Let’s Hear it for the Unsung Heroes at the Cinch Timed Event Championship

Tonight’s the night we crown the 2021 Cinch Timed Event Championship winner! Oklahoma native Clay Smith struck for his second round win of the week, and with 48.4 seconds took Round 4 in the fastest five-run total thus far. With 265.8 seconds on 20 runs, Oregon’s Roger Nonella now leads the field heading into tonight’s Timed Event finale, Round 5. But regardless of who takes this year’s Timed Event title, there are some unsung heroes behind the scenes here at the Lazy E who deserve to be recognized for their unselfish hands in making it happen. Three such cowboys behind this year’s Timed Event Titans are Will McBride, Tyler Pearson and Hunter Cure.

McBride hauled three steer roping horses—8 Bills and Flaxy, plus brother-in-law Scott Saults’ Rocket—here from his home in Ogallala, Nebraska, and mounted past TEC champs Daniel Green, Jordan Ketscher and Justin Thigpen, and Jace Melvin. By the way, 8 Bills got his name because McBride bought him as a 5-year-old for $800 at the local sale barn 16 years ago.

Will McBride shoeing a hazing horse for Ote Berry and Taylor Santos out at the Lazy E barns at midnight last night. Kendra Santos Photo

“The reward of getting to know the guys I loan my horses to is worth more than anything money can buy,” said McBride, 56, who was out back at the barns at midnight last night shoeing the hazing horse ProRodeo Hall of Famer Ote Berry’s riding here to help California brothers Taylor Santos and Lane Karney (McBride refused payment). “I’m a guy who 20-25 years ago probably should have been here. This is a phenomenal event. They still let cattle out there, and use all of this big arena. The Timed Event is the ultimate cowboy contest.”

These aren’t their third-stringers these guys are offering other cowboys here. McBride’s placed on 8 Bills in the steer roping average at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo three times and the Pendleton Round-Up twice, and won the National Circuit Finals Steer Roping on him in 2018. Thigpen rode Flaxy for the Timed Event win here in 2019.

Between the Jr Ironman and the Cinch Timed Event, Pearson of Atoka, Oklahoma, is hazing for 11 bulldoggers—Briar Teague and Chisum Allen in the Jr Ironman, and Marcus Theriot, Clayton Hass, Erich Rogers, Russell Cardoza, Kyle Lockett, Jordan Ketscher, Haven Meged, K.C. Jones and Tyler Waters in the Timed Event—here this week. Why?

Tyler Pearson and his right-hand man, Stetson, with their 2021 Timed Event horse herd. Kendra Santos Photo

“I wanted to come check it out, because I want to try and enter the Timed Event next year,” said 2017 World Champion Steer Wrestler Pearson, who brought bulldogging horses Tubby and Brother, and hazing horses Finny and Olaf with him. “I brought a couple of young hazing horses out here that are good, but haven’t been to any rodeos yet. This was good for them. I’m not here for the money. I like helping guys out, and it’s good to get these young horses out while I’m at it.”

Cure won both of his 2013 and 2015 world steer wrestling championships on the back of his prized horse Charlie. Old Charlie’s been coming through with flying colors for Smith in the bulldogging here at the E.

Hunter Cure and Charlie helped Clay Smith get the Round 4 win. Lazy E Photo by James Phifer

“Charlie’s 22 now,” Cure said. “He’s got the heart to still be out there rodeoing, just not the wheels anymore. But he’s perfect here. We’ve been working on Clay’s bulldogging since January, and that’s when I started legging Charlie up, too.

“I’ve enjoyed helping Clay here this week. We’ve both had some success in the arena, so there’s a mutual professional respect there. That relationship has grown into a friendship outside the arena, too. Clay called me when he left this event unsatisfied last year. Glad I could be here to help.”

BY KENDRA SANTOS

Kendra Santos has written about cowboys all her life, including longtime stints with the PRCA, PBR, BFI and The Team Roping Journal. She’s also mom to two 2021 Timed Event Championship cowboys, Lane Karney and Taylor Santos.

