Lazy E Arena is proud to announce the launch of the Jr. Ironmaiden Championship, a new all-around competition designed to showcase the next generation of female rodeo athletes.

Set to debut alongside the renowned 2027 Cinch Timed Event Championship, the Jr. Ironmaiden will mirror the format of the Jr. Ironman, featuring a three-round, four-event competition for 10 competitors aged 19 and under. The championship will take place at the legendary Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma.

This all-around format will test contestants across Team Roping Heading, Team Roping Heeling, Breakaway Roping, and Goat Tying, with athletes competing for a $20,000 grand prize and $30,000 added money.

“We’ve seen what the Jr. Ironman has done for the next generation, and it was time to create that same stage for young women,” said Lazy E Arena General Manager Dan Wall. “The Jr. Ironmaiden isn’t just another event—it’s a national spotlight on the future of our sport and a $20,000 opportunity for these athletes.”

In addition, the 2026 Cinch World Championship Junior Rodeo (WCJR) will feature a Jr. Ironmaiden sidepot, with the top athlete earning a direct qualification spot into the 2027 Jr. Ironmaiden Championship.

For more information regarding the Jr. maiden or the Cinch Timed Event Championship, visit lazyearena.com.

–Bringing The World’s Largest Youth Rodeo To Guthrie For A Decade–

Lazy E Arena and the National High School Rodeo Association (NHSRA) today announced a landmark agreement that will bring the National High School Finals Rodeo (NHSFR) to Guthrie, Oklahoma, beginning in 2030 for a 10-year run. The partnership marks a significant milestone for both organizations, securing a long-term home for the world’s largest youth rodeo event.

“We are incredibly excited to finalize this long-term partnership with Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma, establishing it as the home of the National High School Finals Rodeo for at least the next decade beginning in 2030,” said NHSRA Executive Director James Higginbotham. “This builds on the strong foundation we established in 2023 with our agreement to host the National Junior High Finals Rodeo at Lazy E starting in June 2026.”

The NHSFR has a rich history of host cities across the United States. Over the years, the event has been held in numerous locations, including Kansas City, Missouri; Dallas, Texas; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Albuquerque and Farmington, New Mexico; Douglas, Rock Springs, and Gillette, Wyoming; and Springfield, Illinois, among others.

“We’re honored to welcome the National High School Finals Rodeo to Lazy E Arena and to serve as its home for the next decade,” said Lazy E Arena General Manager Dan Wall. “With the continued growth and improvements at our facility, we’re confident Lazy E will provide an unmatched experience for contestants, families, and fans from across the country. An event of this magnitude isn’t made possible by a venue alone—it requires a statewide coalition of partners, and we’re proud to stand alongside those who helped bring it to Oklahoma.”

As part of its long-term vision, Lazy E Arena has made significant expansions and modernizations to enhance its campus with the construction of the new 30,000-square-foot multi-purpose event center, The Equinety Center. This state-of-the-art facility will provide additional space for events, vendors, and community engagement.

Lazy E will continue to expand its infrastructure over the next four years. The facility has already added five new barns featuring an additional 426 permanent Priefert stalls. A new covered arena has also been constructed, allowing for year-round training and competition regardless of weather conditions.

In addition, a newly completed contestant facility offers modern showers, restrooms, and laundry amenities designed to enhance the experience for competitors. The new Morton Building will also provide dedicated office spaces for event promoters, creating convenient on-site headquarters during the event.

The National High School Finals Rodeo draws more than 1,800 contestants annually from across the United States, Canada, Australia, and beyond, making it a cornerstone event for youth rodeo.

The championship’s historic home returns as the Lazy E enters a new era of expansion and growth.

The United States Team Roping Championships (USTRC) announced today that its CINCH National Finals will return to the Lazy E Arena beginning in May 2027, marking a historic reunion between two organizations.

Originally launched in 1990, the USTRC was founded to create a national championship accessible to ropers of all skill levels through a handicapped system, higher entry fees, and a single-entry format. That same year, the Lazy E Arena hosted the inaugural USTRC National Finals.

“I watched the very first USTRC National Finals at the Lazy E and later competed there myself,” said Gary McKinney, owner of Lazy E Ranch & Arena. “Even today, I reflect on the Lazy E’s historic role in the growth of team roping.”

