Century Championships
2013 Cinch USTRC National
Finals of Team Roping
Wednesday October 30 2013
by Melinda Clements
by Melinda Clements
There
is an unseen hero who sits in the wings of every team roping. In most cases he is quiet, still, reserved,
focused and one hundred percent committed to his job. He never falters, he never fails and knows
more than anyone else, all that roping means and entails.
He
gets one hundred percent of the credit one hundred percent of the time and the
older the roper the more important his job is and the more he matters.
“Your
horse always gives 110% all the time,” said Century header Janet Mickelson. “I
have a great horse, he scores, and he always gives me a shot. My horse is the
big picture and makes my job so easy.”
“Arnold
is the absolute greatest heel horse,” Jim Williams concurred. “Arnold is
special. He does everything right and I just stay out of his way.”
There
isn’t a team roper anywhere who won’t tell you his horse is the biggest part of his
success. Both ropers agree you have to
start with a good horse.
Mickelson
and Williams were the high team coming back in the short go round of the
Century Championships. They had roped
well all day and their equine partners had done a terrific job making it
happen.
“You
always worry about the barrier and getting out but when you have a great
horse and he scores all you have to do is stay focused and think about roping,”
Mickelson said. “Jim and I have been roping together for about four years and
we both have great horses. That makes us
rope our best because we know our horses and our partners will do their jobs.”
Mickelson
and Williams needed a time of 9.99 to take the lead away from the second high
call back team of Bob Herrington and Bronc Fanning. Martin Championship Trophy Saddles and
$24,000 was on the line and the competition was fierce. As the pair rode into the box they were on
track, disciplined, focused and ready to take the win.
Everything
came together and fell into place when the pair roped their short round steer
in 8.85. It was all they needed to take
the win in the Century Championships. It
was a sweet win and you could feel the excitement and exhilaration as the pair
made a victory lap.
“You
have to find out what works for you and be willing to utilize it,” Williams
advised. “Horsemanship is one hundred percent of the picture. I mean in my
case, Arnold, he’s the man. To win this roping here, like this, is ‘Wow!’ I’m
going to put this saddle in the office awhile and just savor this victory.
Arnold came through like a champion.”
“This
is my first USTRC Finals Saddle,” Mickelson concurred. “I think I’m going to
have to just set it aside and show it off for awhile.”
An
unseen, unnoticed hero is tied somewhere in the arena, at a trailer, in a
stall. He’s quiet, reserved, and patient
and knows his job better than anyone around.
He reads you well, dictates your moves and designates your wins. He is irreplaceable and no amount of money
can touch him. In his heart he touches
your soul. Janet Mickelson and Jim
Williams know that without their unseen hero there is no win, no saddle, and no
money. It is a partnership designed in
heaven.
