Jake Lockwood, Other Local Competitors Prepare For MT Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals

By JOE KUSEK

Special to the Examiner

Some people have a favorite shirt or comfortable pair of cowboy boots they prefer.

Others might reach in their tackle box for a special fishing lure or always have the same pregame meal.

Jake Lockwood's preference might go a little bigger.

The Volborg bull rider is starting to like First Interstate Arena in Billings.

Lockwood won the Yellowstone Round-Up in August to solidify his 2023 season and returned two months later to win the NILE Pro Rodeo in the same facility to jump-start his 2024.

The 23-year-old is leery about giving credit to the arena.

"I don't think it has anything to do with the building or anything like that," said Lockwood with a laugh. "I just had some good bulls and did my job."

But he wouldn't mind bringing some of that bull riding mojo to Great Falls this week for the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals.

The annual rodeo at Four Seasons Arena features the top 12 in each event and will determine the 2023 year-end champions. The year-end and Finals champions qualify for the high-paying NFR Open in July in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

"Absolutely," he said of chasing a title. "I want to ride three bulls. If you ride three, they're not going to beat you. I want to get a good showing and qualify for the NFR Open."

Lockwood enters the MPRF fourth in the standings with $11,193 won. Payton Fitzpatrick of Polson leads with $22,617.

Lockwood picked up 74 percent of his earnings during one weekend in mid-August, winning at Circle and Billings within a 24-hour time span.

He started in Circle in front of a healthy group of family and friends with 82 points on Muscle Car Magic, a bull owned by Paul Eiker of Glendive.

"Any time you ride a bull, it helps a ton with your confidence," Lockwood said. "I dang sure knew it was some points. I wasn't going to argue. It was an easy ride to Billings."

He followed less than 24 hours later with a stellar 88-point ride aboard Badger, owned by Sankey Pro Rodeo and Phenom Genetics. The bull has not been ridden since.

"I wanted to ride him," said Lockwood. "I knew if I could ride him, I was going to win."

Lockwood finished ahead of former world champion Shane Proctor, two-time NFR qualifier and four-time Canadian champion Jared Parsonage and four-time NFR qualifier Parker Breding at Billings.

Lockwood pocketed $8,380 for 16 seconds of work at the two rodeos.

"It ended up being a darn good two days," he said.

Lockwood completed the Billings sweep in October by riding Powder River Rodeo's Hue Hefner for 74 points and $2,685. It was one of only three qualified rides.

It was a comeback season for Lockwood. He qualified for the MPRF in 2022 but tore the ulnar collateral ligament of his riding arm in Big Timber.

"I tried to ride three more times. I thought I could ride through it," said Lockwood. "It just didn't feel right."

He decided to have surgery in December.

"I was looking at significant healing time after the surgery," Lockwood said. "I went ahead and finished it. They said rehab could be eight months to a year. I was pretty bummed."

He still finished ninth in the final 2022 standings.

Lockwood returned to competition in June, placing second at Hardin. "I left the arena feeling good," said Lockwood.

He also placed second at Red Lodge Xtreme Bulls, his second rodeo of 2023.

"I was pretty darn excited to get my summer going," Lockwood said. "Last year (2022), I didn't get any money won until Livingston. It was nice to get some money won.

"My goal was to make the circuit finals, for sure."

Lockwood now rides with a brace to stabilize the elbow.

"I feel pretty good," he continued. "I feel like I'm proving myself to others. I always feel like I did belong. I had a good summer, had run and it kept me going down the road."

Notes: Lockwood is not the only competitor from the area competing in Great Falls.

Ashley Day of Volborg is second in the barrel racing standings with $16,591. She trails leader Tayla Moeykens of Three Forks by just $856. Bailee Murnion of Kinsey is 10th in the standings with $5,911.

Day's husband, Radley, is eighth for team roping headers. He is a former multiple circuit champion.

Volborg's Joey Williams returns in breakaway roping with $7,892. She is $9,853 behind leader Shelby Boisjoli-Meged. Boisjoli-Meged married 2019 world tie-down roping champion Haven Meged of Miles City in May. She won the WPRA world title in December in Las Vegas. Williams finished seventh in the world standings. She roped victories at Cheyenne Frontier Days and the Pendleton Round-Up.

Tate Harmon of Powderville is ninth in the saddle bronc standings while Garrett Cunningham of Broadus is 12th.