The list of top money earners from this year’s RodeoHouston had a distinct local flavor, as three area contestants were among the top contestants in a pair of events.

Perennial bareback championship contender and Waller resident Clint Cannon once again came away with the top prize in that event, earning $58,900 for the entire competition. Cannon is the fourth-ranked bareback rider in the world and was the 2009 RodeoHouston champion.

Cannon scored an 89 in the BP Super Series championship round, two points better than second place finisher Will Lowe of Canyon, Texas. Cannon was assigned to Super Series 4. In the first three Go Rounds, Cannon finished in first, tied for first and third for an aggregate score of 246.5 and earnings of $4,000.

Pictured, Waller’s Clint Cannon was this year’s RodeoHouston bareback riding champion, earning $58,900.

Photo courtesy Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

Those scores qualified him for the semi-finals, where he rode for a score of 83 and another $900. That was good enough to send Cannon to the finals, where he edged Lowe for the bareback riding championship.

Cannon said winning at RodeoHouston carries significant meaning to him.

“It’s like winning a gold buckle or a world title,” he said. “The competition is so stiff. To win in your hometown and do it twice, I’ll never forget it.”

Cannon attributed his success at RodeoHouston to the ability to perform in front of his family and friends.

“I think the atmosphere, knowing it’s the hometown crowd and I get so worked up riding in front of family and friends, it kind of gives me a pump up,” he said. “I ride at a completely different level.”

Also making successful appearances at RodeoHouston were Tomball’s Houston Hutto and Hockley’s Fred Whitfield, both of whom competed in the tie down roping event.

Hutto finished third overall and took home $12,516.67, while Whitfield finished fifth and earned $6,600.

Hutto competed in Super Series 4. After his first three Go Round’s, Hutto held the Series lead with an aggregate score of 29.6. However, Hutto failed to score in his semi-final appearance, sending him to the newly-established Wild Card round, which gives competitors who appear in the semi-final a second shot at earning a spot in the finals.

Hutto took advantage of the second chance in the Wild Card, tying down his calf in 8.8 seconds, best in his group to earn $2,350 and a spot in the finals.

Hutto’s time of 8.3 in the finals was good enough for third place.

Meanwhile, Whitfield, competing in Super Series 2, held the group’s second spot after three Go Round’s with an aggregate score of 30.3. That qualified Whitfield for the semi-finals, where he won with a time of 8.8 seconds.

In the finals, Whitfield scored a time of 8.8, good for fifth place and a total prize package of $6,600.

This year’s Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo set an all-time attendance record with more than 2.2 million visitors, breaking last year’s mark.

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