#13
Shoot Out
2015
Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping
Monday
October 26 2015
Justin
Payne and Wesley Thorp
Suddenly, he was a hero of sorts. In a short amount of time he had a huge
following. Texas team roper, Wesley Thorp, had become a super star in a mere
matter of days. If you spoke his name
others nodded and thought, “I’ve seen him rope.” His partner in the #13 Shoot Out
was matching him step for step and their story unfolded in a unique and special
way.
“We have never roped together before
coming here,” Payne said after the pair won the #13 Preliminary. “This is our
first time.” Obviously, the electricity between the two was hotwired and full
of fire.
The pair was the second high team back
coming into the short go round of the #13 Shoot Out. Many times things just come together and work
out. Experience and history had already proven
the pair was an exception and fit together like a pair of well-worn gloves.
There was money on the line. A lot of money. $100,700 to be exact.
$100,700 would be paid to the first place team in the average of the #13 Shoot
Out at the 2015 Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping.
Payne and Thorp had already proved
they were a force to contend with. Jake
Smith and Dylan Jay Payne had taken the lead in the short go round with a time
of 30.43 with four teams to rope. Smith
and Payne were paying attention. Two
teams went out of the average when they failed to make qualified runs. Smith was coming back again as the high team with
partner, Blayne Horne. Lying smack dab
in the middle, blocking the way was Justin Payne and Wesley Thorp and this pair
was smoking hot.
Payne and Thorp needed a time of 8.12
to take the lead from Smith and Dylan Payne. Everyone knew they could make it
happen. The pair had already proved themselves. There was no gray area. It was pretty much black or white. It would
happen or it wouldn’t.
When Payne rode into the box there was
no doubt in his mind that all he had to do was focus, catch and Thorp would
wrap it all up with a promised heel shot.
It was a lot of money but that really never was an issue at that point
in time. Both men were focused on doing
what they had been doing the last couple of days.
“I knew we had a chance,” Payne said. “I
just wanted to catch and make sure Wesley had a shot.” Payne nodded for the
steer. With intensity and focus Payne
connected, roped the horns and Thorp finished the run. The pair posted a time of 7.13 to move Smith
and Dylan Payne into the second place position.
They had just shoved the ball into Smith and Horne’s court.
Smith and Horne needed a time of 7.52
to win the average. A hush fell over the
coliseum when Smith nodded for the steer.
Smith connected but a leg proved to be fatal and the pair posted a time
of 12.04. Payne and Thorp would take the
win in the average of the #13 Shoot Out.
“It’s awesome,” Payne said. “Roping
with Wesley has proved to be a really good thing.”
Both young men plan to leave the
Finals and put some focus on school.
Payne, a senior in High School, plans to finish up his week in OKC, go
home, maybe buy a new truck, focus on school and keep roping.
“I’m going to spend some money,” Payne
said with a grin. “A new truck would be nice.”
Thorp also plans to look at school. He
played down his sudden notoriety.
“I’m finished here for now,” Thorp
elaborated. “I’m going home, give my horses a week off and think about school.
Today was my last roping for the week and there is a lot to think about.”
With a little less than $106,000 to
put in his bank account there is, no doubt, a lot to think about. He will probably regroup and reevaluate.
The 2015 Cinch USTRC National Finals
of Team Roping is a roping neither Payne nor Thorp will forget any time
soon. It has been a life altering experience
for both young men. It has been a once
in a life time occurrence.
First time roping partners, probably
life time ties, all things have a strange and unique way of coming together to
bless us. Payne and Thorp will remember
their week in OKC for a long, long time.
