ll-Around
SEPTEMBER 2011
11
Wayne Shaw earned the Pro-Am average championship Scott Venable earned the Pro-Am average championship
checks in the calf roping totaling over $11,000. Jerome tied his first calf in 10.20 seconds for second in the round only .03 seconds behind Adam Gray. That earned Jerome his first check for $2,495. Schneeberger was left out of the second round placings, but his time of 9.94 seconds earned him fourth in the third round and another $832. Jerome again came in second to Adam’s first in the short round with at time of 10.54 seconds, but Schneeberger overcame Gray in the average, winning first with a total time of 42.33 seconds. First in the average paid Schneeberger $6,656 and second in the short round paid him $1,248. Adam Gray won both the first round with a time of 10.17 seconds and the short round with a time of 10.39 seconds. His consistency also earned him second in the average. Adam’s total time on four calves was 43.8 seconds. He earned $3,327 for first in the first round, $1,663 for first in the short round and $4,990 for second in the average. That is almost $10,000 for less than one minute of work. Charley Russell was a dark horse in the calf roping. He tied all his calves but didn’t earn a check until the short round. His 10.83 second run in the short round was good enough for third in the round and third in the average. Charley’s total time on four calves was 45.44 seconds. Russell earned $832 for third in the round and $3,327 for third in the average. Stetson Vest was the final calf roper earning a check in the average. Stetson’s total time of 46.84 seconds earned him an average check in the amount of $1,664. Stetson also placed fourth in the first round and received a check for $832 for that time of 10.35 seconds. Prior to taking the stage Saturday night with his band, Jake Hooker participated in the Pro-Am Team Roping along with seventy-four other amateur headers and heelers. Although the winning Pros collect a small amount of money for their efforts, this roping is primarily held to raise scholarship money for West Texas A&M and the amateurs come out in force for that. Well that and the beautiful saddles, buckles, watches, rope bags, hats and numerous other trinkets provided by corporate sponsors. There are so many winners in this roping that I will only mention the top two. Wayne Shaw has been a long time supporter of the Spicer Gripp Memorial Roping and he finally earned the coveted saddle for winning first in the average heading for Caleb Twisselman. The top amateur heeler was Scott Venable. Scott’s incredible yellow horse put him in just the right spot to catch two feet for pro header Charley Crawford in
just about every round allowing him to win the other fabulous saddle. The house was packed again Sunday morning. First on the agenda was open team roping. The total payout in the open team roping was huge and fifty-five teams each wanted a piece of it. After six grueling rounds somewhat local boys Josh Morris and Jody Pinkert had a cumulative time of 47.89 seconds. Josh and Jody ended up first in the average, splitting $30,150. It was a hard day’s work especially with Trevor Brazile and Patrick Smith nipping at your heels. Trevor and Patrick’s total time on six head was 49.07 seconds and they split $25,130 for second in the average. Right behind them was the team of Kevin Stewart and Travis Woodard. Kevin and Travis roped well all day and ended up with a time of 49.52 seconds on six steers. They were each awarded a check in the amount of $10,050 for third in the average. Turtle Powell needed to pick up a little cash before hustling home to Stephenville, Texas. If you haven’t heard Turtle and his wife, Molly, had their first baby just a day or so after the Spicer Gripp. Turtle’s partner was Jhett Johnson. They finished fourth in the average with a total time of 51.66 seconds and each took home $7,535. $10,050 was split by Tyler Magnus and Shawn Brown for fifth in the average and their total time of 52.08 seconds. A lot of money was paid out in the average, but not all of it. Fast time over all went to Brandon Beers and Jim Ross Cooper for their 5.64 second run in the short round. Brandon and Jim Ross pocketed not only $750 each for fast time over all, but another $750 each for fast time in the short round. Two places were also paid in the first two rounds. Erich Rodgers and Kory Koontz stopped the clock in 6.29 seconds on their first steer and split $3,000. Blake Hughes and Steve Orth claimed the $1,500 paid for second in the first round with a time of 7.16 seconds. In the second round it was Clay Tryan and Travis Graves who were quick enough to grab the $3,000 in that round. Clay and Travis’ time was 5.93 seconds. Kaleb Driggers and Brad Culpepper each earned $750 for their work of 6.51 seconds in the second round. Add it all up and there was $112,500 paid out in the Open Team Roping this year at the Gripp. No one ever forgets a great horse. Many a man has been remembered by the caliber of horse he rode. The American Quarter Horse Association once again recognized the top horses ridden in the open steer roping, calf roping, and the best heading and heel horses of the open team roping.
Mike Thompson earned first in the average of the Senior Steer Roping with a four head total of 66.88 seconds
Shay Goad’s grey gelding was selected as the top steer roping horse. Jerome Schneeberger’s horse was chosen as the best of the best in this year’s Open Calf Roping. In the Open Team Roping, Patrick Smith once again rode the top heel horse and Kevin Stewart’s dark horse was selected as top head horse. All of these men were only as good as the horse they rode in on. Finally, the best thing about the Spicer Gripp Memorial Roping this year was the rain. It rained every evening! Not enough to
This year the Spicer Gripp Foundation contributed another $25,000 to West Texas A&M University in nearby Canyon, Texas.
disrupt the roping itself or any of the activities surrounding it, but beneficial rains came down none the less. In my humble opinion it just goes to show that you must give in order to receive. Participants, volunteers, corporations, spectators, family and friends gave and then they received, but not just rain. The investment in the education of our young people will continue to pay dividends in the decades ahead. An education is something that can never be taken away.