The USTRC National Finals remained at the Lazy E Arena for decades before transitioning to a spring schedule in Fort Worth in 2020 due to calendar limitations and increasing financial pressures on participants attending multiple major events.

The 2027 return to Oklahoma signals both a homecoming and a forward-looking evolution of the championship. The event will take place in an expanded Lazy E Arena and feature a reimagined format designed to meet the needs of today’s competitors.

“This is more than a return,” said John Johnson, president of the USTRC. “It’s a continuation of a promise that’s been kept for nearly four decades—providing everyday ropers with a national stage and a championship they can truly be part of.”

The inaugural USTRC National Finals paid out $185,000 and attracted competitors from 16 states, demonstrating the viability of team roping as a standalone national sport. Since then, the USTRC has distributed millions of dollars in payouts and prizes, while maintaining its commitment to inclusivity across youth, senior, and mixed-ability divisions.

“Oklahoma has a deep-rooted connection to Western heritage, and events like the USTRC National Finals showcase that legacy on a national stage,” said Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt. “The highly anticipated return of the competition will further celebrate the traditions and spirit that make Oklahoma the heart of cowboy culture.”

The 2027 USTRC National Finals at Lazy E Arena will mark a renewed chapter for one of the most influential championships in Western sports.

“This is about honoring where we started while staying true to who we are,” said Connie Gentry, co-founder of the USTRC and president of Equine Network’s Western Sports Group.

–After battling back from major surgeries, Santos caps comeback with $100,000 Ironman title —

Guthrie, Okla. — Taylor Santos (Creston, California) completed a remarkable comeback story Saturday night inside the Legendary Lazy E Arena, capturing the 2026 Cinch Timed Event Championship Ironman title and $100,000 payday after holding off a late charge from Ketch Kelton (Mayer, Arizona) in a dramatic Championship Round finish that saw the pair separated by just 2.8 seconds.

All event results are available here.

Santos, who won the Timed Event Championship during his rookie appearance in 2020, returned to the Lazy E Arena this week for the first time since 2023 after undergoing surgeries on both hips and one knee. The California cowboy proved his resilience throughout the five-round marathon, turning in consistent runs across all five disciplines to reclaim the Ironman crown.

Santos wasted little time establishing himself as the man to beat, opening the competition with a 69.8-second total run in Round One.

In Round Two, he posted a 68.9-second run highlighted by a 12.6-second heading, 18.0 seconds in tie-down roping, 9.6 seconds in heeling, 9.6 seconds in steer wrestling, and 19.1 seconds in steer roping. The performance pushed his two-round aggregate to 138.7 seconds, giving Santos the overall lead in the championship race—a position he never relinquished for the remainder of the week.

Santos continued his steady pace in Round Three, delivering a 63.2-second run with a 7.4-second heading, 18.0 seconds in tie-down roping, 7.9 seconds in heeling, 12.4 seconds in steer wrestling and 17.5 seconds in steer roping. That performance extended his overall lead to 201.9 seconds on three rounds, placing him more than 30 seconds ahead of the field.

The California cowboy maintained his command in Round Four, clocking a 71.3-second run behind a 9.3-second heading, 21.4-second tie-down roping, 15.1 seconds in heeling, 10.9 seconds in steer wrestling and 14.6 seconds in steer roping. His four-round total of 273.2 seconds kept him firmly atop the standings entering the Championship Round.

But the final round brought one last surge from Ketch Kelton.

Kelton delivered a swift 55.0-second performance in the championship round, highlighted by a 7.3-second heading, 13.3 seconds in tie-down roping, 12.6 seconds in heeling, 8.4 seconds in steer wrestling, and 13.4 seconds in steer roping.

Kelton shortened the gap to 9.2 seconds after the tie-down roping, keeping the pressure on Santos as the championship round unfolded. Heading into the final discipline of the event — steer roping — the pair were separated by just 11.9 seconds, setting up a nail-biting finish for the Ironman title.

Santos faced a challenge in the steer roping after missing the steer on his run, forcing him into recovery mode to protect his overall lead. The veteran responded with composure, finishing the round with a 15.5-second tie-down, 8.3 seconds in heeling, 10.0 seconds in steer wrestling and 22.5 seconds in steer roping for a 78.5-second round total.

