Brennan Continues Riding High After Big Victory at Dixie National Rodeo

The Aussie saddle bronc rider followed up his big win at Fort Worth with another championship in Jackson, Miss.

Damian Brennan knew the match-up gave him a shot – it was on him to make it count.

The Injune, Queensland saddle bronc rider had drawn Dakota Rodeo bucking horse Richie’s High for his lone ride at the Dixie National Rodeo in Jackson, Miss., back on Wednesday, Feb. 14. The two had previously squared off several years ago at another Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) event, with Brennan enjoying the ride.

The rematch turned out to be just as enjoyable.

Brennan posted an 87.5-point ride and held off the rest of the field over the nine-day event to secure the championship.

“That’s a good horse, and I’ve been on it once before a couple years ago, and it’s a really good horse to draw for a cowboy,” Brennan said. “It makes our job easier as it comes out there and jumps and kicks and gives us plenty of time to set our feet, so it’s a really good horse to have out there.”

Brennan needed every bit of his skill to secure the win as Kade Bruno took second, just a half-point back at 87. The one-head victory paid out $5,894, allowing Brennan to keep building on an impressive start to the 2024 season.

The 2022 PRCA Resistol Rookie of the Year followed up his first season by making the National Finals Rodeo in 2023. Since his appearance in Las Vegas last December, Brennan hasn’t let up.

Entering the weekend, Brennan was less than a $100 back of fellow saddle bronc rider Wyatt Casper for first place in the world standings. With the paycheck from the Dixie National Rodeo, Brennan has already secured more than $43,000 just a few months into the season. A large chunk of that came from his success at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, where Brennan won the final round and average.

While he was waiting on the Dixie National Rodeo to go final, Brennan was placing second in his bracket at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, which will bring him back for more rides later on in the month.

In all, Brennan is just happy to have momentum – and a little money – on his side, with more opportunities to keep building.

“I had a good start at Fort Worth and got another win at Jackson, so I don’t really know what’s going on, but it’s going good, so hopefully I can just keep it rolling,” Brennan said. “I had a good season last year, and I’ve got kind of just got the ball rolling, and hopefully, we can just keep it going, I suppose.”

Other results from the Dixie National Rodeo:

Cole Franks and Bill Tutor shared the bareback riding title, each posting 86-point rides to earn $4,484 each.

J.D. Struxness won the steer wrestling championship with a two-head aggregate time of 9.7 seconds. Struxness picked up a total of $5,028 in earnings at the event.

The team roping championship was split between two pairings as Brady Tryan and Calgary Smith, and Dalton Turner and Justin Delgraza each finished in 4.4 seconds, earning $5,554 each.

Veteran tie-down roper Randall Carlisle posted an aggregate time of 15.6 seconds on two head to win. In all, Carlisle earned $5,707 at the rodeo.

Barrel racer Emily Beisel finished in 13.45 seconds to win and secure $6,144.

Bull rider Brody Yeary posted a 90-point ride to win $5,809.

Toby Deudney earned all-round cowboy honors with his efforts in bareback and bull riding. He earned $3,717 as the all-around champion.