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Teague Holds On to Lead to Take 2021 Jr Ironman Title at the Lazy E

Briar Teague closed the deal on the 2021 Jr Ironman the hard way here at the Lazy E today. The Rattan, Oklahoma, teenager won Rounds 1 and 2, and it was a good thing, as Round 3 was a bit rocky and he ended up needing that buffer. Teague opened the third and final round with a 7-second heading run and a 13-second tie-down roping run. It was all about stopping the clock after that. Then he had to rebuild in the heeling, and missed his bulldogging steer. But Teague did not quit. He ran the length of the 400-foot Lazy E Arena to try and get that last steer thrown. The buzzer beat him, but he got it done anyway. And the crowd went crazy. With 200.4 seconds on 12 runs, Teague was able to hold off reserve champ Jaylyn Hash, who finished with a close 201.2 on 12.

“I thought a 60 (no time) was second,” managed an exhausted Teague at event’s end. “I just had to knock that last steer down is all that was going through my head. (xanax online fara reteta) Then I missed him. It’s a big relief that it worked out the way it did. This is winning it the hard way.”

The Ironman comes down to horsepower. Teague rode his own horses in 3 out of 4 events. Lazy E Photo James Phifer

Teague won $11,500 for first in the average and the Round 1 and 2 wins.

“I’ll rodeo with this money,” he said. “To be recognized at this level is amazing. That I was able to do my job good enough to win it is the main thing. For the Lazy E to put an event of this caliber on for young guys who might be future Timed Event contestants is outstanding.”

Teague rode his own horses—Rolex, Cat and Vegas—in the heading, tie-down and heeling, respectively. World Champion Header Erich Rogers headed for him in the heeling, and Briar’s best buddy, Jessen James, heeled for him in the heading. Teague rode World Champion Steer Wrestler Tyler Pearson’s bay bulldogging horse Tubby, and Pearson hazed for him.

The Lone Star Ropes Jr Ironman Top Horse Award went to Hash’s steer wrestling horse, Cooper.

Another Round 3 highlight was Guthrie, Oklahoma’s own Dawson Price setting a new 3.9-second Jr Ironman record in his hometown here today.

See complete Jr Ironman and Cinch Timed Event Championship results and coverage at LazyE.com.

Hall Wins Round 3 and Theriot Takes Overall Timed Event Lead

After 15 head Hall is one second out of the lead for the aggregate. Lazy E Photo James Phifer

What a difference a day makes. Just ask Clay Smith, who’d been dominant through two rounds and held the overall Cinch Timed Event Championship lead after four of five events in Round 3. Then Smith missed his trip twice in the steer roping event at evening’s end to take a dreaded 60. The result was game changing, as New Mexico native Seth Hall took the Round 3 victory lap, and Mississippi’s Marcus Theriot took the overall Timed Event lead.

“My favorite run of the first 15 was that steer roping run tonight, because that’s the fastest I’ve ever been,” said Theriot, who was 14.5 in the steer roping, and is now 197.7 in three rounds of five events. “My heeling run tonight was a little sketchy. That steer stepped on my rope and tried to take it away from me. I didn’t think I was going to get a dally.

With the conclusion of Round 3, Theriot is leading the aggregate with a 197.7. Lazy E Photo James Phifer

“It feels good to be closer to the finish line than where I started today, but we’re just barely over halfway done. I’ve been here enough times to know that anything can happen here at the Timed Event.”

Hall won Round 3 after wrapping up five runs in 56.9 seconds.

“I’m excited that I finished my course tonight to the best of my ability,” Hall said. “I left some stuff on the table the last couple rounds. Getting that last steer tied down tonight for the round win felt good. That run was hard.”

Hall borrowed Chance Kelton’s renowned palomino steer horse Bullseye for the Timed Event, and Hall heeded Kelton’s advice when he picked the horse up.

“Chance told me, ‘Take your time over there,’” Hall smiled. “My good friend Robert Ansley’s been telling me, ‘Slow down to be fast’ all my life. I guess I kind of listened. The game plan for tomorrow is to just catch my cattle and not get in a hurry.”

Haven Meged and Lane Karney picked up the other two Round-3 paychecks. Rounding out the top five in the overall average behind Theriot heading into Round 4 tomorrow are Roger Nonella, Hall, Paul David Tierney and Smith.

For complete Timed Event Championship results, visit LazyE.com.