When the dust settled, Santos’ five-round aggregate stopped the clock at 351.7 seconds, defeating Kelton’s 354.5-second total to secure his second Ironman title and the $100,000 championship prize. More than 100 seconds separated Santos from third place.

Final Top Five Contenders (Aggregate)

1. Taylor Santos – 351.7 seconds
2. Ketch Kelton – 354.5 seconds
3. Brushton Minton – 450.5 seconds
4. Coleman Proctor – 412.1 seconds
5. Seth Hall – 415.8 seconds

In the Junior Ironman Leo Loucks delivered one of the most dominant performances of the week to claim the 2026 Jr. Ironman Championship, finishing with a blazing 154.0 seconds on four head—more than 80 seconds ahead of the rest of the field. Loucks set the tone early in Round 1 with consistent runs across all four events, posting a 12.8 in heading, 15.6 in tie-down roping, 12.4 in heeling, and 9.0 in steer wrestling for a 49.8-second opening round total that immediately put him near the top of the standings. He continued building momentum in Round 2 with another solid performance that included a 9.6 in heading and 13.7 in tie-down roping, finishing the round with 58.2 seconds and bringing his cumulative time to 108.0 seconds after two rounds.

When the final round arrived, Loucks simply stayed steady and efficient. He added an 8.9 in heading, 14.7 in tie-down roping, 13.5 in heeling, and another 8.9 in steer wrestling to post a 46.0-second third-round total and seal the championship with 154.0 seconds overall. His ability to win two of the three rounds and remain consistent across all four disciplines allowed him to build a massive lead early and maintain it through the finish, ultimately securing the Jr. Ironman title.

The Cinch Timed Event Championship, widely known as rodeo’s ultimate all-around test, challenges competitors to compete in heading, heeling, tie-down roping, steer wrestling and steer roping across five grueling rounds to determine the Ironman champion.

All event results are available here.

The battle for the Ironman title continued to intensify Saturday afternoon inside the Legendary Lazy E Arena as Ketch Kelton (Mayer, Arizona) captured the Round Four victory while Taylor Santos (Creston, California) maintained command of the overall average at the 2026 Cinch Timed Event Championship.

Kelton delivered the fastest performance of the fourth go-round, completing the five disciplines in 49.0 seconds. His run included a 5.8-second heading, 14.6 seconds in tie-down roping, 6.4 seconds in heeling, 6.9 seconds in steer wrestling and 15.3 seconds in steer roping.

The strong performance pushed Kelton’s four-round total to 299.5 seconds and moved him firmly into the hunt as the competition heads toward the Championship Round.

While Kelton topped the round, Taylor Santos continued his steady performance to remain the overall average leader. Santos recorded a 71.3-second run in Round Four, highlighted by a 9.3-second heading, 21.4-second tie-down roping, 15.1-second heeling, 10.9-second steer wrestling and 14.6-second steer roping.

Those runs brought Santos’ four-round aggregate to 273.2 seconds, keeping the California cowboy firmly atop the standings as the race for the Cinch Timed Event Championship title and $100,000 payday heads into the final round of competition.

Trailing Santos in the overall average race is Ketch Kelton in second with 299.5 seconds, followed by Brushton Minton with 315.8 seconds. Coleman Proctor sits fourth with 355.6 seconds, while Seth Hall rounds out the top five with 358.2 seconds as the remaining athletes prepare for the Championship Round showdown.

All event results are available here.

Following Round four, the field was trimmed as the five competitors with the lowest aggregate times— Dalton Walker, Stetson Jorgenson, Quade Hiatt, Kyle Lockett, Russell Cardoza —were eliminated from the competition.

Championship Round Roster is as follows:

Name	Honmetown	Average
Taylor Santos	Creston, California	273.2
Ketch Kelton	Mayer, Arizona	299.5
Brushton Minton	Witter Springs, California	315.8
Coleman Proctor	Pryor, Oklahoma	355.6
Seth Hall	Albuquerque, New Mexico	358.2
Zane Kilgus	Stephenville, Texas	374.8
Dylan Hancock	San Angelo, Texas	395.4
Paul David Tierney	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma	413.3
Clayton Hass	Weatherford, Texas	420.1
Wesley Thorp	Stephenville, Texas	438.6
Erich Rogers	Round Rock, Arizona	456.2
JC Flake	Milsap, Texas	471.2
Tyler Worley	Berryville, Arkansas	475.5
Blane Cox	Stephenville, Texas	497.7
Will Lummus	Byhalia, Mississippi	513.7

Competition concludes Saturday night with the Championship Round, where the remaining 15 athletes will go head-to-head to determine the 2026 Cinch Timed Event Championship winner.

