Century Roping
Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping
Wednesday October 24, 2012
Oklahoma State Fairgrounds Coliseum
By Melinda Clements
They
are the elite of the elite, the mainstay of the organization. They hold a special place and an
impeccable standard for us all.
They are the Century Ropers of the USTRC. They have been a part of us for a long time and will forever
set a level of quality and excellence we should all strive for.
Twenty
teams were coming back in the short go round of the Century Roping at the 2012
Cinch USTRC NFTR. We have watched
them carefully and they are the best in this business called team roping. They
have aged gracefully and blessed us with their expertise, their attitudes and
their view of life. They are goers
and doers of all they hold dear.
Twenty
teams were vying for Martin Championship Trophy Saddles and $22,200 for first
place in the average of the Century Roping. You should never underestimate this group of ropers. They rope and ride with the best of
them and age is no barrier. Age is
not a determining factor in attitude, zest for living and mind set. Nothing sets them back and nothing
stirs their souls like roping.
This short go round would be as tough as any roping all week if for no
other reason than these ropers come to win and they take it very seriously.
Nerves
or pressure rarely becomes an issue because these ropers have done it all. They know the game and they play it
well. You will not find them
fearful or backing up. You will find them committed, focused with a way of
thinking that cannot be thwarted or obstructed.
As
the short go round got underway it quickly became obvious this would be tough
competitive roping. This bunch of guys would not be inhibited. When the thirteenth high call back team
of Dusty and Terry Leatherwood posted a time of 8.31 on their short round steer
to take the lead in the average everyone took notice. Every team cranked things
up a notch.
When
the fourth high team back rode into the box they had one thing in mind. E R Scogin and Michael Jones needed a
time of 11.26 to take the lead in the average away from the Leatherwood
boys. It was doable and the pair
was committed to making it happen.
When
Scogin’s nodded he had all the confidence in the world things were going to work. He knew he had everything going in his
favor. He and his partner had
roped well all day long and this was no different. It was just one more steer and he knew they could make this
happen. No matter how it turned
out they were perfectly satisfied with $9,200 but why not shoot for the
top? Today was a good day.
Nodding
for his steer he rode hard and snatched the horns. Jones was in the right place at the right time and took his
shot. With two heels and a flag
down the pair posted a time of 9.63 with three teams to go. The pair rode out of the back gate
content in all that had happened.
When
the last three teams failed to make qualified runs Scogin and Jones basked in
the victory. They had just won the
Century Roping at the CNFTR. How
sweet was that!
“This
just means a seventy-two year old team roper can still rope and win,” Scogin
said with a grin. “I’ve been roping forty-five years and I’m having a good
time.”
“Nobody
deserves to win more than E R,” said Jones. “He works at it and he is a drill
sergeant at making things work.
I’ve known E R for thirty years and we had talked and made plans to come
here months ago. It is a sweet
victory.”
“I
was completely satisfied finishing fourth place,” Scogin said. “We have roped
well and it was good the way things turned out.”
The
pair took home Martin Championship Trophy Saddles and checks worth
$22.200. The roping was Jones’
last opportunity to place this week before heading home. He had definitely saved the best for
last.
“This
was my last shot,” Jones said. “I wanted to rope aggressive and not back off
and be too careful. A lot of
ropers tend to safety up when they get in this position. You have to stay at it, rope aggressive
just like you have been roping all day and not back off. That is my biggest issue to keep roping
aggressive.”
Scogin’s
ropes a lot and rides the best horses.
He and his wife work together to rope and train their horses.
“You
know nothing takes the place of a win,” Scogins said. “Just proves we can rope
to win. I have a good horse and we have had a good time.”
“My
header is riding the best horse here,” Jones said. “We have roped off and on
all summer long and this win is very special since it is with E R.”
It is something we have planned on.”
This
group of ropers is very special. They are the solid foundation of what team
roping is about. As Augustus McCrae so adeptly voiced, “ The older the violin
the sweeter the music.” The fire of the Century Team Ropers burns hot and true
and the music is, indeed, sweet and to the point!