BY KENDRA SANTOS

Kendra Santos has written about cowboys all her life, including longtime stints with the PRCA, PBR, BFI and The Team Roping Journal. She’s also mom to two 2021 Timed Event Championship cowboys, Lane Karney and Taylor Santos.

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Timed Event Rookie Tyler Waters Wins Round 2 at the Lazy E

Jumping 11 steers in his life and Tyler takes home round two. Lazy E Photo James Phifer

When Ohio native Tyler Waters got the call to compete at his first Cinch Timed Event Championship, he had a whole lot of hustling to do. The horseshoer, who currently hangs his hat in the Cowboy Capital of Stephenville, Texas, had never jumped a bulldogging steer, and had to find helpers and horses for all five events. He’s since borrowed every horse he’s riding here, and this afternoon won Round 2 in 53.9 seconds.

“I’m riding Brother Loud’s bulldogging horse (Tyler Pearson is hazing), Tanner Green’s calf horse, Willy Gasperson’s steer roping horse, and Travis Kiehne’s head and heel horses,” said Waters, 33, who has Jade Corkill helping him at both ends in the team roping. “The heel horse (Pepto Blue Lena) is the dad to the head horse (Preto).”

Lazy E Photo James Phifer

The fact that anything can happen at the Timed Event was on full display here at the Lazy E today. Justin Thigpen was winning the round after the heading, tie-down and heeling, then his bulldogging steer got away. That gave Erich Rogers the lead in the round after the steer wrestling, but then he burned two loops in the steer roping.

“Every event here is a tide turner,” Waters said. “I went 110 (seconds) yesterday, then cut that in half today just by relaxing. All I did today was just try to not overrun myself.”

Russell Cardoza, who’s competing here this week with two new hips, finished second in Round 2 with 58.0 on five. Clay Smith continues to lead the pack in the overall 2021 Cinch Timed Event race with 120.3 seconds on 10 head. Roger Nonella, Marcus Theriot, Seth Hall and Paul David Tierney are now second through fifth after two rounds.

See complete Cinch Timed Event Championship and Jr Ironman results at LazyE.com.

BY KENDRA SANTOS

Kendra Santos has written about cowboys all her life, including longtime stints with the PRCA, PBR, BFI and The Team Roping Journal. She’s also mom to two 2021 Timed Event Championship cowboys, Lane Karney and Taylor Santos.

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Briar Teague Continues to Dominate at Lazy E’s Jr Ironman

Briar Teague is in the driver’s seat at the Jr Ironman, with help from his friends Tyler Pearson and Erich Rogers. Lazy E Photo Kendra Santos

Oklahoma’s Briar Teague shows no signs of weakening here at the Jr Ironman at the Lazy E Arena. The 19-year-old first-timer struck for his second-straight round win today, with one heading, heeling, tie-down roping and steer wrestling run done in an impressive grand total of just 39.6 seconds. With 83.4 seconds on eight runs in the first two rounds, Teague now has a commanding lead over the pack, as Texan Colton Greene is next in line with 134.3 seconds. It’s no coincidence that Teague enlisted help from a couple of gold-buckle cowboys. World Champion Steer Wrestler Tyler Pearson is hazing for him, and World Champion Header Erich Rogers is heading for him in the heeling.

Mississippi native Pearson hazing for Teague. Lazy E Photo James Phifer

“When we back in there, I know they’re going to do their jobs,” Teague said. “All I have to do is my part, so that takes a lot of the pressure off of my shoulders.”

Why do the big dogs do it?

“Briar’s family welcomed us when we moved to Oklahoma a couple years ago,” said Mississippi native Pearson, who’s also hazing for Chisum Allen here in the Jr Ironman. “They’re good people, so it feels good to return the favor.”

“I’m happy to help, because I want to give the kids the confidence to compete to the best of their ability,” added Rogers, who actually met Teague at a recent practice session at Pearson’s steer wrestling playpen in Atoka, Oklahoma. “Briar’s planned partner’s horse got hurt, so I got the call. (https://iheartrving.com/) ”

Cinch Timed Event Cowboy Erich Rogers helping Teague. Lazy E Photo James Phifer

Teague’s strategy will not change, as he plans to keep his foot on the gas.

“I’m not going to let up now,” Teague said. “I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing, and try to finish strong tomorrow.”