The slugfest continued to unravel Friday night inside the Legendary Lazy E Arena as Zane Kilgus (Stephenville, Texas) captured the Round Three victory while Taylor Santos (Creston, California) maintained control of the overall average at the 2026 Cinch Timed Event Championship.

All event results are available here.

Kilgus, who entered the field as a last-second alternate less than 24 hours before the competition began, delivered the fastest performance of the third go-round, completing the five disciplines in 60.4 seconds. His run included an 8.8-second heading, 13.0 seconds in tie-down roping, 8.7 seconds in heeling, 10.7 seconds in steer wrestling and 19.2 seconds in steer roping.

The strong performance moved Kilgus up the leaderboard with a three-round total of 281.2 seconds, for a fifth-place position as the Ironman race continues to take shape heading into the final two rounds of competition.

While Kilgus topped the round, Taylor Santos continued to show consistency to maintain his hold on the overall average to a 30.8-second lead. Santos turned in a 63.2-second run in Round Three, highlighted by a 7.4-second heading, 18.0-second tie-down roping, 7.9-second heeling, 12.4-second steer wrestling and 17.5-second steer roping.

Those five runs pushed Santos’ three-round aggregate to 201.9 seconds, keeping the California cowboy securely atop the standings for the second round in a row as the race for the Cinch Timed Event Championship title and $100,000 payday continues.

Trailing Santos in the overall average race is Brushton Minton of Witter Springs, California, who sits second with a three-round total of 232.7 seconds. Seth Hall of Albuquerque, New Mexico holds third at 245.9 seconds, followed by Ketch Kelton of Mayer, Arizona in fourth with 250.5 seconds. Dylan Hancock of San Angelo, Texas rounds out the top five with 314.4 seconds as the field continues to chase Santos’ commanding lead heading into the next round of competition.

The Junior Ironman competition also continued Friday, where Leo Loucks (Pittsburg, Illinois) delivered the fastest performance of the round. Loucks completed the four disciplines in a combined 58.2 seconds to take the round win and to stay in overall aggregate lead with a two-round total of 108.0 seconds.

James Mann of Tehachapi, California, sits second in the aggregate with 148.9 seconds, followed by Wyatt Williams of Penrose, Colorado, with 165.9 seconds as the Junior Ironman competitors continue their push toward the championship.

All event results are available here.

Competition resumes Saturday afternoon with Round Four, where another cut of five athletes will be made before the remaining 15 athletes return for the Championship Round to determine the 2026 Cinch Timed Event Championship winner.

The competition intensified Friday afternoon at the 2026 Cinch Timed Event Championship inside the Lazy E Arena as Coleman Proctor (Pryor, Oklahoma) captured the Round Two win while Taylor Santos (Creston, California) surged to the top of the overall average leaderboard.

All event results are available here.

Proctor delivered the fastest overall performance of Round Two, completing the five disciplines in a combined 66.0 seconds. His run included a 7.3-second heading, 15.9 seconds in tie-down roping, 7.7 seconds in heeling, 18.2 seconds in steer wrestling and 16.9 seconds in steer roping.

The strong performance vaulted Proctor back into the mix in the Ironman race after entering the round in eighth place with a 94.3-second total from Round One.

Santos, however, used another consistent performance to take control of the overall average after two rounds. The California cowboy turned in a 68.9-second run in Round Two, highlighted by a 12.6-second heading, 18.0-second tie-down roping, 9.6-second heeling, 9.6-second steer wrestling and 19.1-second steer roping.

Those five runs gave Santos a two-round total of 138.7 seconds, moving him to the top of the standings in the battle for the Cinch Timed Event Championship title. Coleman Proctor sits second in the overall average with 160.3 seconds, followed closely by Ketch Kelton with 161.3 seconds as the race for the $100,000 payday and Ironman championship tightens heading into Round Three.

All event results are available here.

