#11 Shoot Out
2016 Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team
Roping
Friday October 28 2016
Rowdy Jones and Dakota Callicoat
By Melinda Clements
The
top thirty teams were coming back in the short round of the #11 Shoot Out at
the 2016 Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping. The prize line was phenomenal. Martin Championship Trophy Saddles, Gist Championship Gold
Buckles, Tony Lama Boots and Western Horseman Collector’s Prints was enough to
make your mouth water. Add to the
scenario $100,000 in cool, cold hard cash to the first place winners in the
average. The top fifteen teams in
the average would draw a paycheck.
When
the twelfth high team back, Curtis Buckler and Bubba Reynolds, took the lead
with a time of 7.72 in the short round they raised the bar. It had been a fiercely competitive
short round. The ropers were
serious about the $100,000 payout.
There was no room for error and no room for nerves. This was the last steer and it had to
be right. A leg or a misplaced
head loop would take its toil.
Rowdy
Jones and Dakota Callicoat was the ninth high call back. The pair had to be an 8.41 or better to
move Buckler and Reynolds.
“I
wasn’t nervous,” Jones said.
However, at fourteen years of age, nerves rarely are an issue. “Catching
is my biggest issue but I wasn’t really worried.
When
the pair rode into the box both ropers were planning on just following up and
doing what they had done most of the day.
“We
just wanted to go make a good run and then see how things turned out,” Callicoat
said.
When
Jones nodded he had one thing on his mind. “Catch this steer,” seemed to echo
in his mind. Catch, indeed! The
team roped their short round steer in 7.05 to take the lead away from Buckler
and Reynolds. There were nine
teams left to rope.
“We
just sat back and watched as the rest of the teams roped,” Callicoat said. “We
watched and waited to see how things were going to turn. We tried not to hope for more but I
guess we just really sort of hoped no one would move us.”
Jose
Enriquez and Domingo Jacquez was a long seven and moved into second place. As always the last eight teams are
always in contention. It seems
they are the most hungry or they wouldn't be where they are. With $100,000
staring everyone in the face nerves were on edge and anything could happen as
the roping wound down.
Trying
to maintain a calm demeanor and trying not to “hope against hope” Jones and
Callicoat waited. They waited and
watched and tried to not get involved in what was happening in the arena. They
worked at keeping it at arm’s length.
“I
wanted it over,” Jones said shyly.
He really wanted his first USTRC saddle.
As
it turned out there were some unqualified runs and some mistakes and when it
was over the numbers were tallied and the ninth high call team of Rowdy Jones
and Dakota Callicoat were declared the winners of the #11 Shoot Out. As the pair rode into the arena for
their victory lap they were, perhaps, a little numb. It was, after all, a lot
to absorb and understand.
As
the pair posed behind their Martin Championship Trophy Saddles and waited on
interviews and mug shots they were a little overwhelmed.
“We
rope in some jackpots occasionally,” Callicoat said. “We’ve been roping
together for all of Rowdy’s life. We live about thirty miles apart and I guess
the greatest struggle for both of us is just catching. We practiced a little last week and ran
about ten steers. It was a long short go round. We just tried to not get involved until we saw how all this
was coming down.”
It
is the first USTRC saddle for both Jones and Callicoat. Callicoat plans to pay off his truck
with his winnings. Jones hasn’t
clue what he will do with his share of the win.
“I
just want to keep roping,” he said. Without a doubt, he will.
At
fourteen it is a little hard to grasp how much money $100,000 happens to
be. Roping is fun and that is most
important. However, some day this
pair will look back and remember how much fun they had on one October morning
in Oklahoma City at the 2016 Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping.
