#10
Gold Plus Shoot Out
2015
Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping
Wednesday
October 28 2015
Jay
Rueter and Tony Schindler
$80,600 is a lot of money. Couple that
with a prize line that includes a 2015 Ram Truck and a Case IH Tractor and it
all just makes your mouth water. Some
ropers have been chasing the dream for a long time. One day you just start chasing cows and the
next thing you know you are a team roper and the addiction is a sport you
cannot walk away from.
Thirty teams came back in the short go
round of the #10 Gold Plus Shoot Out at the 2015 Cinch USTRC National Finals of
Team Roping. Every single team would get
a paycheck with the high money winner taking the keys to the Ram truck and the
runner up the Case IH Tractor. The teams were hungry, aggressive and driven toward
the end result. The short round would be
exciting, competitive, and energetic and bit zealous. Each team was vigorously involved.
Kyle Dailey and Philip Charlton was
the tenth high team coming back in the short go round. The pair posted a time
of 8.56 to take the lead in the average.
The competition stepped up a notch and nerves entered the scenario. There were some legs and some teams failed to
make qualified runs. Some teams were
scrambling.
Jay Rueter and Tony Schindler was the
high team coming back into the short go round.
The pair was two full seconds ahead coming into the short go round to
rope. They had ample time to spare.
The pair needed a 15.34 to move Dailey
and Charlton out of first place. It
involved a good solid practice run. Even
if they legged they had a chance.
“I about choked on the last steer,”
Schindler commented. “I wanted it so bad but mouth was so dry. The whole thing was unbelievable.”
When Rueter rode into the box he was
nervous but he knew without a doubt they had a chance to get this done.
“On our last steer I was a little late
but we had fifteen seconds,” Rueter said. “I just couldn’t get the rope out of
my hand. It was the only steer Tony
legged all day but it worked out for us.”
The pair posted a time of 14.42 in the
short go round to win the average of the #10 Gold Plus Shoot Out with a time of
38.42.
“We’ve been trailing this for a lot of
years,” Rueter said. “We’ve been coming here since 1996. We both went to a roping one time and no one
would rope with us so we roped together and we have been together ever
since. It has been a dream for both of
us. I won my first buckle in 2005 and
have been wearing it ever since. Now,
look at this one!”
“I entered three ropings here at the
NFTR,” Schindler said. “I entered with one person and that is Jay. We have been
together a long time.”
As it turned out there was a tie with
Rueter and Schindler so a rope off was needed to determine who would take the
truck and who would win the tractor.
When the rope off was complete it was determined Rueter would win the
2015 Ram Truck and Schindler would win the Case IH Tractor.
“The money and the prizes is what
attracts ropers to the USTRC,” Rueter said. “I’m tickled to death to win this
roping. I’m so appreciative of what the USTRC does for our sport and the
support of Ram Rodeo.”
“Jay and I have been friends for a
long, long time,” Schindler said. “It is the best roping. The payouts are
tremendous. The good people at all the
ropings that run everything are awesome. To win here with Jay is unbelievable.”
Bombarded with interviews, cameras,
phone calls and well-wishers it was all a bit overwhelming and certainly an
emotional moment. Perhaps the lesson
here is to never ever give up on your dreams.
You can chase them for a long time and then one day it all falls into
place. The puzzle is suddenly complete
and it all makes sense as to why you do what you do. If the dream has to do with team roping don’t
ever give it up. In due time it’s your
time.