Complete Jr Ironman results can be found at LazyE.com.

BY KENDRA SANTOS

Kendra Santos has written about cowboys all her life, including longtime stints with the PRCA, PBR, BFI and The Team Roping Journal. She’s also mom to two 2021 Timed Event Championship cowboys, Lane Karney and Taylor Santos.

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Clay Smith Takes the Round 1 Win at Cinch Timed Event

The Timed Events are a family affair with the Smiths. Brother Jake helped Clay in the heeling and heading. Lazy E Photo by James Phifer

With 57.8 seconds on five runs—one each in heading, heeling, tie-down roping, steer wrestling and steer roping—two-time World Champion Team Roper Clay Smith took the Round 1 victory lap around the gargantuan Lazy E Arena on opening night at the 2021 Cinch Timed Event Championship. The guy who won back-to-back gold heading buckles in 2018 and ’19 got off to a great start, and grinned at evening’s end saying that competing in Rodeo’s Ironman is “almost a vacation” compared to getting ready for it.

“These last two weeks are the biggest of my year before the NFR (Wrangler National Finals Rodeo),” Smith said. “I had to practice going fast for The American, letting them out there for the BFI (which is here at the Lazy E on Sunday) and every event we do here. It’s grueling, but you get rewarded for practicing hard for this event, and having a good first night like this is a start.”

A victory lap with dad is always a good idea. Lazy E Photo by James Phifer

With five runs down and 20 to go, Smith leads the pack—Marcus Theriot is second so far—by 5.1 seconds. Smith felt like the event with the highest pucker factor for him on opening night was the heeling.

“That steer in the heeling tried to cut up underneath my brother’s (Jake Smith is also helping defending TEC Titlist Taylor Santos here this year) head horse,” Clay said. “I didn’t really want to take that shot, but I guess I was glad to get by that steer, even with a leg.”

That plus-five in the heeling was Smith’s only penalty of the night. Smith earned $3,000 for the round win. Rounding out the top five thus far behind Smith and Theriot are Daniel Green, Roger Nonella and Lane Karney.

BY KENDRA SANTOS

Kendra Santos has written about cowboys all her life, including longtime stints with the PRCA, PBR, BFI and The Team Roping Journal. She’s also mom to two 2021 Timed Event Championship cowboys, Lane Karney and Taylor Santos.

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Briar Teague Takes Round 1 and the Early Lead at Lazy E’s Jr Ironman

Briar Teague of Rattan, Oklahoma Lazy E Photo by Kendra Santos

Rattan, Oklahoma teen Briar Teague made consistency count to take the Round-1 victory lap at the Jr Ironman, which is held in conjunction with the Cinch Timed Event Championship here at the Lazy E Arena. With four runs—one each in heading, heeling, tie-down roping and steer wrestling—done in 43.8 seconds, Teague took command of the three-head contest, which will crown a champion on Saturday.

“Just to get picked to compete for this event is outstanding,” said Teague, who won a round of the team roping event heading for Rance Doyal at the 2020 National High School Finals Rodeo held here at the Lazy E last summer. “To be recognized and given the chance to show what we can do at this level is pretty cool.”

Lazy E Photo by James Phifer

Teague sometimes practices his bulldogging with World Champion Steer Wrestler Tyler Pearson, and had Pearson’s hazing help here today. While over at Pearson’s the other day, Teague also picked up heading help for the Jr Ironman from World Champion Header Erich Rogers. Teague’s best friend, Jessen James, heeled for Briar in the heading event.

Teague’s a two-time Oklahoma High School Finals Rodeo all-around champ, and considers heading his main event.

“My career goal would be to win a gold buckle heading,” Teague said. “And I’d really love to come back and compete at the Timed Event Championship.”

The 20 Titans of the Timed Event Championship take center stage at 7:30 p.m. tonight. And yes, Pearson will be hazing for Rogers in that, too.

Lazy E Photo by James Phifer

BY KENDRA SANTOS

Kendra Santos has written about cowboys all her life, including longtime stints with the PRCA, PBR, BFI and The Team Roping Journal. She’s also mom to two 2021 Timed Event Championship cowboys, Lane Karney and Taylor Santos.

