Neither Tritton Cloud nor Kenny Andrus expected the biggest win of their ranch sorting careers to come with someone they’d never ridden beside before.
But that’s exactly what happened in the Mil-Spec Liner #6/4 Inc at the 2026 Cinch RSNC World Finals.
A random draw paired Cloud, of Campbell, Texas, and Andrus, of Geismar, Louisiana, leaving them with only a short amount of time to settle on a game plan. Four rounds later, they topped a field of 728 teams with a 27head total and a time of 221.18 seconds to claim the championship, earning $17,742 plus an additional $1,000 bonus from Mil-Spec Liner.
Ride Smart, Stay Patient
Cloud and Andrus focused on the one thing they could control in the pen: keeping the plan simple.
“We decided we’d ride smart,” Andrus said. “We didn’t know each other, or how each other rode, so we said, ‘Let’s go slow and easy and pull the cows clean.’ Basically, take what the cows give us.”
That approach became even more important as a tough set of cattle challenged competitors throughout the class. Rather than forcing cuts or trying to create opportunities that weren’t there, the pair stayed patient and adapted to what unfolded in front of them.
“We just took what the cows would give us,” Cloud said. “If we made a bad cut, we came back out, reset and started completely over. It was one cow at a time.”
Andrus was equally pleased with the way the draw played out.
“I think we just meshed really well,” Andrus added. “Neither one of us tried to overdo it.”
Pleasant Surprises
Even after posting four solid runs, neither Cloud nor Andrus felt confident the championship was theirs.
“I thought we were going to finish third,” Cloud said. “I was watching the app, and every time a team would go, I’d refresh it.”
As the final teams finished their runs, reality slowly began to sink in.
“I turned around and looked at Kenny and said, ‘We did it,’” Cloud said.
For Andrus, the moment came just as unexpectedly.
“I started looking around and said, ‘Hey dude, we’re the only two left here,’” he said. “That’s when it finally hit me.”
The Horses That Made It Happen
While Cloud and Andrus shared the championship, they were quick to point out they didn’t win it alone. Underneath them were two horses with very different backgrounds.
Cloud rode “Mr. Freeze,” a 6-year-old blue roan named for the DC Comics Batman villain, whose pedigree isn’t what most ranch sorting competitors would expect either. Reportedly bred with Impressive on the top side and Driftwood on the bottom, the horse was originally destined for the halter pen rather than the cow horse arena.
Cloud purchased the neglected 3-year-old stallion with a halter that had grown into his nose. After gelding him and spending the past three years developing him, the once-overlooked horse has become the partner Cloud credits with carrying him through the biggest moments of his career— including his first ranch sorting world championship.
“He’s carried me to the pay window the last three years,” Cloud said. “He’s done everything I’ve asked him to do.”
Andrus relied on Stylish Little Bingo (Peptos Stylish Short x Saras Little Bingo), better known as “Daisy.” He purchased the mare about a year and a half ago after she transitioned from a cutting career due to an injury. The change of disciplines proved to be a natural fit.
“She enjoys what she does,” Andrus said. “She’s a pleaser. I don’t have to fight her to do anything. She loves her job.”
So Much More Than a Buckle
This championship represented far more than a paycheck for both riders.
For Cloud, it was validation after years of rebuilding. A former team roper, he turned to ranch sorting after a serious car accident in 2022. Along the way, he said there were plenty of people who doubted both him and his horse.
“I’ve had people tell me all year I’ll never do it,” Cloud said. “They’ve had no faith in me. They’ve had no faith in my horse.”
When the championship became official, the emotions finally caught up with him.
“I ended up crying,” said Cloud, who is just a few hundred dollars away from earning his seat at the Cinch RSNC Hall of Fame’s Bronze table. “It was just a sigh of relief.”
For Andrus, the championship fulfilled a goal that had been years in the making.
“My bucket list is complete,” he said. “This is a lifetime accomplishment for me. My dad got us into horses when we were kids. He’s passed away and he’s in heaven watching me, and he’s proud.”
#6/4 INC Championship — 2026 World Finals Champions
| Champions | Tritton Cloud (Campbell, Texas) & Kenny Andrus (Geismar, Louisiana) |
| Winning run | 221.18 on 27 head |
| First-place payout | $17,742 |
| Total class payout | $72,520 |
Top 10 Payouts
| Place | Team | Payout |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kenny Andrus / Tritton Cloud | $17,742 |
| 2 | Michelle Dusing / Jay Hale | $12,354 |
| 3 | Ryan Koch / Bobby Nolan | $8,806 |
| 4 | Thomas Dickson / Mike Narachi | $5,698 |
| 5 | Anna Butler / Brandon Pierce | $4,842 |
| 6 | Tommy Perkins / Gregory Gassaway | $3,988 |
| 7 | Isabella Silveira / Clara Mas | $3,418 |
| 8 | Yeti Garcia / Jacob Helms | $2,848 |
| 9 | Amanda Roberson / James Dunn | $2,278 |
| 10 | Jose Faria / Chris Koons | $1,994 |
