PHOTOS COURTESY OF ALLEN’S RODEO PHOTOS
The Southwest’s source for rodeo, roping and barrel racing news and information
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December 2011 Volume 17 • Number 12 $2.00
US Open - Chad W. Masters (Cedar Hill, TN) / Jade R. Corkill (Fallon, NV), 39.73 on 6, $76,300
2011 CINCH USTRC National Finals of Team Roping T
he United States Team Roping Championships (USTRC) wrapped up the Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping on October 30, 2011 at the State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City. The nine-day event always stands as the pinnacle of team roping and this year’s event held true with more than $4 million in cash and prizes awarded. The championship event awarded a total of nine National Finals titles and ten United States Championship titles which not only came with the cash prize, but custom Martin Trophy championship saddles, Gist Silversmiths gold buckles, full-quill ostrich Tony Lama boots and Western Horseman commemorative belt buckles. In addition,
USTRC Gold Plus members have a chance to win two Dodge RAM Cummins Diesel 4 X 4 trucks, along with two Case IH tractors. Hosting more than 7,000 teams, the event provided team roping enthusiasts with one of the best team roping events in history. Ropers from all over the United States and abroad attended the event and it was a hit. For those who live and rope in the Southwest, you will have a chance to rub elbows with some of this year’s big Cinch NFTR winners in the coming months. Several ropers won National Championships, several more placed well in the Shoot-Out divisions at the NFTR and many others placed throughout the week, bringing lots of money back to the Southwest. The week started off well for two ropers from New Mexico. Katey Anthony from Jal and Seth Hall of Fair Acres took home the #13 Shoot-Out Championship. They roped five head in 37.95 seconds to claim their fame. They collected $78,700 in cash, as well as a whole load of prizes for the championship. The big win also pushed Katey to the lead of the Cruel Girl Championship where she stayed. She collected a beautiful black Martin Championship Custom Cruel Girl saddle as well as more for the win. Before Katey and Seth won their share of the NFTR, Open roper Brandon Gonzales from Seyboyeta, New Mexico teamed up with Josh Morris of Lazbuddie, Texas to place well in the US Open Championship. One of the biggest and best Open events in the country, the duo won fourth in the Average after roping six head in 43.05 seconds. They shared a payout of $22,300 in cash. Another big win for New Mexico came from the #12 Gold Plus Shoot-Out. Heeler Ferlin Charley from Albuquerque teamed up with one of the best female ropers in the
business, Beverly Robbins from Muscle Shoals, Alabama to claim the championship. The duo roped four head in a smooth 30.46 seconds to win $50,400 in cash and a load of prizes. In addition, they earned the chance to win the Ram truck that went home with the high money winners and the Case Tractor that went to the reserve high money winner. The team had to rope off for the truck and after an exciting eight runs from the teams, Robbins drove home the truck and Charley was awarded the new Case tractor. The #12 Gold Plus it seemed was the place to be for New Mexico ropers. Rick Jump of Belen, and Randy Sanchez of Jarales claimed second place in the Average after roping four head in 31.72 seconds. They shared $31,500 and a pile of prizes for the win. New Mexico struck again in the third-place department. Heeler Cody Wilson of Capitan teamed up with Texan Joe Sears to win the third place Average check worth $25,100. They did it with a four-head total of 31.89 seconds. The #10 Gold Plus Shoot-Out held out room for an Arizona team to make a little money. The team of Janet Mickelson of Flagstaff and Jim Williams of Kingman took home the fourth-place championship after roping four head in 39.19 seconds. They collected prizes, as well as $17,700 in cash. The final day of action at the Cinch NFTR was the last holdout for the big winning of the 2011 season. In the #8 Shoot-Out, Miles and Alonzo Begay of Indian Wells, Arizona teamed up to claim second place. They roped four head in 45.09 seconds and pocketed a slew of prizes, as well as $22,600 in cash. All in all, ropers from the Southwest once again made their mark on the continued on page 2