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Let’s Hear it For Timed Event Helper Extraordinaire Cody Cowden As He Rides Away King

Every once in a while, someone stands out so much at something that he’s noticeably absent when we don’t see him somewhere. Such is the case with eight-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo heeler Cody Cowden, who for the first time since the turn of the century won’t be here at the Lazy E Arena as a Cinch Timed Event Championship team roping helper. The winningest TEC helper of all time—Cowden’s headed and heeled for Trevor Brazile, Kyle Lockett, Daniel Green and Jordan Ketscher for a record six Timed Event wins—has put together an unparalleled run as king of the TEC wingmen spanning 2000-2020.

“I’m finally retired from the Timed Event, and it’s honestly kind of a relief, because helping at such a prestigious event is a huge responsibility,” said Cowden, who will be here in time to watch the last perf of the Timed Event Saturday night and rope in Sunday’s BFI.

California’s Cody Cowden has been a fixture in the heading and heeling helper box at the Lazy E arena for decades. Team Roping Journal Photo

Any sage advice from the helper who’s spent the most time in the Timed Event winner’s circle to the guys helping here this year?

“To be a good helper, you need to show up prepared and with the best head and heel horse you can ride,” Cowden said. “That was part of my decision to bow out this year. I didn’t have the head- or heel-horse power. It also doesn’t hurt to help winners.”

Lockett has Aaron Tsinigine—who’s also his 2021 BFI partner—heading for him at the Timed Event, and Douglas Rich heeling. Lockett won the Timed Event in both 2005 and 2011. Why did Kyle enlist Cowden’s help when he had the chance?

Eight-time NFR heeler Cowden never let the Christmas trees at the St. Paul Rodeo distract him. St Paul Rodeo Photo by Kent Soule

“Cody’s smart, and he’s a good catcher,” Lockett said. “Being a good helper is about as simple as that—knowing what it takes to win.”

The late Leo “The Lion” Camarillo, Green, Lockett, Ketscher and defending Timed Event champ Taylor Santos own nine Timed Event titles between them, which puts them one ahead of Texas’s eight. Why does Golden State cowboy Cowden think the prunies have had so much success here at the Lazy E?

Cody Cowden and Bobby Hurley won both the 1997 BFI and George Strait Team Roping Classic. That’s Cole Bigbee, who grew into an NFR heeler, and BFI founder Feist presenting. BFI Photo

“People underestimate California cowboys,” Cowden said. “That’s a mistake. We ranch and cowboy out here. All the best cowboys lived in California back in the day, and there’s still a lot of cowboy country in Cali.”

The 2021 Timed Event Championship of the World kicks off tomorrow night here at the Lazy E, and runs March 11-13 through Saturday night. Championship Weekend at the Lazy E then rolls right into Sunday’s BFI. And guess who will be out with the first crack of the gate? Yep, Team 1-A is none other than a pair of past BFI champs, J.D. Yates and Cody Cowden.

Yates—who’s one of the rare ropers who’ve roped both ends at the NFR—won the 2010 BFI with cousin Jay Wadhams, and Cowden won the 1997 BFI with Bobby Hurley. Buckle up, boys, it’s showtime at the Timed Event and BFI!

Colorado cousins J.D. Yates and Jay Wadhams getting the BFI goods from Bob Feist in 2010. Yates will head for Cowden at the 2021 BFI on Sunday. BFI Photo

BY KENDRA SANTOS

Kendra Santos has written about cowboys all her life, including longtime stints with the PRCA, PBR, BFI and The Team Roping Journal. She’s also mom to two 2021 Timed Event Championship cowboys, Lane Karney and Taylor Santos. (atticsandmore.com)

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Getting the Call – Allen Is to Round Out the Field for Jr Ironman

On March 9, Chisum Allen had his rig packed by 2:00 p.m. and was collecting horses on his way to The Lazy E, just a short three hours after getting the call that he’d be taking Sam Morgan’s place in the JR Ironman. He’ll be there in time to break in the cattle, having lined up his horsepower and partners in record time.

“I have a calf horse and a heel horse, and then, Korbin [Rice], the kid that’s going to head for me, I’m going to ride his head horse.”

