Spinning lights, pyrotechnics and flames kicked off the opening night of the 2023 SandHills Stock Show and Rodeo Thursday at the Ector County Coliseum.
The athletes then added to the excitement of the 90th edition of the event.
Current and former world champions were featured on the program and things started off with a bang as four of the first five bull riders out of the chutes made the eight-second buzzer.
Jesse Hopper of Mangum, Okla., had the best ride of the night, staying seated on South Point Slammer for an 80-point marking.
Dawson Gleaves covered Keystone for 79 points, with Elijah Mora of Wiggins, Colo.,finishing astride Red Thunder for 78 points and Toby Collins of Stephenville scoring 76 points aboard All Star.
Will Lowe of Amarillo, a three-time PRCA world champion, sits third after the first go of bareback riding with a 72 score.
Gavin Allen French of College Station leads the standings with 74 points, while Dylan Riggins of Airway Heights, Okla., is sandwiched between the two at 73 points.
In the Ladies Breakaway event, Shy-Anne Jarrett of Comanche, Okla., smoked the field with a 2.80-second run.
Current world champion Sarah Angelone tied for second with with Madalyn Richards at 11.90 seconds after both incurred a 10-second penalty for a broken barrier.
The second performance of the event is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Ector County Coliseum.
>> Follow Lee Scheide on Twitter at @OALeeScheide
