# 13 Preliminary
2013 Cinch USTRC National
Final of Team Roping
Sunday Oct 27, 2013
By Melinda Clements
By Melinda Clements
It
was a first Cody McCluskey will not forget.
Some firsts in your life will always make a difference. McCluskey was excited but seemed a bit
reflective as well. The saddle was his
first USTRC Finals saddle.
“I
think I may just put it in the living room and let it soak awhile,” he said
with a mischievous grin. “I’m pumped about the money and now that money is not an
issue it is fun from here on out.”
McCluskey
and partner, Wesley Thorp nailed down the win in the average of the #13
Preliminary at the 2013 Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping. “I just
wanted to keep going and I was pumped. It’s a great feeling.”
The
pair was the second high team back going into the short round of the #13
Preliminary. In a four head average the
roping was tough and yet many ropers seemed to struggle as the short go round
unfolded.
Perhaps
it was nerves. A little over five seconds
separated the first and twentieth team.
Fifteen moneys would be paid in the average. $21, 700 would be paid to the first place
team in the average.
“We
wanted to catch and stay solid,” Thorp commented. “I wanted to get out right
and score well. My main focus was to catch and make a solid short round run.”
It
seemed to work for the pair. The
fifteenth high call back team of Tyler McGuffee and Cody Hogan had maintained
the lead through the roping. It seemed
there was just a bit of struggle the further the roping went.
Thorp
and McCluskey knew they needed a 8.50 to take the lead in the average. It involved making a good solid, mistake free
practice run. When the pair rode into
the box they were focused and on track.
“As
a heeler I tend to cover cattle up where I cannot see them,” McCluskey said. “I
wanted to get my shot.” When they nodded
for their steer they knew what had to be done.
When
the smoke cleared the pair took the lead in the average with a time of 29.76
with one team left to rope. Either way
they were assured of a pocket full of change.
It was a good place to be.
Surprisingly,
when the high team back legged their short round steer McCluskey and Thorp
realized they had grabbed the win in the #13 Preliminary. It was a sweet win to say the least.
“Wesley
just asked me yesterday if I would rope with him,” McCluskey said. “We don’t
practice but I’m sure we will keep roping together. It worked out well for us.”
As
the pair posed for pictures and accepted awards McCluskey figured this would be
one first he would not forget for a long time.
“I’m
going to hang on to this one for awhile,” he said with shy grin. “You cannot help but be pumped by a roping
like this. I just want to soak this one up.”