Handily, the Cisco College freshman will also be borrowing a bulldogging horse from his rodeo coach, Don Eddleman, and has a bit of a crew to lean on at the event, in addition to his parents, Rusty and Carmen, who will be in the stands cheering, despite the short notice.

“Colton Greene, he’s actually my team roping partner now, in college, and we Region Rodeoed together in Texas. And then, Hayden Powell, he’s going to college in Cisco with me. I’ve been [to the event] and I’ve helped Lane Karney, and Taylor, a lot of my roping success has to do with Taylor [Santos.] We’ve been close and, when I was living in Cisco, I always caught myself in Stephenville with him. It’s kind of nice to have guys that know what they’re doing over there [and] they’ll be right there with me.”

The little brother Taylor Santos never had. Taylor and Chisum at his graduation.

Allen is a competitive and accomplished in calf roper, steer wrestler and team roper, and a 2021 Jr. NFR qualifier, a three-time Jr. American qualifier, a three-time Texas state High School Rodeo Finals qualifier, and an AQHA Reserve Champion tie-down roper, to name just a few of his accolades. He’s hot off a weekend competing in Fort Worth at the Jr. American, which didn’t go the way he hoped, but he knows now it was part of the plan. (Valium)

“My sister texted me and was like, ‘Hey, keep your head up. The Lord is going to reward your hard work.’ That was actually yesterday evening. Then, I got the phone call this morning that they want me up there.”

The Love-Hate Relationship Between Timed Event Titans and Five Events

There’s a reason only 16 cowboy ironmen in history have earned the title Timed Event Champion of the World. With five rounds in five events, the Cinch Timed Event Championship is the toughest, truest possible test of timed-event versatility, horsemanship and all-around cowboy handiness. Physical and mental strength and stamina are musts for mere survival, but these guys are the best in the business. In today’s ultra-competitive world of cowboy specialists, most have a favorite event—and also one they recognize as not their strongest suit, if they’re being brutally honest. Getting to see these gladiators go at it in so many events is part of what makes tickets to the Timed Event worth way more than the price of admission. Here’s what five members of this year’s TEC cowboy class have to say about which event they crave the most—and another maybe not so much.

Paul David Tierney

Paul David Tierney admits he’s not exactly passionate about steer wrestling, but says he doesn’t mind it when he’s riding a horse that suits him. Lazy E Photo by James Phifer

Paul David Tierney is one of eight Timed Event cowboys who’ll stick around for the March 14 BFI after three days at the March 11-13 Cinch Timed Event Championship. He’ll head for Gage Williams at the BFI, and will again enlist Jace Crabb for heading and heeling help at the Timed Event.

“I would say the heading is my strongest suit, just because it’s the event I do the most and I have a horse that fits that set-up at the Lazy E,” Tierney said. “It’s the one event where I might be able to make up a second or two, if I need to.

“The bulldogging is probably my weakest link, but as long as I have a horse that fits me it doesn’t bother me. I’d probably usually say it’s a tossup between the bulldogging and the steer roping when it comes to my least-favorite events. I’m not always super smooth in the steer roping. But probably the bulldogging this year, just because I’m still trying horses. That two weeks of cold set things back a little bit on the preparation schedule.”

Like Daddy Paul and Big Brother Jess, Paul David knows what it takes to get the Timed Event W. He won it all in 2014 and ’16.

“I look forward to the Timed Event every year, because I like getting to go there and do all the events, and also not trying to be as fast as you can possibly be every time you nod your head. I like that you can step back, relax and make a practice run at such a prestigious event, because that’s the smart play in a 25-header. You have to go really fast at the rodeos and jackpots to stand a chance anymore, especially at the one-headers. The Timed Event is a whole different ballgame, and that’s part of what makes it such a great cowboy contest.”

Jace Melvin

Paul David Tierney admits he’s not exactly passionate about steer wrestling, but says he doesn’t mind it when he’s riding a horse that suits him. Lazy E Photo by James Phifer

Jace Melvin just made his first National Finals Rodeo in 2020.

“My best event is the steer wrestling, but I like them all,” Melvin said. “Steer wrestling is just something I’ve spent my whole life working at. I’ve specialized at it trying to make the NFR, so I have a lot invested in it and take it really seriously.

