FORT WORTH — Evan Jayne won the Fort Worth Stock Show Rodeo bareback riding title twice. After competing in preliminary rounds earlier this week, the France native has a chance to win again.

Jayne, a former Sam Houston State competitor who clinched the Fort Worth bareback title in 2007 and 2008, has an attention grabbing three-ride score of 236. He is expected to return to Fort Worth on Feb. 4 to compete in the Stock Show Rodeo's final round.

In addition to traveling the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association circuit, Jayne teaches agriculture mechanics at Forney High School in Forney, a smaller community near Dallas.

On Monday and Tuesday, Jayne taught school all day, and then drove to Fort Worth to ride during the night performances.

Just over a year ago, Jayne tore an artery in his left leg at the Texas Circuit Finals in Waco, and underwent emergency surgery. It was due to a previous injury and he admits he probably returned too soon.

“I’m healthy now and probably feel as good as I ever have,” Jayne said. “That was a scary experience. It feels good to be back and I just found out I’m going to be a daddy. That may change my rodeo plans this summer.”

Jayne said he plans to finish out the school year, and then hit the rodeo trail hard in hopes of qualifying for his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. In 2009, he finished the season 19th in the PRCA bareback riding title race, just four spots out of finishing the elite top 15.

Jayne, 29, who is from Marseille, France, came to the United States as an exchange student.

A proud father

Wes Stevenson’s job as a pro bareback rider forces him to be away from home a lot.

But the former Texas Tech star probably will check into his Lubbock residence more often this year.

In addition being world class competitor, he’s a father with a new outlook on life. He and his wife, Francie, became the parents of a baby girl named Fiona in November.

“I’m healthy and feeling great,” Stevenson said. “Having my new daughter, Fiona has put things in perspective, what’s important and what’s not. For me, life seems like it’s just beginning. I’m loving riding bucking horses and taking everything one day at a time.”

Stevenson, a 32-year-old native of Kaufman, rode bucking horses in dramatic fashion at the National Western Stock Show Rodeo in Denver. The seven-time WNFR qualifier earned $11,717 after clinching the bareback title at the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s first major winter show.

When the title was at stake during the final round on Jan. 22, Stevenson turned in a score of 85. After making three rides throughout the rodeo, Stevenson edged Jared Keylon, 253 to 247.

In the PRCA world bareback standings released Monday, Stevenson is ranked No. 1 with $22,305. Keylon, a Uniontown, Kan., cowboy is No. 2 with $9,164.

PBR update

After finishing as the only cowboy to make a qualified ride on all four bovines, Jordan Hupp of Stephenville clinched the $36,925 title at the Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series tour stop on Jan. 22 in Portland, Ore. Marco Eguche, a Brazilian who is a newcomer to the tour, earned $18,200 after finishing second.

In the world-title race, Valdiron de Oliveira, a Brazilian who lives in Decatur, is ranked No. 1 with 1,513 points. Oklahoman Austin Meier is ranked second with 1,432.75.

The tour stops at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington on March 3.

Brett Hoffman, a Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame member, has written a rodeo column for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram during the past 25 years.