The Southwest’s source for rodeo, roping & barrel racing news and information
ll-Around June 2010
Volume 16 • Number 6 $2.00
2010 Joes Boot Shop Calf Roping Make No Mistake!
Ryan Jarrett left no room for error. And when Stran Smith made one, Jarrett was there to collect. Story and pictures courtesy of Scott Stinnett, Clovis Livestock Market News
J
arrett, a native of Summerville, Gergia, was rock solid from start to finish in winning the 6th annual Joe’s Boot Shop Ariat Open calf roping here April 25. 2010 at the Curry County Events Center. Jarrett’s time of 37.88 on four returned him $5,355 and ironically, a signature “Stran Smith Ultimate” roping saddle from Cactus Saddlery, valued at $5,000. Jarrett’s victory brought an end to yet another record-setting weekend in what has become one of the largest calf roping’s in
the U.S. The JBS saw 886 ropers compete for in excess of $250,000 in cash and prizes over four days. The Ariat Open victory came on a day in which Jarrett also won the JBS Ariat eight-man professional match roping, averaging 9.57 on five runs. With his winnings in the match, and in the rounds and the average of the Open, Jarrett picked up more than $13,000 in cash – plus the saddle. Smith, who was the fastest on three head and was the last roper to compete in the championship round of the Ariat Open, finished as the reserve champion of the JBS for the second-straight year. Smith roped four in 39.88 and collected $4,284 in the average. But for one mistake on his final run, he might have won the Cactus saddle that bears his name. Smith, the 2008 world champion from Childress, TX, was 27.92 on his first three calves, leaving him last to rope in the 12man short round. And as the four ropers who preceded him made their final runs, each raised the bar. Chase Williams, a Tarleton State University standout who came back in the fifth position, drew a runner, but managed to make up time on the ground and moved to the lead. Hunter Herrin, the 2007 JBS champion from Apache, OK, made his bid for the title with the best run of the short round – an 8.69. Tyson Durfey, the Colbert, WA native who led the event after two rounds, came back in the No. 3 position needing an 11.52 to take the lead. He roped his calf deep around the midsection, but managed to flank and tie him in 11.19, moving to first. Then came Jarrett, who was back in the No. 2 spot needed an 11.81 to move past Durfey. Jarrett also drew a hard runner, but reached, roped and still managed to keep
the calf upright and he went down the rope. When he reached the calf, the bovine made a big jump and Jarrett gathered him in midair without hesitation and tied him in 9.38. Jarrett’s run left Smith needing a 9.95 to win the event as he rode into the box for the final run of the weekend. Smith was off the barrier on his final run and took an extra swing to rope the hardrunning calf about halfway down the pen. He was still in excellent shape until he got the to calf and was slightly off balance as he flanked. He landed on one knee and though he recovered quickly, the calf strained during the tie. It was enough to push his time to 11.96 and dropped him behind Jarrett in the average. Herrin suffered a similar fate as he and Jarrett advanced to the finals of the eightman Ariat Pro Match, held in conjunction with the Arait Open. The event featured three preliminary rounds in which the top ropers with the longest times were eliminated. Smith and Jerome Schneeberger went out in Round 1, while Monty Lewis and Blair Burk saw barrier violations take them out in Round 2. Josh Peek missed in Round 3, while J.D. Kibbe’s 10.34 – which included having to get the calf up before the flank – was too long. Jarrett, at 8.88 and Herrin, with a 8.59, moved on. In the two-head final round, Jarrett set the pace with an 8.03 on his first, while Herrin was quick as well in 8.59. Herrin came back with an 8.65 on his final calf, but a barrier added 10 seconds. Jarrett took his time with an 11.75 on the final run and collected top money of $3,500. Herrin receive $1,500 for second. On nine runs on his long final day – five in the match and four in the Open – Jarrett averaged a near-flawless 9.53 seconds per run. continued on page 2