Rylie Edens, 14, of Hillsboro, Texas, stunned the WCRA Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo crowd on the final night of the semi-final performances when she shut off the clock in 2.42 seconds, earning $1,600 and a spot in the $25,000 Gold Medal Round.
“We had two plans, go for the round or safety up and it was kind of both,” Edens said. “We saw a little bit more than what we intended on and then I just took my first shot.”
Moments before Edens backed into the box, she watched MaryBeth Beam of Terrell, Texas, make a 2.85-second run, followed by Jordi Edens of Gatesville, Texas, who won the gold medal at the 2019 Days of ’47 Rodeo, make a 2.50-second run.
“It was definitely nerve-wracking to watch that last girls rope,” Edens said. “I was just like, ‘This is gonna be crazy if a 14-year-old can make it to the Gold Medal Round with Jackie Crawford and everybody else.’ So it was definitely exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time to back up and see all the people in the crowd and know that I have to be faster than Jordi.”
For the win, Edens rode Tater-Tot, a mare she purchased from another WCRA athlete and had owned for only three months prior to the Days of ’47 Rodeo.
“She did phenomenal,” Edens said. “She definitely helped me here cause she was calm and collected the whole time. She definitely helped me not have a nervous breakdown.”
The Gold Medal Round field has been set with Josie Conner being the No.1-seeded athlete joined by Jackie Crawford, Hali Williams, Bradi Good, and Rylie Edens who qualified after winning their respective semi-finals rounds and Taylor Hanchey, Lari Dee Guy, and Jordi Edens who earned wildcard spots with the fastest times from all four combined semi-final performances.
“The WCRA has definitely given girls a lot of chances,” Edens said. “I would’ve never thought that it would’ve been in the Days of ‘47 Rodeo. It’s just given me a lot of chances and I’m eager to see where it goes after this.”
Action at the Utah Day of ’47 Rodeo continues July 25 at 7:30 p.m. MT. Live streaming is available on PBR RidePass on PlutoTV nightly at 7:30 p.m. MT. CBS will air the Gold Medal Round of the Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo on July 31 at 11 a.m. MT.
Utah Days of ’47 Semi-Finals Round 3 Results:
1. Rylie Edens, Hillsboro, TX, 2.42 seconds, $1,600; 2. Jordi Edens, Gatesville, TX, 2.50 seconds, $1,200; 2. MaryBeth Beam, Terrell, TX, 2.85, $800; 4. Lindsei Harvey, Seguin, TX, 2.93, $400.
Gold Medal Round Current Qualifiers:
Jackie Crawford, Hali Williams, Bradi Good, Rylie Edens, Taylor Hanchey, Lari Dee Guy, Jordi Edens, Josie Conner
