After missing a berth in the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo the past two years, Duncan showed the crowd in the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Jan. 27 that he’s ready to be counted among the sport’s elite once again.

Duncan, of Alvin, Texas, took the lead on the first of two nights of PRCA Xtreme Bulls Tour action by securing the highest-scored rides in both the first round and short go. He holds a 9.5-point lead over the nearest challengers.

It was a nice confidence boost for the 2008 PRCA Rookie of the Year and two-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier, who had slipped all the way to 54th in the world standings a year ago.

“I kind of had to go back and find myself again,” Duncan told the Rapid City Journal. “I did that and I’m happy to be back and I’m looking for and expecting big things out of myself this year.”

Duncan had an 88-point ride on New Frontier Rodeo’s Free Sample in the 40-man first round, and came back to post a 90-pointer on another New Frontier bull, Gray Squirrel, to edge Patrick Geipel in the short go by half a point.

Geipel, of Elbert, Colo., and Brent Menz, of Delta, Mo., tied for second place in the average with 168.5 points apiece to Duncan’s 178.

The short go featured a rank pen of Wrangler NFR-level bulls, including Gray Squirrel, which has a 92.86 percent buck-off rate and took Tyler Willis to a second-place tie in Round 10 of last month’s WNFR.

“He bucked me off last time I drew him, so I knew what I had in store for me and what he was going to do,” Duncan said. “I take that to heart real good when I get bucked off, so I haven’t thought too kindly of him since and it was nice to get a little revenge tonight and a win to go with it.”

The remaining 40 competitors chasing the $49,350 purse here will be in the arena on Jan. 28 starting at 7:30 p.m. (MT). The payoffs will be made based on the best two-head scores from the two nights of competition.

This year’s rodeo is set to payout over $600,000; the largest amount ever for Fort Worth. Cowboys from the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and barrel racers from the Woman’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) will compete at the Will Rogers Coliseum over the next two weeks. Each contestant is competingforthe same goal – make it back to the 12-man finalround onFeb. 4, and take home the 2012 FWSSR championship buckle of their event and a piece of the record-breaking prize money.

Although the rodeo officially kicked off Thursday night, tie-down ropers and steer wrestlers started competing Tuesday and Wednesday in what is known as slack.The FWSSR is one of the few rodeos that accommodate all timed-event contestants who want to enter.In order for this to happen, the rodeocommittee set aside two days prior to kick-off forthosecontestants. For onerising star,these two days put him at the top of the pack in the tie-down roping.

Fresh off his first trip to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, tie-down roper Cory Solomon, from Prairie View, Texas,was quick to rope his calf, quick to tie his calf, and quick to take the lead in the first round of the rodeo competition.Solomon posted an 8.7-second time in the slack and leads the first round of the tie-down competition.“I finally broke the ice for 2012,” said Solomon.“I said I was going to do it and I knew if I did my job, I would.”

All-Around World Champion Ryan Jarrett and four-time NFR qualifier Wade Sumpter both posted 3.6-second times during the steer wrestling slack on Wednesday; andare tied for the lead in the first round.Although Sumpter was just shy of going to his fifth NFR in 2011, his steer wrestling horse Dashes Dapper Star, better known as Wick, took home the honor of American Quarter Horse Association Steer Wrestling Horse of the Year.

Rodeo action continues with the second performance on Friday, Jan. 20,at 7:30 p.m.

From the very beginning, Clayton had big boots to fill.  His father and both of his grandfathers were professional bull riders at one time.  And so, for Clayton, who grew up helping his grandpa run cows and raise bucking bulls, a career atop a two ton animal did not seem so very unusual.

“My Dad taught me how to ride bulls,” Foltyn said in a 2011 interview, “and I rode in my first youth rodeo when I was seven.  That was the beginning.”

At the age of 18, Foltyn began his professional bull riding career, traveling around the country to participate in numerous events.  He has competed in the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo every year since 2005, with the exception of 2008, and says he truly enjoys competing close to home surrounded by friends and family.  Another undeniable perk of performing in Houston, according to Clayton: sleeping in your own bed!

As a young bull rider, Foltyn had his share of injuries, many of which required surgery and an extended recovery, but he always returned to the arena.

“I’ve had surgery on my shoulder and my hand,” he says without flinching, “and some muscle injuries that kept me out for a while.”

Although Clayton’s riding career has been consistent, the 26 year-old has seen his share of ups and downs, especially over the last year.  So, how did he manage to regain his form and earn a world championship in 2011? According to Clayton, his mind has always been focused, but a physical training regimen was the secret ingredient that helped push him over the top.

“When I wasn’t traveling, I started going to the gym about five times a week,” he said.  “I lost 13 pounds and really leaned up.”

Whatever the reason, no one can deny that Clayton Foltyn is a force to be reckoned with in the bull riding world.  In addition to the CBR Cinch world championship, Folyton received a $100,000 bonus check and the coveted Hy O Silver championship buckle for his spectacular efforts.

Clayton knows that he will not always be able to rely on bull riding as his source of income and so as part of his CBR Tour winnings Clayton accepted stock in Championship Bull Riding and now has a vested interest in the company thus adding businessman to the list of his recent accomplishments.  Combined with his 2011 total earnings he is planning a future which includes purchasing a home for him and his soon to be bride Kala.

Foltyn’s renewed commitment, tireless work ethic, and more mature approach have not gone unnoticed in the industry.  According to CBR President and former world champion Tuff Hedeman,

“Clayton has always had the ability to be a great bull rider. This past year he got his priorities straight and his riding ability kicked into a whole new gear. He worked hard and deserves what he has earned .”

For Clayton Foltyn, winning the CBR Cinch world championship was just the first step toward turning his dreams into reality.  In December 2011, he is scheduled to compete against the top 15 PRCA bull riders in the world at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.  He says he is “more relaxed and ready to win,” but admits that he still gets a little nervous at times.

“The most important thing is makin’ great rides,” he says with a smile.  “You just have to try your guts out every single time.”

The only rider to cover all five of his bulls, the 2009 Rookie of the Year finished with 436.75 points, and earns $40,150. Defending championValdiron de Oliveira was second with 349 points. Oliveira, who also won the event in 2008, had moved into the lead after riding Bad Blake (Jeff Robinson/Wolf Creek Cattle) for 88 points in the Built Ford Tough Championship Round. It is the fourth career win for Nance, who moves into the lead in the BFTS standings after the season-opening event.

Luke Snyder finished third with 347.25 points, including 88.75 points in the championship round on Carrillo Cartel (4 C’s/Sills/HD Bucking Bulls). 2010 PBR World Champion Renato Nunes won the championship round with 91.5 points on Delco (Jeff Robinson Bucking Bulls), and finished fourth in the average with 346.5 points. 2004 PBR World Champion Mike Lee was fifth in the average with 336 points.

It is the sixth year in a row that the world’s most famous arena has hosted the PBR, the world’s premier bull riding organization. The nationally-televised BFTS features the best and highest-paid bull riders on the planet competing against the world’s best bulls.

New York was the first stop for the BFTS, which will make 29 stops in 23 states before the Built Ford Tough World Finals in Las Vegas on Oct. 24-28, 2012. The World Finals are where the PBR World Champion will be crowned and awarded the coveted Championship Buckle and a $1 million bonus. The richest bull riding event in the world, the World Finals has a total purse of more than $2 million.