#10
Gold Plus Shoot Out
2014
Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping
Wednesday
October 29, 2014
By
Melinda Clements
I often wonder what goes through team roper’s minds as they
plan to take in the Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping. Of course, they think about the money, how
much it is going to cost and how much you can win; and the competition. They think about the practice and roping
aggressive and roping right plus a million other things.
“This was my first and only roping
this week,” said Louisiana header, Jared Graves. “I had to make everything
count. There have been a lot of ropings
where I didn’t stay aggressive. I didn’t
follow through and it didn’t work out. I
wanted to stay focused and give Jessie a shot.
I knew he would catch.”
Graves and partner, Jessie Favors,
were the fourth high team going into the short go round of the #10 Gold Plus
Shoot Out. The pair had posted a time of
12.24 on their last steer to take the lead with three teams to go. Every team wanted a part of the action. Everyone wanted a shot at the Dodge Ram Truck
and Case I-H Tractor. The first place
team would pocket $67,300.
“Jessie had called me to see if I
wanted to rope,” Graves commented. “I’m sure glad we did.”
“You know this is the place to have a
good week if you are wanting to have a good week,” Favors said with emotion. “I
guess whatever happens, happens. I just didn’t want to miss.”
Following some bobbles by the top
three teams in the short round Graves and Favors realized they had won the
average of the #10 Gold Plus Shoot Out with a time of 37.73 on four head of
steers. Not too shabby and besides a
rope off would determine who would take home the truck and the tractor. What an unbelievably awesome feeling for both
ropers.
Following a rope off the pair would
split $67,300 and Favors would take the Dodge Ram Truck and Graves would get
the Case I-H Tractor.
“This roping could have been anybody’s
ropng,” Favors said. “It was competitive.
We had a good steer, a good start and things turned out in our
favor. There are so many people that
support me so I can do this. My wife,
for one, is always supportive. I’d also
like to thank P & P Trailer Sales in Rose City, Texas and Dayton Huffman
Horse Center in Dayton, Texas. All these
people keep me roping. Team roping is
all about the support you have.
“You know it is a tight roping when
.41 seconds separate the first and second place team in the average,” Graves
pointed out. “The roping was tight and
competitive. It was no wonder I needed
to focus on staying aggressive. We had
to rope aggressive. I’m glad it worked out.
Roping for the truck and tractor is so unbelievable.”
I’m still not real sure what runs
through roper’s minds. Perhaps that is
the interesting part. When you get to
this level of roping it all becomes instinct because you don’t have a lot of
time for thought.
