepare. My first year, I just ran a bunch of calves without much meaning behind what I was doing. Now, I don’t run as many but I make sure every run has a purpose. I try to run each calf for what he is and do the best I can. That’s all I try to do every day.”

With nine more rounds to go, Webb is ready to stay aggressive.

“I’m just going to try and hit the barrier and get him ready to flank and tie,” Webb said. “This is a great set of calves and a great set of ropers, so I’m excited.”

Round 1 Calf Roping Results