20-21 Champions Profile.qxp_Layout 1 4/8/14 12:03 PM Page 20
Champions Profile And Then There Was One by Melinda Clements
#11 Shoot-Out 2013 USTRC National Champions
“Y
ou raise seven girls and you get used to the odds being stacked against you,” commented Oklahoma cowboy Lynn Jarrell. “I’ve been married fifty-two years and I’ve been outnumbered most of my life but I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.” One could say Jarrell is used to facing the impossible and turning it around in his favor. He’s learned a lot in his seventy-one years. When Jarrell paired with partner, E.J. Thomas, he was pretty sure the impossible just might happen. The pair had only been roping together about three weeks but when it was all said and done it proved to be a coupling that would assure miracles still happen and dreams do come true. Thirty teams came back to rope in the short go round of the #11 Shoot-Out at the 2013 Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping. “From beginning to end this was a very tough competitive roping,” Thomas said. “I just wanted a good run in the short go round with the possibility of a good check. We never even planned on being the high call back team but it was a good place to be. We had already got our money back so I was satisfied.” With $109,500 for first place and Martin Championship Trophy saddles, plus Gist Championship buckles, Tony Lama Ostrich boots and Western Horseman collector’s prints the prize line would make any roper’s mouth water. No one in their right mind would let this one slide by without hitting another gear and going for broke. Jarrell was basking and soaking up every single moment. He had been seven years recovering from hip surgery and had not 20 / MAY 2014
Lynn Jarrell and E. J. Thomas been on a horse in all that time. When he was healed and able to ride again he made a commitment to make his nine-yearold horse the best horse he had ever had. The horse was up to the task and Jarrell couldn’t have a better partner than his horse and partner E. J. Thomas. Being the high team back going into the short go round was reward enough for a long, long journey to success. The pair knew they needed to be a short nine to take the win in the Average. Young guns, Stran Morris and Clay Casper had come into the roping and changed the leader board when they took the lead in the Average with a time of 33.56 on four head of steers. They had come to the gunfight loaded and they were not leaving empty handed. However, Jarrell and Thomas had maintained their focus, made a commitment and were not going down without a fight. It had been a long haul and they were not giving it up or making it easy. They wanted the win and they wanted it bad.