New leaders emerged in the saddle bronc, team roping and barrel racing events, and a tie was forged for the top spot in the steer wrestling as the rodeo moved to the midway point.

Dublin’s Justin Brown was awarded a re-ride and made it pay off later in the evening by riding Tobasco to a score of 72 points in the saddle bronc to move ahead of two other cowboys. Brown slipped in front of Bryan Hammonds of Victoria and James Savoie of Church Point, La., both of whom charted 71s on Wednesday.

Only two of the nine team roping tandems on hand scored Thursday night, but both are sitting 1-2 in the standings. Matt Petrus of Skidmore and Dee Rampy of Bertram finished in 5.4 seconds to grab a solid lead. Clay Hurst of Davis, Okla., and Joseph Harrison of Roff, Okla., turned in a time of 6.0 to move into second place. The leading team coming into the evening was the Louisiana pair of Derrick Miller and Justin Babineaux at 7.0. The Gatesville duo of Tommy Edens and Coby Jones didn’t record a time.

Rivon Nilson of Grand Prairie shot to the top in the barrel racing with a time of 16.17 to move ahead of Oklahoma cowgirl Joy Sondergarrd, who posted a 16.27 during slack competition Thursday morning. Midlothian’s Liz Cloud is in third with a 16.55 from Wednesday. Rockdale’s Jennie Carter came in at 16.94 for the third-best time in the evening go-round.

Todd Anderson of Fulsher joined Wednesday leader Brody Curbo for the lead in steer wrestling in an impressive 4.8 seconds. Bobby Crittendon of Red Oak moved into third with a time of 5.5.

There was no movement during the evening portion of tie-down roping, bull riding and bareback riding. A pair of ropers, though, moved into the top three during the slack competition. Ross Beasley of Sulphur, La., turned in a time of 8.1 and Josh Ward of Terrell came in at 8.3. They both trail Shawn Felton of Dublin, who posted an 8.0 on Wednesday. The best roping effort of the evening came from Lubbock’s Travis Lewis, who had a 9.9.

None of the seven cowboys entered in the bull riding managed to score, though Mississippian Cameron Bland was awarded the option of a re-ride. Groesbeck’s Chad German remains the leader with a 79 score.

None of the four bareback riders posted a score, either, leaving Florida cowboy Jared Smith at the top with a 75.

Today’s competition will begin at 7 p.m. on Military Appreciation Night, and the four-day rodeo wraps up at 7 p.m. Saturday with a full evening of bull riding.

twaits@temple-telegram.com