Dalton Turner and Cooper Bruce had a milestone yr in 2024, profitable the Nice Lakes Circuit year-end group roping titles.
Turner, 29, wrapped up the 2024 season with $32,213.59 received on the yr after the Nice Lakes Circuit Finals in Louisville, Kentucky, Nov. 14-16. The year-end heading title is Turner’s first and was lengthy awaited.
“It feels good, for certain,” Turner, from Sidney, Arkansas, mentioned. “This was my third yr I went in main it, so lastly; it was a giant, massive burden off my shoulders.”
Bruce, then again, has one different Nice Lakes Circuit year-end title: the 2023 heading title. The 34-year-old heeler from Franklin, Missouri, joined an elite group of circuit champion switchenders however is in a league of his personal as the one man to win back-to-back year-end titles on reverse ends.
“It took a short while to sink in, however it’s fairly cool,” Bruce, who received the 2024 title with $31,754.64, mentioned. “That was one of many objectives, to do it back-to-back on completely different ends, and I succeeded. I do know there’s one man that has received it switching ends, however I’m fairly constructive it wasn’t consecutive years.”
Combat for the lead
Turner and Bruce began their partnership off at Claremore, Oklahoma’s Will Rogers Stampede in Could and saved the ball rolling. June introduced in $5,433 a chunk, however July was the sport changer. All in all, Turner and Bruce every pocketed $11,114 in July to provide them the lead within the standings.
August was off to begin with the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo win for $3,973 apiece, however the remainder of the month was a tick dry for Turner and Bruce.
“Truthfully, we did good at Fort Madison, however between Sikeston and Fort Madison (held Sept. 5-7), it was simply OK,” Turner admitted. “We type of clicked alongside, nothing massive; we positioned right here and there. We received the (Ram – Jim Baier) Chute Out at Fort Madison and the rodeo there, so we completed robust, however in between there, I wouldn’t say it was tremendous scorching.”
Turner and Bruce needed to work to maintain their lead, and so they raked in $5,928 a person in Fort Madison to kick off September. They entered the Nice Lakes Circuit finals No. 1, a feat Bruce credit Turner for turning so many steers all through the summer time.
“All I needed to fear about was doing my job and I didn’t do an excellent job of all of it yr,” Bruce mentioned with amusing. “I made loads of errors, however Dalton, he doesn’t mess up. He turned 90% of the steers, didn’t break the barrier and so they’re for good cash. I believe that’s the primary deal, and our run simply works—once we catch it’s quick sufficient to put, and I believe that was the primary motive.”
Turner had a $1,375.34 lead over second getting into Louisville, and Bruce had a $916.39 ead on the heel aspect. Whereas the circuit finals didn’t go as deliberate, they walked away with the Spherical 1 win for $2,931 a person, Louisville Slugger baseball bats and the year-end titles.
“I actually wished that bat, and I received me one other title and Dalton received his first one,” Bruce mentioned. “That was cool. We’ve been pals a very long time, and I do know he’s completed second a pair instances; he’s come into Louisville main it greater than as soon as, so it’s fairly cool to win it with pal and for him to get his first title that he deserves.”
After the earlier years of getting into Louisville with the lead and having it slip out of his fingers, Turner needed to stay affected person and belief it might be price it.
“Simply needed to belief the method,” Turner mentioned. “I’m not going to say I didn’t get anxious, however I simply trusted the method and knew the work that I put in was going to point out at some point.”
2025 Focus
With their tickets punched for the NFR Open in July, Turner and Bruce aren’t in opposition to the thought of getting into out West subsequent summer time, however it all will depend on how the winter treats them.
“There’s an opportunity, it simply type of will depend on how this winter goes,” Turner mentioned. “Simply type of see what occurs. Since now we have to go on the market anyway, we’ll most likely enter for a pair weeks.”
The main target of their yr, nevertheless, will stay within the Nice Lakes.
“We’re going to rodeo sensible, preserve our cash collectively and we’ll simply see the place it goes,” Bruce mentioned. “Not ruling it out, however it’s not like we’re going to go rodeo kind deal. We’re going to rodeo the place we are able to by means of the winter and clearly attempt to have as a lot cash received as we are able to. However we’re going to give attention to the circuit, for certain. Our circuit finals are so good, it’s onerous to not give attention to that.”
