2016 Cruel Girl Year End Champion
Lari Dee Guy
2016 Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team
Roping
By Melinda Clements
Abilene,
Texas team roper, Lari Dee Guy, knows team roping. She has been doing it for most of her life. It is, without a doubt, her passion and
lust for living. It is no surprise that Guy has been crowned the 2016 Cruel
Girl Year End Champion.
Growing
up on 10,000 acres near Abilene set the stage for Guy’s ability to rope. She has been horseback since she was
old enough to sit there and hang on.
With
numerous titles and awards through the years Guy spends most of her time
competing, training horses and doing clinics and schools. A very competitive roper she strives
hard to get better and be better. She is, without a doubt, a dominant force in
the roping business.
The
winners’ circle at the Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping is a comfort
zone for Guy. She won the 2009
Cruel Girl Championships at the USTRC Cinch NFTR heeling for Barrie Smith from
Stephenville, Texas. She also won the fan favorite Cruel Girl event at this
year's 2016 NFTR. She heels a lot
but this year she chose to head. She and partner, Courtney Small, took first
place in the average and put $16,600 in the bank. Both Guy and Small also took home Martin Championship Trophy
Saddles.
“This
is my first USTRC National Finals Saddles as a header,” Guy commented in the
prize area. “I was so glad I wasn’t heeling. I had the opportunity to head for
two good heelers.”
Guy
has a history and a resume that will turn your head. She won eleven consecutive AJRA World roping titles
beginning when she was nine years old.
She attended Vernon Junior College where she won the NIRA Breakaway
National Championship. When she
moved on to Texas Tech she won her second NIRA Breakaway National Championship.
Riding
a horse at this year’s NFTR that she is partners on with Trevor Brazile, Guy
feels horsemanship is extremely important.
“The
most critical element is horsemanship. It doesn’t matter if it is breakaway or
team roping the horse is critical,” Guy explained.
Guy
says the best advice she could offer is to follow your dreams and work hard.
“I
want to be an inspiration to every little girl who might want to rope,” she
commented. “I had no idea as a
young girl that I would be making a living doing what I’m doing. Our sport is growing and so many women
are coming into the sport.”
She
gives her family and friends all the credit for her success. I’ve had a lot of support and I’m very
competitive. She also admits to
being a bit of a dare devil and having no fear. “You have to believe you can accomplish your greatest dream.
The sky is the limit!”
Guy
banked $52,695 during the 2016 USTRC season to become the Year End Cruel Girl
Champion. For her efforts, she
received a custom made Cruel Girl Trophy Saddle by Martin Saddlery. Korie Smith from Hempstead, Texas was
the runner up with a total of $51,895.
Guy
sets a good example. With her
history and passion for roping she sets a standard and raises the bar for all
those who might dream to be the best. She works hard and strives to always be
the best. Congratulations, Lari
Dee Guy, the 2016 Cruel Girl Year End Champion for the 2016 season.
