
WCRA DY is a year-long leaderboard race of rodeo events worldwide culminating at the World Championship Junior Rodeo (WCJR). The 2023 event will have over $200,000 in added money and will take place in Guthrie, OK at the Lazy E Arena the July 25-29, 2023. Athletes can qualify by nominating their rodeo efforts and earning points for the WCRA DY leaderboard positions using the VRQ (Virtual Rodeo Qualifier). Athletes can nominate their rodeo efforts until Sunday, June 25, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. to nominate and earn points. The top 16 on the leaderboard will qualify for the event with no entry fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
What and Where is the Championship Event?
The 2023 event will have over $200,000 in added money and is open to any youth athlete ages 19 and under (as of the first day of competition) in the world competing in 11 disciplines which include – Bareback Riding, Ladies Breakaway Roping, Saddle Bronc Riding, Steer Wrestling, Team Roping Heading, Team Roping Heeling, Tie-Down Roping, Ladies Barrel Racing, Ladies Pole Bending, Ladies Goat Tying, and Bull Riding.
The event will take place in Guthrie, Oklahoma July 25-29, 2023.
What Events are Before the WCJR?
Rodeo Corpus Christi:
WCRA welcomes back Division Youth (DY) to competition within the VRQ platform in 2023 with the Rodeo Corpus Christi WCRA DY23 Incentive. Youth athletes ages 13-19 will also have an opportunity to participate at this event. The top 8 timed event athletes on the WCRA DY23 Junior Leaderboard will participate in the qualifying rounds and be eligible for their own incentive purse as well as having the same opportunity to advance through the entire rodeo.
What is the Payout?
The 2023 World Championship Junior Rodeo (WCJR) will have over $200,000 in prize money and is open to any youth athlete ages 19 and under (as of the first day of competition)
World Champions will be crowned in all disciplines from both the Junior Leaderboard (ages 19 and under) and the Youth Leaderboard (age 13-15) with $10,000 being paid out per discipline in the Junior Division ($110,000 total) while the Youth Division will award $5,000 per discipline ($35,000 total).
How to Nominate
- DOWNLOAD THE WCRA APP IN THE APP STORE HERE
- HIT SIGN IN OR REGISTER
- SELECT NOMINATE
- ENTER EVENT NAME OR LOCATION
- SELECT DISCIPLINE
- SELECT THE DATE OF THE COMPETITION
- CONFIRM PAYMENT
Nomination Deadline
Athletes can nominate their rodeo efforts starting on May 2, 2022 and have until Sunday, June 25, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. to earn points. Must be nominated before the official start time of the event.
Nomination Window: May 2, 2022 – June 25, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.
Event Progression Chart
View Event Progression Below:
Eligible Athletes and Entry Fees
Timed Event:
Leaderboard No. 1 – 16 (Junior and Youth): Will be eligible to participate in the world championship event with no entry fees. Must be 19 years of age on of July 25, 2023 to be eligible to enter for all disciplines in Junior
Timed Event and Roughstock:
Leaderboard No. 1: (Junior and Youth):– seeded to Showdown Round, eligible to participate in Qualifying Rounds for prize money, World points and AAC points. Must be 15 years of age on of July 25, 2023 to be eligible to enter for all disciplines in Youth.
Must be 13 years of age to participate in the VRQ.
Qualifier Series Generic Qualifications
Winning a DY Qualifier Series event is paramount for the athlete. For the 2023 DY season, there will be up to 12 QS events per discipline per leaderboard.
Complimentary entry fees & generic qualification to the Qualifying Rounds.
Leaderboard rank takes precedence for eligibility. Will not drop down to fill vacated QS spots.
(WCRA DY reserves the right to modify the number of qualifiers and events in the 2023 DY season)
Disciplines Eligible For Nominations
19 and Under Junior Classification Disciplines:
- Bareback Riding
- Saddle Bronc Riding
- Bull Riding
- Steer Wrestling
- Tie Down Roping
- Team Roping-Header
- Team Roping-Heeler
- Ladies Breakaway Roping
- Ladies Barrel Racing
- Ladies Poles Bending
- Ladies Goat Tying
BB, SB, BR, SW – Must be a minimum of 15 years of age to nominate and must be 16 years of age as of July 25, 2023 to be eligible to enter and compete at the 2023 World Championship Junior Rodeo (WCJR)
13-15 Youth Classification Disciplines:
- Tie-Down Roping
- Team Roping-Header
- Team Roping-Heeler
- Ladies Breakaway Roping
- Ladies Barrel Racing
- Ladies Poles Bending
- Ladies Goat Tying
Tiered Leaderboard
WCRA implemented a tiered leaderboard system for DY beginning with the 2023 season. Athletes 13-19 years of age are eligible to nominate events toward the DY leaderboards. Maximum and minimum ages are based on the athlete’s age on the first day of the world championship event (July 25, 2023).
- Junior Classification – 19U (19 years of age to 13 years of age)
- Youth Classification – 13-15 (athletes 13 years of age up to 15 years of age). If an athlete between the ages of 13-15 prefers to participate in the Junior Division, they may opt-out of the Youth Division by contacting [email protected].
- Athletes may only participate in one DY leaderboard. Youth athletes that wish to move to Junior Leaderboard must transfer all disciplines to that leaderboard.
With the separation of athlete competition at WCRA events, Junior & Youth athletes participating in the DY leaderboards will now be eligible to simultaneously participate in the WCRA TCR / WRWC open leaderboards.
- Open Disciplines – Bareback Riding, Saddle Bronc Riding, Steer Wrestling: Must be a minimum of 15 years of age to nominate and must be 16 years of age to enter and compete at the event.
- Open Disciplines – Bull Riding: Must be a minimum of 18 years of age to nominate, enter and compete at the event per PBR membership rules.
Open Entry
- Athletes can also enter the event through open entry without qualification and take their shot by competing through the qualifying rounds. Open Entries are open now and close July 12.
World Champions Bonus
- World Champions will be crowned in all disciplines along with All-Around World Champions from both the 19 and under (19U) Junior Leaderboard and the 13-15 Youth Leaderboard. Each World Champion will be awarded a piece of the $56,000 in cash bonuses.
- Athletes must have a minimum of fifteen (15) VRQ points on the DY23 leaderboard to be eligible to earn a World Championship.
WCJR and WCRA DY Cash Bonus details HERE.
Jr. Ironman Sidepot Details
The WCJR will also serve as a Jr. Ironman qualifier with the top five advancing to Jr. Ironman Championship held during the CINCH Timed Event Championship in March 2024. The Jr. Ironman Side Pot will have $5,000 added money with the mandatory disciplines: Steer Wrestling, Tie-Down Roping, Team Roping-Header, Team Roping-Heeler (must enter and participate in all four disciplines).
Event Ground rules
View Ground Rules HERE