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Oct 26, 2016

#12 Preliminary NFTR Monday Oct 24 2016 Weitz and Thurman


#12 Preliminary
2016 Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping
Monday October 24 2016
Chet Weitz and Brad Thurman
By Melinda Clements

         There is a lot of talk about the pressure and nerves at a roping like the 2016 Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping.  There is, after all, a lot on the line.  The prizes, the money, the prestige and the esteem involved in winning a roping of this caliber is hard to imagine or understand until you have personally experienced it.
         Many ropers come with a plan and others have no plan in mind.  They just want to rope to have a good time and let the chips fall where they may.
         “I try not to focus on pressure or let my nerves get in the way, “ said Llano, Texas heeler Brad Thurman. “I just figure whatever happens will happen and I try not to beat myself.”
         Chet Weitz and Thurman were the third high team coming back to the short go round of the #12 Preliminary at the 2016 Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping.  The winners would split $13,000 and take home Martin Championship Saddles. 
         “It is always the three steers before the short go round that are the toughest for me,” Weitz said. “That is what I struggle with the most. I have to get those behind me to move forward.” 
         Evidently, Weitz had it down pat before he rode into the box for the short round steer. “It was just one more steer like I had roped all day,” he said.
         The pair needed a time 8.82 to take the lead from Brock Demaree and Levi Pettigrew.  Demaree and Pettigrew were winning the average with a time of 34.07 on four steers.
         “We have been partners a couple of years,” Weitz said, “and this was just another steer.  We were aiming and thinking about the Shoot Out for tomorrow.”
         When Weitz nodded for the steer he was cool, calm and collected.  By description and definition he had already accomplished the hard part.  When the clock stopped Weitz and Thurman posted a time of 32.91 on four steers.  It was enough to take the lead and there were two teams to rope.  Things seemed to work in their favor and when the dust cleared the team clinched the win in the #12 Preliminary.
         “On every run you try to rope right,” Thurman reiterated. “The best advice I have is to just go rope right. Pay attention and understand whatever happens just happens.”        
         “I just tried to think about this steer being one more steer,” Weitz said. The pair would split the money and take home the saddles.
         Both men seemed to be focused on the Shoot Out Ropings coming up the next few days at the NFTR.  The win today had laid a solid foundation for them to build on.
         “It feels good to win this roping,” Weitz said. “It kind of broke the ice for things to come.”
         The #12 Preliminary was in the record books and another day wound down at the NFTR.  Weitz and Thurman had accomplished what they hoped to accomplish.  Both men were looking forward to the rest of the week.  If today’s #12 Preliminary was an indicator you could pretty much figure you would be hearing more from this team.  They were on a role and planning on greater things as the week progressed.  This win would provide some padding and assurance. It had covered their fees so however things transpired the rest of the week the pair was ready to take it on.  The pair was on the same page.  With a wet appetite for more they had the same thought pattern, “Watch out Shoot Outs here we come!”