Mortensen Wins Rodeo All-Around

Dan Mortensen finished second in saddle bronc riding on Sunday at the National Finals Rodeo and earned enough to win the all-round title.

The $8,393 he earned in the go-round helped the Manhattan, Mont., cowboy hold off Joe Beaver of Huntsville, Texas, for the all-around title.

Mortensen finished with $184,559 on the year while Beaver had $180,524. Beaver, competing in calf roping and team roping, earned $83,228 at the NFR.

For each of the last two years, Mortensen has earned more money than any other cowboy competing in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

But until this year, he wasn’t able to claim the title as the all-around cowboy because he had only competed in one event, saddle broncs.

This summer, Mortensen rode seven bulls to earn $8,393 to qualify for the all-around title and on Sunday, Mortensen won.

“It feels great,” said Mortensen, who also claimed his fourth saddle bronc world championship. “It’s an awesome accomplishment. I didn’t think I had a shot with the way I had ridden all week.”

Mortensen didn’t have his best NFR, finishing with only $38,608 in 10 go-rounds. He was bucked off his horse in the third round and finished out of the money in the fourth.