#12
Preliminary
2014
Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping
Monday
October 27, 2014
By
Melinda Clements
One
unique thing about the Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping is it brings
together lots of people who might not connect otherwise. Sometimes partners are thrown together in
unique ways. First time partners, first
time saddle winners or first time ropers the scenario is the same. The Finals provides an opportunity for some
new beginnings.
Taylor
Lagasse and Chase Graves had never roped together. How it all came about isn’t important. What is important is how it all turned
out. The pair were the fifth high call
going into the short go round of the #12 Preliminary. They had never roped together, never
practiced together but they did have one thing in common and that was to rope,
catch and try to win. They both wanted
to catch all their cattle and without really realizing or voicing it they both
seemed to think they might actually have a chance of doing well and maybe winning
something.
“I
wanted to stay focused and get everything caught,” Graves voiced. “This was our
first time to rope together so I didn’t really know what to expect. I think both of us just wanted to catch and
give each other a shot at winning.”
Lagasse
and Graves needed a time of 7.92 to take the lead in the average of the #12
Preliminary. With their focus on making
a clean run the pair posted a time of 7.56 to take the lead in the average with
a time of 31.37 on four head of steers.
Watching
the last four teams go was a bit tedious for Lagasse and Graves
“I
wasn’t really nervous,” Lagasse said. “I actually thought that this might all
work out.”
When
three of the last four teams failed to make qualified runs and one team legged
Lagasse and Graves suddenly realized they had actually won.
“I
was surprised,” Lagasse said. “I don’t know what you do with $20,000.”
“I’m
going to spend mine,” Graves piped up, “and keep roping. We earned a spot in the Shoot Out and I want
to do the same thing tomorrow as we did today.”
Working
to stay focused, Graves pointed out the music and the hype is good. “It keeps me pumped up,” he
explained.
Lagasse
seemed to be totally enthralled with her first USTRC National Finals
Saddle. Both she and Graves took home
Martin Championship Trophy Saddles in addition to splitting $20,600.
The
short go round of the #12 Preliminary was fast paced, action packed and almost
cut throat as the ropers tossed caution to the wind. Perhaps that is where it is easy to make
mistakes as emotions become an issue.
There again Lagasse and Graves were focused and committed to just
getting their cattle caught.
Sometimes,
firsts are good beginnings. It’s pretty
safe to say Lagasse and Graves will continue to rope together. It was a new beginning that paid off in an
unbelievable way. Looks like this may be
one new beginning that will continue.
