#15 Shoot Out
2015 Cinch USTRC National
Finals of Team Roping
Saturday October 24 2015
Wesley Thorp and Douglas
Rich
Mr.
Webster defines aggressive as “assertive, forceful, pushy, dynamic and an all-out
effort. To say the ropers in the #15
Shoot Out were aggressive is a gross understatement.
The
roping from beginning to end was fast paced, competitive with high energy and a
strong impact. $96,200 might have been a
good motivator. An awesome prize line
with Martin Championship Trophy Saddles, Gist Championship Gold Buckles, Tony
Lama Full Quill Ostrich Boots and Western Horseman Collector’s Prints might
have been a motivator as well. But then
again, this was the 2015 Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping. It naturally would be a competitive and high
impact roping. The best of the best were
here.
Thirty
teams made their way into the short go round of the # 15 Shootout. Every single team wanted a piece of the
action and they were willing to fight hard and long to take the win.
When
the tenth high call back team of Dustin Egusquiza and Michael Bratton took the
lead of the short go round with a time of 27.76 everyone subconsciously took
notice. Earlier in the day the fifteenth
high call back team had taken the lead early on in the roping and maintained
that lead so it was a proven fact anything does and will happen.
The
short go round proved to be very fast paced and each pursued their goals with
intensity, determination and intestinal fortitude. Wesley Thorp and Douglas Rich was the third
high team back. Thorp and Rich, both,
are usually heelers by choice but Thorp slid into the header position and both
men set their sights on a win. They
needed a 7.02 to move Egusquiza and Bratton out of first place.
Thorp
wanted a good start and both men hoped they had drawn well.
“I
wanted to get out right,” Thorp commented. “We needed a good start.”
When
Thorp and Rich rode into the box they knew they had to be solid and rope very
aggressively. It was just that kind of
roping. Thorp nodded and was
committed. Rich read his mind and the
pair was on a mission that would and could not be denied. There was no backing up or turning back.
Thorp
roped the horns and gave Rich his shot.
The pair rode out of the arena with a time of 6.55 on the clock. They had taken the lead and there were two
teams left to rope. Regardless of what
happened, Thorp and Rich would take home a check.
The
two remaining teams, Hedeman and Eddy and Udy and Willis, failed to move Thorp
and Rich out of the lead. Thorp and Rich
would add winning the #15 Shoot Out at the 2015 Cinch USTRC National Finals of
Team Roping to their resume.
“I
was pretty nervous,” Rich said. “But we drew a really good steer and I wanted
to keep roping aggressive. I knew Wesley
would catch so I wanted to follow up and catch.”
“We
are both heelers most of the time,” Thorp interjected. “The short go round was
really tough. It was a tight competitive
roping. We have roped at some jackpots
around but we really don’t rope together much because we both prefer to heel.”
“This
was a good roping,” Rich added. “I’ll probably put this money in the bank. I’m
glad it worked out for us. I knew Wesley
would give me a shot.”
Mr.
Webster parallels aggressive with being assertive and making your wishes
known. It involves putting in an all-out
effort. Thorp and Rich proved to be some
kind of dynamic. Coupled together they
are an awesome team. They are also proof
that if you can rope it doesn’t matter whether you choose to head or heel. It
is just all about roping and roping your best.
The
#15 Shoot Out is only the beginning for this awesome duo. One must pay attention when they pair up and
decide to rope. Their forceful pushy
aggression opened up the door for their success in the #15 Shoot Out. It also gave them the momentum and motivation
to take home the win.
