Open Preliminary
2014 Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping
Saturday October 25, 2014
By Melinda Clements
2014 Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping
Saturday October 25, 2014
By Melinda Clements
You
know you are pretty much doing something right when the 2014 Cinch USTRC
National Finals of Team Roping kicks off with its nine days of team roping with
the professionals of the sport in attendance.
Such was the case when the Open Preliminary opened the week long
schedule of festivities.
The
Open Preliminary proved to be a fast paced action packed roping that kept
spectators on the edge of their seats.
All the contenders were present and they were serious about making
winning their priority. A little over
$20,000 was on the line for first place in addition to Martin Championship
Trophy Saddles. Competition was fierce
throughout the morning hours.
When
the short go round unfolded twenty top teams came back to rope their last and
final steer. It was anybody’s ballgame
and only time would tell how the cards would stack up.
When
you examine twenty Open team ropers closely you realize they rope with a tenacity
that rivals comprehension. In short, it
is just another day at the office.
First, they do it for a living.
And yet, $20,000 is $20,000. That
tends to change things a wee bit. Money
is money, making a living or not!
Perhaps
that is the appeal of the 2014 Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping. The money, the prize line, the notoriety and
the production; it is, after all the best of the best packed into one locale
for nine action packed days. It is, without a doubt, some good watching, some
unbelievable talents and a sport like no other.
Trevor
Brazile and Travis Graves have been roping together all year. They seem to be on a clear cut, explicitly
defined mission. As the third high team
coming into the short go round of the Open Preliminary they had laid the ground
work for success throughout the morning.
The
short go round was competitive and extremely fast paced. The lead in the average had switched
periodically off and on throughout the short go round. Brazile and Graves needed a 6.13 to take the
lead in the average. With a time of
26.83 on four head of steers a six was certainly doable considering this team’s
pervasive action throughout the day.
When
Brazile nodded for the steer his confidence was felt by everyone in the
building. He’s that kind of
competitor. Graves never faltered. He finished the run with two feet and the
pair posted a time of 5.89 to take the lead with two top teams left to
rope. The last two teams were just as
capable and certainly as intense and focused.
When
the top two teams legged their short go round steers Brazile and Graces cinched
the win in the average of the Open Preliminary.
“This
is always a good roping,” Brazile commented. “We have kind of set the stage for
things coming up. We can ride our horses
and do some things and that isn’t something we can often do on a daily basis
before we have to climb the next fence.”
“A
roping like this helps you keep rolling,” Graves added. “It is one of four of the very best to go
to. I’ve been coming here since I was a
little kid and it always a good roping.”
Brazile
and Graves would split $20,100 and each take home a Martin Championship Trophy
Saddle. It proved to be a good way to
wet one’s appetite as the pair prepared for the U. S. Open Championships coming
up tomorrow afternoon.
If
the Open Preliminary is any indication the 2014 Cinch USTRC National Finals of
Team Roping is off to a rip roaring start. No doubt, the best is yet to come.
