#11 Shoot Out
2015 Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team
Roping
Friday October 30 2015
John English and Sterlin English
Sometimes
we do not appreciate how blessed we are.
We all have team roping as a common thread but we forget sometimes the
struggles others may face. As a team
roping family we can all appreciate the hard work, discipline and commitment
needed to make this sport work in our lives.
John
and Sterlin English are a father/son roping duo. They rope a lot together. It is a 24/7 kind
of commitment and the family has a history in the sport that goes all the way
back to 1995. That is a twenty year
spread. It’s a family history of hard
work, discipline and dreams.
“That
kid can rope,” someone in the crowd muttered. “My gosh, he has nerves of
steel.” It’s true! Sterlin English can rope.
But he comes by it honest. It is
in his genes, so to speak. He doesn’t
even know about twenty years ago. He’s thirteen years old.
In
1995 Jerome English won the # 7 Shoot Out at the Finals. In 2015 John and Sterlin
English won the #11 Shoot Out at the 2015 Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team
Roping. There is some kind of history in that revelation.
“My
dad won the Shoot Out in 1995,” John English commented.
However,
set history aside for a minute and talk family.
John and Connie English have two boys.
Sterlin is the oldest. Dad and
Sterlin go to work each day and Sterlin does his school work while dad does his
job. Mom is at home, a stroke victim six
years ago, has limited some of her activities but not so much that she couldn’t
be in Oklahoma City to watch John and Sterlin rope.
“We
rope every morning and every night,” Connie English said, “We are all in this
together. I’m just overwhelmed at this
win. I just cannot get it into my head.”
But
let’s stop for a minute. Let’s just back up.
John
and Sterlin English was the high call back team going into the short go round
of the #11 Shoot Out. John Kirbow and
Josh Hudspeth held the lead in the average with a time of 31.76 on four head of
steers. The pressure was on for the
English boys. The average would pay a
whopping $115,200 to win the roping. Add
to the cash Martin Championship Trophy Saddles, Gist Championship Gold Buckles,
Tony Lama Full Quill Ostrich Skinned Boots and Western Horseman Collector’s
Prints. It was unfathomable. Who can,
indeed, put their minds around all that?
“I
knew if I could catch we had a chance,” Sterlin English said with a huge grin.
“I just wanted to go catch.”
“We
have practiced this run, the short go round run in the #11 Shoot Out at the
Finals a million times,” John English said.
The pair needed a time of 8.41 to take the lead in the average away from
Kirbow and Hudspeth. “I knew we were
very close. I just didn’t realize how close.”
When
John English nodded for the short round steer he was careful, methodical and
yet he never wasted a second. He roped
both horns and turned off. Sterlin made
the corner and connected catching both heels.
A hush fell over the coliseum as everyone held their breath. The announcer said, “How about a time of
8.04? Ladies and Gentlemen, there are your 2015 #11 Shoot Out Champions. John and Sterlin English will pocket
$115,200.”
How
is it a team roping can pay out like that? You bet it is for real.
This
family knows about hard work. This
family knows about struggle and discipline and commitment. This family knows about sticking together to
make things work out and come together.
This family knows that despite pain and challenge there is good and
there is God.
Sterlin
is a wise young man. He is appreciative
of his family. He is appreciative of his
sponsors that include Heelamatic, Chute Help, Best Ever Saddle Pads and Matthew
Land and Cattle out of Las Vegas, New Mexico.
Sterlin also appreciates a heel horse called Hollywood that he’s roped
on for about five years. Sterlin is also
appreciative of a history of team roping in his family that includes his
grandfather, Jerome, and his dad, John. Sterlin’s grandmother passed away
recently but he’s is pretty sure there is some rejoicing and dancing in heaven
over his win today.
It
is the first USTRC National Finals Saddle for John and Sterlin English. The pair will finish out the week at the 2015
Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping.
The #11 Shoot Out is in the history books. John and Sterlin English have
left their mark on the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds as the winners of this
roping. $115,200 is a chunk of
change. Needless to say, it will make a
huge difference in the lives of the English family. It will change their lives in ways one cannot
even grasp.
