#12
Preliminary
2015
Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping
Monday
October 26 2015
Britt
Smith and Dylan Payne
Britt Smith and Dylan Payne rope well
together. They live about thirty minutes
from each other so they get in the practice pen on a regular basis. They are an unlikely pair. Smith is fourteen years old and Payne is
eighteen. Yet, despite the four year difference
they can almost finish each other’s sentences. Smith fills in when Payne can’t think
of anything else to say. They complement
each other and it works both inside and outside the roping pen.
“We’ve been partners for a while,”
Smith explained with a certain wisdom that belies his age. “You anticipate the
atmosphere, work hard and practice to get here and it is a whole different
roping experience.”
“I just wanted to knock out a smooth
run from beginning to end,” Payne added.
Smith and Payne was the third high
team coming back for the average in the #12 Preliminary. Twenty teams were coming back in the short go
round and every team would qualify for a Shoot Out. It would pay twelve money’s in the
average. Every team wanted a part of the
action.
Nerves were never really an issue for
Smith or Payne. The pair knew exactly
what they needed to do to make the short go round count.
“It’s just another cow,” Payne said a bit
nonchalantly. “It’s bright lights, loud
music and I like the music and I like the roping.” Needless to say, the pair
was pumped for the short round.
When Smith and Payne rode into the box
they knew they needed to be an 8.85 to take the lead in the average. Briar Teague and Dan James were the
thirteenth high call back team and they held the lead in the average with a
time of 31.37. Smith and Payne hoped to
make a big change.
The music was loud, the roping was
quick paced and competitive and Smith and Payne were wired. There was nothing Smith liked better than to
win.
“You work hard to get to this point,”
Smith commented with more wisdom than you could embrace. He seemed older and more versed than your
average fourteen year old. Team roping
was definitely his forte and he knew what he was talking about and he knew how
to make things happen.
With the nod of his head Smith broke
from the header’s box caught the steer and set the corner perfectly. Payne followed up and roped both heels. The clock read 7.49 and the pair took the
lead of the average in the #12 Preliminary with two teams left to rope. Smith and Payne rode out the back gate of the
arena knowing full well they had secured third place for sure.
When Jose Grajeda and Lucas Falconer
failed to make a qualified run the bid for the average in the #12 Preliminary
fell to the high team back, Cayl Sieber and Colton Brittian. A slipped leg proved costly and the win in
the average went to Smith and Payne.
They were the winners of the average of the #12 Preliminary and they
would pocket $14,300 and each would take home a Martin Championship Trophy
Saddle.
“We practice a lot,” Smith pointed
out. “And our horses make a world of
difference.” Both men credit their
horses with making all the difference in their roping.
“Horsemanship is all of it,” Payne
pointed out. “I’ve got a great heel horse.
He’s been crippled for a while but he is okay now.”
“Being able to ride is the most
important part,” Smith concurred.
Smith has a unique history with OKC
and the Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping. In 2005 Smith won his first
USTRC National Finals saddle in the Jr. Looper Roping when he was only four
years old. Ironically, some things are meant to be.
Both Smith and Payne plan to finish
out the week at this year’s NFTR. Payne
plans to bank some of his winnings and keep roping.
“We roped again tomorrow,” Payne said.
“Hopefully, we will continue to do well. Hopefully, our practice will continue
to pay off.”
