Thrilling Bull Riding Finale Highlights Central Wyoming Fair & PRCA Rodeo
The Central Wyoming Fair & PRCA Rodeo concluded Saturday night with a dramatic bull riding showdown between two of the sport’s biggest names, Ky Hamilton and Stetson Wright.
The short go-round featured high-level competition, strong crowd engagement, and a memorable finish that underscored both riders’ talent and camaraderie.
The event opened with two riders, Jate Frost and Tate Pollmeier, being bucked off before the 8-second buzzer. That set the stage for Hamilton, an Australian rider and the 2023 world champion, who energized the Casper crowd with a 90-point ride on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s bull, Wham Bam. Notably, Hamilton became the first competitor this year to successfully ride Wham Bam, a bull that had previously bested several top-ranked riders.
Wright, a two-time world champion sidelined by injury last season, followed Hamilton’s performance with a 92.5-point ride aboard Smokin Hot. The bull had been ridden by Wright just weeks earlier for a 92-point score, but Saturday’s performance was widely praised for both the bull’s heightened intensity and Wright’s smooth execution.
Both riders ended the event with a two-head average score of 177.5 points, tying for the top spot. Their performances not only secured the event’s highest marks but also demonstrated their return to top form after injury-plagued 2023 seasons. Wright currently leads the PRCA world standings, while Hamilton has moved into the top six.
“It’s a lot of fun when you get to see both me and him healthy and riding against each other,” Wright said following the event. “We feed off each other. That old saying, ‘Iron sharpens iron,’ applies to me and him for sure.”
The friendly rivalry continued even after the final rides. With the average title shared, the championship buckle was awarded through a light-hearted game of rock-paper-scissors. After two ties, Wright ultimately won the game—and the buckle—on the third try.
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