Trio pull off second-night encores

NFR rookies Chandler Bownds (bull riding) and Chuck Schmidt (saddle bronc riding) gained their first NFR go-round victories.

In world championship races, Feild is running way with the bareback riding lead, while Ohl in tie-down roping and Knowles in steering wrestling are closing in on their respective leads with the third round at 6:45 p.m. today.

The winners earned $17,884, and Feild and Ohl have collected $35,769 thus far. Knowles, who tied for first Friday, has earned $33,894.

■ BAREBACK RIDING — Feild of Payson, Utah, rode JK Rodeo’s Molly for 87.5 points and extended his lead over Will Lowe Canyon, Texas, to $38,795.

■ STEER WRESTLING — Knowles of Mount Vernon, Ore., downed his steer in 3.3 seconds and climbed to second place in the season standings behind Luke Branquinho, who took over the world standings lead with a runner-up finish.

“I was pumped,” Knowles said. “A guy tries to stay as cool and collected as he can, and as soon as you stand up, then you can hear the crowd. I’m not a very flamboyant guy, but it’s hard to keep your hat on in that situation.”

■ TEAM ROPING — Texans Trevor Brazile and Patrick Smith caught their steer in 4.1 seconds to win the round and earn $17,884 apiece. The win pushed Brazile’s all-around total to $290,485 and he could clinch his ninth all-around world championship within three days.

“Last night, I didn’t expect that steer to start that hard, and I was late,” Brazile said of an early start from the chutes that produced a 10-second penalty. “Tonight was just the opposite. I got a really good start, and it made my job easy. Patrick has heeled both the first two steers really sharp.”

■ SADDLE BRONC RIDING — Schmidt of Keldron, S.D., was scored for 87.5 points on Bar T Rodeo’s Son of Sadie to win.

“Yesterday I was so nervous, I was almost shaking,” Schmidt said of his first NFR ride. “I felt calmer today, and I wanted to come and try and win some money. I had no clue. I knew the horse was good, but all the horses are good and all the riders are good, so I was pretty tickled.”

■ TIE-DOWN ROPING — Ohl of Hico, Texas, roped his calf in 7.1 seconds and moved to sixth in the season standings. The victory marked the third time Ohl has won the first two rounds of the NFR.

■ BARREL RACING — Lisa Lockhart of Oelrichs, S.D., completed the cloverleaf course in 13.95 seconds on Louie to record the first run under 14 seconds in two nights.

“He ran really fast tonight. It’s nice to have a horse that likes it here,” she said of the tight Thomas & Mack course.

■ BULL RIDING — Bownds rode Robinson ProRodeo’s RMEF Bugle for 91 points to post  the first score over 90 through two nights. He was one of six riders in the 15-man field to complete eight-second rides.

“It’s an adrenaline rush to step out there and make 91 points and then get off and throw your arms up in the air and the crowd goes crazy. It was awesome,” said the 20-year-old from Lubbock, Texas.

“I just want to stay positive and ride the rest of my bulls and try to win the average out here.”