#12 Championships
SMITH & BLACK
BARRIE SMIT H
Top hand, Barrie Smith, Stephenville, Texas, backed in the head box at the 2018 NTR National Finals with the same goal she always has. “I just like to win when I go,” she explained. “I don’t care if it’s a little backyard jackpot or a big Finals. I just want to do as good as I can.” Yet, Smith remains a realist when it comes to reveling on a big win. “Everything is a favorite right then and there, but then it’s history and no one cares, and you move on to the next one.” Her positive attitude and competitive spirit had her winning at a very early age from her hometown of Gilbert, Ariz. In high school (and college) she competed in the Goat Tying, Barrel Racing, Breakaway and Team Roping where she earned the NHSRA Goat Tying Championship three consecutive years. Smith went on to college rodeo for Central Arizona College and became a two-time NIRA Women’s All-Around Champion. She has won every major All Girl roping in the country as well as being named the USTRC Cruel Girl Champion header—twice. Smith is quick to credit the many influencers in her life and roping career including her husband Brad, a former World Champion, and her brother, three-time WNFR qualifier Bret Beach. The Smiths recently bought a place in Wickenburg and spend as much time there in the winter as they can. “When we’re at the ranch we have cattle and we’re haying, so it’s pretty time consuming. We probably rope a lot more when we’re in Wickenburg.”
Barrie and Brad have two kids who have both found their own success. Their son, Sterling, qualified for his first WNFR in 2013 and again in 2015 in the tie-down roping. He also owns and operates his own business, Sterling Construction. Their daughter, Shelby, graduated with a marketing degree from Tarleton State University but has been successfully riding and training horses. In fact, she consigned a wicked heel horse to the 2018 The Horse Sale at Rancho Rio and you can expect to see her consign additional horses in the future. Smith rode her well-known grey, affectionately known as “Richard,” to her #12 Championship win. “I’ve had him since he was 1 and he’s 17 now,” said Smith. “I trained him but I’m pretty sure anyone could have trained him. I owe so much to him."
B RAD Y B L AC K
Brady Black is a familiar face at Rancho Rio. The Twin Falls, Idaho, cowboy is in and out most of the winter. “I usually spend two weeks there right before Vegas and then I’m back and forth as much as I can.” Not only that, you’ll see him embellished on the back of the newest NTR hauler coming to an event near you. When he’s not roping, Black sells commercial insurance for HUB International and trains a few horses on the side. “I take outside horses and I always have a few of my own,” he explained. “I’ll start them from nothing and then I’ll buy some that are a little farther along too.” This past winter Black won nearly $12,000 on his first trip south, between Ty Yost’s Las Vegas in Wickenburg and a couple of other local jackpots. That set him up perfectly to head to the World Series of Team Roping Finale in the real Las Vegas where he picked up another $90,000—his biggest win coming from a third-place finish in the #11 Finale with Nora Hunt-Lee, Fallon, Nevada. The duo picked up $167,000 for their efforts.
#12 Championships
1st in Ave - 32.21 on 4, Barrie Smith & Brady Black - $8,920 2nd in Ave - 32.80 on 4, Mark Jones & Jay Ellerman - $5,960 3rd in Ave - 33.09 on 4, Barrie Smith & Brad Smith - $4,700 4th in Ave - 33.81 on 4, Colton Martinez & Brooks Dahozy - $3,460 5th in Ave - 33.83 on 4, Randy Anderson & Brady Black - $1,740
Shortgo
1st not placing in Ave - 6.59, Colby Bradley & Brodey Serres - $300
1O
SUMMER 2018
N A T I O N A LT E A M R O P I N G . C O M