Priefert
US Open Roping
2014
Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping
Sunday
October 26, 2014
By
Melinda Clements
The
moment the coliseum began to fill with people you could feel the
electricity. Fans had come from all over
to watch and be a part of the action.
There is just something about the pros of any professional sport that
draws an intense and devoted crowd. This roping was the best doing what we love
most of all and that is roping.
As
the building filled there was a hum and intense conversation and speculation as
to who would be the Priefert U.S. Open Champions at the 2014 Cinch USTRC
National Finals of Team Roping. The U.S.
Roping is always a big deal at the Finals.
One of at least four of the biggest ropings of the year for Open Ropers,
it is an attention getter. With $252,000
in total payout the event was a draw for the best in the team roping business.
Every team would
have a shot at four steers and the top twenty would qualify for a fifth. Ideally, winning the average was the goal but
each go round wasn’t something to scoff at.
First place in the average would pay $81,840 plus Martin Championship
Trophy Saddles, Gist Championship Gold Buckles, Tony Lama Ostrich Skinned Boots
and Western Horseman Collector’s Prints.
You
don’t get a lot of chances to be a champion but the Priefert Open certainly provides
an excellent opportunity for champions to be champions. Twenty teams came back
in the short go round of the Open Roping.
It was certainly a group of contenders.
Some seventy three teams had spent a delightful Sunday afternoon vying
for an attempt to be the best at the Cinch USTRC NFTR.
The
roping has had a lot of labels. It had
been called a jumping off point for the National Finals Rodeo held in
December. It had also been labeled a
“reunion” roping because so many of the contenders have grown up participating
and reaping the rewards in years’ past. Regardless, how or what you labeled it
the 2014 Priefert US Open was an attention getter and the conglomeration
building in the coliseum was the perfect indicator.
As
the short go kicked off it first seemed like nerves were an issue. Several teams went out when they failed to
make qualified runs. A restlessness
settled over the coliseum as spectators wondered if something was vexed. What was brewing that no one could put a
finger on.
When
the fifth call back team of Trevor Brazile and Travis Graves posted a time of
5.87 on their short go round steer all attention was on the arena floor with
four teams left to go. It was tight
packed and competitive. It was still
almost anyone’s game.
“This
roping is a great showcase for all of us, the USTRC included,” Clay Tryan
commented. “It is just a good roping to
put on your calendar.”
Tryan
and partner, Jade Corkill were the high team back in the short go round. They were focused and disciplined in what
they needed to do. Jade is the best
heeler and our nerves were good. The steers were good and when you’ve come this
far you don’t take a chance and change things at the end. You keep aggressive and rope the same.”
As
Tryan and Corkill rode into the box it was business at hand, another day at the
office, so to speak. The pair needed a
6.25 to win the average. When the dirt
cleared 5.65 lit up the clock. The crowd
was ecstatic. The roping had held up its
part of the bargain and given fans and spectators a good show.
“This
is always a good roping,” Corkill commented. “These were big strong steers and
I wanted us to be far enough down the arena and I didn’t want to get ahead of
myself. I didn’t want to rope stupid on
the last steer. There was no point in
taking chances. We had done well and I
didn’t want to blow it on one last steer.”
“It
is amazing the time and hours you spend with your team roping partner,” Tryan
said. “We rope together a lot. We rope
the same whether it is a jackpot or a rodeo.
Jade and I have spent a lot of time growing up in the USTRC and it means
a lot to win this on the 25th Anniversary of the event. That makes
it special.”
The
Priefert US Open Championships is in the history books. It is always a special kind of high when you
can see and be a part of the elite group labeled “Pro” or “Open” ropers. They more or less set the stage for how we
gauge and define ourselves as ropers.
Somewhere in the midst we all realize at some point we share the
victories, struggle with the same defeats and work toward the same goals. The Open Roping is always a good motivator,
an eye opener and a teacher of sorts. We
find we rope for all the same reasons; for the glory, for the notoriety, for
the challenge and with same goals and objectives.
Whether
you are an open roper or a beginner team roping gives us all the same
feeling. It is what we love and work
for. It is what we hope to be successful
at and it is what keeps us coming back.
As always, the Priefert U.S. Open was
a great success at the 2014 Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping. No doubt we don’t always get a lot of chances
to be champions but the Open Roping is the promise we all have a shot at being
successful and that we all rope for the same reasons.
