#12 Gold Plus Shoot Out Tues Oct 29 2013

#12 Gold Plus Shoot Out

2013 Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping

Tuesday October 29 2013
By Melinda Clements

 

          It is great advice.  It comes from the pros but it is implemented consistently by those who make team roping their sport of choice.  You have to want to win but most importantly you have to know how to win and four eight second runs is about the best game plan any roper can have.

          “We wanted to win,” said South Dakota heeler Darren Lammers. “Everyone else spends $5000 on a vacation. Coming to the Cinch USTRC National Finals is mine. This is my first time here and we just wanted to make some good eight second practice runs.”

          Kirk Kooiker concurred, “If we had a game plan it was just to make four solid eight second runs. I wanted a nice steer, one we could win on but we were focused on four good solid runs.”

          Kooiker and Lammers were the fourth high call team coming into the short go round of the #12 Gold Plus Shoot Out.  A lot was on the line.  The prize line was awesome. $58,400 cash plus a 2013 SLT Dually Ram Truck to the high money winner and a choice of a Case IH Farm All Tractor or Scout Utility Vehicle to the second place high money winner kept every roper on top of his game.

          Thirty teams were coming back in the short go round.  They were all on top of their game and they all wanted to win.  A mere three seconds separated the first and tenth place teams. 

          Lammers was pretty sure it was an awesome way to spend a vacation and he intended to savor all it was worth.  It was his first time here and he would never forget it no matter how it turned out.

          When the pair rode into the box they knew they needed a time of 8.87 seconds to take the lead in the average.  The advice still stood solid.  Four eight second runs echoed in the depths of their minds.  It was tangible advice.

          When the dust cleared and the clock stopped the digital read 6.89.  Not bad for a couple of ropers focused on a win.  They took the lead in the average of the #12 Gold Plus Shoot Out with a time of 31.32 and there were four teams left to rope. 

          “It was a long four steers to watch,” Lammers said. “We were good but it was tedious watching the last four teams go. I didn’t know how it would turn out.”

          “I was the high call back in the #12 last year and didn’t do any good,” Kooiker commented. “I want this one to be my redemption.”

          A run of six in the short round was going to be hard to beat and the waiting game was stressful.  When it all came to a head Lammers and Kooiker were able to maintain their lead and did, indeed, take the win in the #12 Gold Plus Shoot Out.

          “I’m so lucky so very fortunate,” Kooiker said. “It is such a blessing to win a roping like this.”

          As it turned out the pair were tied as the high money winners so a rope off was used to determine who would take the truck and who would take the Case IH Utility Vehicle or Tractor.  Using a unique concept the pair decided they would rope with each other in the rope off.  Using an odd even system they would rope four steers together and unknowingly either the odd team or the even team would win.  The rope off determined that Kooiker would be awarded the truck and Lammers would have his choice of the Case IH Utility Vehicle or Tractor.

          “We won it together so we will rope it off together,” the pair agreed.  What a great way to make a decision.  It worked well for the partners.

          As the pair posed for pictures and completed interviews cell phones buzzed and emotions were high. Kris Lammers, Darren’s wife, was ecstatic. 

          “Darren was riding my barrel horse and it worked out awesome,” she said with a huge grin on her face.  “This is great.  My phone has not stopped ringing.  This is our first time here and it is such a great thing.  Darren has some trouble with hip dysplasia and we wanted to come while he could still ride and rope.  We will never ever forget this trip.  Darren’s brother was here but he already headed back. He is already wishing he had stayed. This is so exciting.”

          If you have a game plan going into a roping like the #12 Gold Plus Shoot Out the advice is solid.  When you can make four eight second runs there is a pay day looming in your future.  A little luck a lot of roping, good partners, good family and great horses all make up team roping what it is.  It is no doubt good things come to those who wait and have a winning game plan.