#
8 Shoot Out
2014
Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping
Sunday
November 2, 2014
By Melinda Clements
Cecil
Keith came barreling through the door of the prize area. He hung his rope on the saddle horn of
the new Martin Championship Trophy Saddle but was so nervous he couldn’t get
his roping glove off. When his
partner, Misa Hernandez, joined him he seemed to calm a bit, regrouped and the
pair chatted with each other as they waited to see what happened next. The conversation seemed to calm them
both.
They
were quickly shuffled from place to place and then arrived back with their
saddles for more pictures and interviews.
They both nervously held checks and beautiful Gist Championship Gold
Buckles in their hands.
“I
called him to see if he had a shoot out,” Hernandez said. “I asked him if he wanted to rope. We did and look what happened. It is our first time and I can’t
believe it.”
Keith
and Hernandez were first time partners in the #8 Shoot Out at the 2014 Cinch
USTRC National Finals of Team Roping.
Hernandez had asked, who he mistakenly thought was Keith’s grandson,
about them roping together. As it
turned out it was neighbor boy and not a grandson but the pair ended up
connecting and they headed to Oklahoma City for the NFTR. It would prove to be a trip neither of
them would forget.
As
they visited in the prize area they were suddenly new best friends and
partners. They now have each
other’s phone numbers and it seems to be a new relationship and partnership
they are hoping will last a long time.
Keith
and Hernandez was the high call back team coming into the short go round. A lot was at stake and the prize line
was a dream come true. Martin
Championship Trophy Saddles, Gist Championship Gold Buckles, Tony Lama Ostrich
Boots and Western Horseman Collector’s Prints plus $38,300, all on the table
for the winner of the average in the # 8 Shoot Out.
The
ropers needed a time of 11.22 to move the second high call team of Julie and
Brendon Asch, who had posted a tie of 10.79 to take the lead in the average
with a time of 43.57 on four head of steers. Keith and Hernandez rode into the box on a mission.
“I
watched the roping,” Keith said. “I almost broke the barrier because the steer
started then stalled and I had to pull up. Fortunately, my horse is athletic and quick.” Keith made his
head loop count and Hernandez was there for the heel shot. It all came together like the pair had
hoped and 10.77 was exactly what they needed. The pair took the win in the #8 Shoot Out with time of 43.11
on four steers. Wow! What a feeling!
“This
is my first USTRC Finals roping ever,” Keith said emotionally. “It’s our very first time to rope
together. I had watched Misa rope
but we had never rope together. He
kept trying to contact me through my little neighbor boy, thinking he was my
grandson.”
“We
were so lucky to have a good steers,” Hernandez said. “I have an awesome mare
that my little boy rides. I called
Cecil about a shoot out run and we roped.
I plan for us to keep roping together.”
“You
know the Good Lord just blessed us,” Keith added. “We were supposed to rope
together.”
“I
don’t know what to think,” Hernandez elaborated as he lifted his little boy
upon the new saddle.
There
are some unique partnerships and unlikely pairings at the USTRC NFTR. You cannot always predict how the match
ups will function or come together.
However, there are a couple of ropers from Texas who are savoring their
win in the #8 Shoot Out. It is a pair with some chemistry. It is a pairing they hope will continue
to flourish for a long time.