“But in the last two months, I’ve gotten to do every event. I feel pretty prepared, so I can’t say that I have an event I dread now. I also don’t really want to say I have a weakest event, because I don’t feel like I have a bad event and I’m a positive thinker. You’ve got to speak things into existence.

“The event I’ve focused on the most lately is the steer roping. I’ve really put a lot of time into it this year to get comfortable with it. I don’t believe in focusing on what we can’t do. You have to trust in yourself. I know I’m not as good at some stuff, and that I need to work on those things. But when I go to the Timed Event, my mindset is to do what I’ve prepared to do, do it to the best of my ability and have fun. It’s fine to acknowledge the things that go wrong and work to fix them, but to dwell on negative things and things you can’t control is just not helpful to anyone.”

Seth Hall

Seth Hall considers calf roping his main event, but has been working at them all in preparation for his second Timed Event. Lazy E Photo by James Phifer

Seth Hall made an impressive showing at his first Timed Event in 2020.

“The calf roping is my bread-and-butter event and my main forte,” Seth said. “I’ve roped calves since I was a little kid, so that’s the one I’m most confident in, for sure.

“My least favorite event would be the tripping. I enjoy doing it, but it’s what I’ve done the least in competition. I haven’t done it for money as much as the others, so you could say it’s my ‘least used’ event.”

But ultimately, the Timed Event tests a cowboy’s all-around mettle.

“The stage they put us on at the Timed Event is really exciting,” Hall said. “Getting to go back to the historic Lazy E Arena and compete in this great event we all grew up watching is pretty amazing.”

Marcus Theriot

Timed Event veteran Marcus Theriot jokes that he’d rather they sub in barrel racing for steer roping at the Timed Event. Lazy E Photo by James Phifer

Marcus Theriot has Shay Carroll helping him at both ends in the team roping at Thursday through Saturday’s Timed Event, and will head for cousin Cole Curry at Sunday’s BFI.

“I feel like the steer wrestling is probably my strongest event at the Timed Event,” said the Mississippi son of World Champion Tie-Down Roper Herbert Theriot. “The bulldogging eliminates a lot of people at this event. I probably head better than I do anything else, but a lot of people get through that there.

“As for my least favorite event, I would rather barrel race than steer rope. I dread the tripping. I’ve worked at it more this year than the last four years put together, because it’s killed me every year. I decided I have to get better at it to have a chance. But I love the bulldogging at the Timed Event. It’s a bigger arena and the steers are always good.”

What stands out to Theriot after competing at the Timed Event a few times?

“You have to be a pretty handy person in everything you do up there,” he said. “And it’s never over ’til it’s over. It’s a lot like a match roping in that way—anything can change at any time. That’s one of the things I love about the Timed Event. If I was going to buy a ticket and go watch one event a year, it would 100 percent be the Timed Event. I love that thing, and look forward to it every year.”

Clayton Hass

Seeing steer wrestler Clayton Hass slip off the right side of a horse is nothing new, but working five events at the Timed Event turns up all sorts of twists and makes for great watching. Lazy E Photo by James Phifer

Clayton Hass is a four-time NFR steer wrestler.

“My strongest event is the steer wrestling,” Hass said. “It’s what I do day in and day out. It’s the event I’ve had a passion for and have worked the hardest at.

“I honestly don’t feel like I have a weak event, but I work at the calf roping the least. I still compete a little in the team roping and steer roping, but not the calf roping.”

Hass is well aware of the mental marathon that’s part of Timed Event participation.

“I think it’s important not to get caught up in the drama there,” he said. “You’ve just got to do you at the Timed Event. To me, it’s about taking your first good shot and doing what you can do. The money at the Timed Event is a big deal, but the Timed Event is a cowboy’s game. I worked my butt off growing up to become a cowboy, and this event shows how talented guys are.

“You may only get to see me bulldog or Taylor Santos rope calves at the rodeos, but you get to see every guy do it all at the Timed Event. To get an invite to compete at The Ironman is pretty awesome. It’s a pretty cool feeling just knowing you’re a special enough cowboy to be there.”

BY KENDRA SANTOS

Kendra Santos has written about cowboys all her life, including longtime stints with the PRCA, PBR, BFI and The Team Roping Journal. She’s also mom to two 2021 Timed Event Championship cowboys, Lane Karney and Taylor Santos.

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