Corrington finishes 9th in the World Standings
Published December 2013 Hastings Star Gazette
Tyler Corrington of Hastings, Minnesota ends his 2013 Saddle Bronc Riding season with $130,679 after the National Finals Rodeo. “It’s great to be back, missed it last year. It drives a guy to get back here,” he stated after the 3 Go Round.
The 27-year-old was the sole Minnesota contestant to compete among the 115 contestants in Las Vegas. Nightly he carried in the Minnesota flag. Las Vegas is a game of numbers and he was redundant with wearing 27 on his back. By finishing within the top 10 in the World Standings, Corrington automatically qualifies for The American in Dallas, TX in March 2014. The largest payout in rodeo history is being produced by RFDTV.
The first two nights Corrington bucked off and came back in the 3 go round to win second place on Cool Runnings for $14,723.56. Prior to the Go Round 3 Tyler said, “Cool Runnings is a good draw and I am excited to have him.” Taking the momentum from the previous night, Tyler collected a second check on the horse, Tipped Off with 82.50 earning $11,117.79.
At halftime Tyler again came back in the 5 Go Round and split 5/6 place with Bradley Harter. The Minnesotan rode Kool Toddy for 83 points worth a paycheck of $3,906.25. Being consistent with paychecks the 6 Go Round, Tyler Corrington rode Cat Power for 80 points and cashed another check for $3,004.81. In the remaing four Go Rounds, 7, 8, 9, and 10 Tyler was bucked off by the horses Killer Bee, Look Again, Spur Strap and Lunatic Party.
A bunch of friends arrived on Friday December 13 to party and watch Corrington ride. The group of friends had mad dash tickets and were scattered throughout the Thomas & Mack Arena. Tyler will take a few weeks off and spend the holidays with his family before hitting the rodeo trail again.
Corrington is the second saddle bronc rider from Minnesota to qualify for the NFR. Todd Hipsag originally from Big Lake, MN qualified for the NFR in 1997 (13th in final world standings), 1998 (14th) and 2001 (13th). Hipsag was the 1989 Minnesota High School Rodeo State Champion in Saddle Bronc Riding, The other Minnesota NFR qualifiers are bull riding brothers Charlie (1981) and Paul Wiederholt (1983) and bull rider Brett Stall (2012) along with women’s barrel racer Jane Meech Melby (2011, 2013).