Following Round Two, the field was trimmed as the five competitors with the lowest aggregate times—Justin Shaffer, Cody Doescher, Slade Wood, Nelson Wyatt, and Riley Wakefield—were eliminated from the competition.

Competition continues tonight with Round 3. Five more competitors will be cut following Round 4 on March 7. The remaining 15 competitors will advance to the Championship Round on Saturday night, March 7, where they will go head-to-head for the $100,000 grand prize.

The opening round of the 2026 Cinch Timed Event Championship kicked off Thursday night at the legendary Lazy E Arena with a battle in the Ironman race, as Seth Hall (Albuquerque, New Mexico) captured the Round One win and took the early lead in the overall average. 

All event results are available here. 

Hall delivered one of the most consistent runs of the night, stopping the clock in 9.7 seconds in heading, 13.4 seconds in tie-down roping, 9.0 seconds in heeling, 10.8 seconds in steer wrestling, and 22.7 seconds in steer roping. His combined time of 65.6 seconds secured the Round 1 victory and the early lead in the average.

“It seems like the bulldogging and the tripping’s gonna be a little tricky,” said Hall. “But from what I see is that we have a dang great field of guys, and there’s some that have never been here. And those guys will battle back. I’ve been in those situations before. I’m just glad to get five under my belt and start for a good day tomorrow.”

Coleman Proctor (Pryor, Oklahoma) and Wesley Thorp (Stephenville, Texas) tied for the fastest time in the heading with runs of 8.1 seconds. Dylan Hancock (San Angelo, Texas) locked in the top tie-down roping time of 11.7 seconds. The fastest heeling time of the round was shared by Ketch Kelton (Mayer, Arizona) and Russell Cardoza (Terrebonne, Oregon) with runs of 6.6 seconds. Stetson Jorgensen (Blackfoot, Idaho) posted the top steer wrestling time with a 5.7-second run, while Taylor Santos (Creston, California) recorded the fastest steer roping time of the round with a 6.4-second run.

Close behind Hall in the overall standings are Taylor Santos with a total time of 69.8 seconds and Ketch Kelton with 73.6 seconds, keeping the race for the championship tight as the competition progresses. 

After round one, Leo Loucks (Pittsburg, Illinois) leads the Junior Ironman race by more than 36 seconds with a combined time of 49.8 seconds on four heads.

Loucks started his Ironman run with a 15.6-second tie-down roping time before turning in a 12.8-second run in the heading. He followed that with a 12.4-second heeling run and capped the round with a 9.0-second steer wrestling time. The four consistent runs put Loucks at the top of the leaderboard with a 49.8-second total heading into the next round on March 6.

James Mann sits second in the Junior Ironman standings after Round One with a total time of 87.4 seconds on four head. Mann turned in a 27.0-second run in the heading, followed by a 15.0 in the heeling. He added a 35.1-second steer wrestling run and a solid 10.3-second time in the tie-down roping to keep himself within reach of the lead heading into the next round.

All event results are available here. 

Competition continues on March 6 with Rounds 2 and 3. Five competitors will be eliminated after Round 2, and five more will be cut following Round 4 on March 7. The remaining 15 competitors will advance to the Championship Round on Saturday night, March 7, where they will go head-to-head for the $100,000 grand prize.

At approximately 8 a.m. Wednesday, March 4, Zane Kilgus received a call from Lazy E Arena General Manager Dan Wall offering him a spot in the 2026 Cinch Timed Event Championship to replace injured K.C. Jones—one day before the preliminary round of Ironman competition begins in Guthrie, Oklahoma.

Kilgus didn’t hesitate.

“I don’t have everything figured out,” Kilgus said. “All I know is when you get an opportunity like this, you jump on it and you figure out what to do to make it happen. I’m grateful for the chance to try it this year.”

Replacing K.C. Jones in this year’s CTEC, 24-year-old from Watsontown, Pennsylvania, was raised in a family rooted in Northeastern rodeo. His parents, Ned and Deneiss Kilgus, both train and compete on horses back home, and Kilgus grew up around multi-event competitors.

“My whole family’s always roped and been into rodeo,” Kilgus said. “I never wanted to do anything besides rodeo. I grew up obsessed with Trevor Brazile and guys who could win in different events, so this is something I’ve dreamed about since I was a kid.”

Kilgus now resides in Stephenville, Texas, where his older brother Zach and sister-in-law Alicia train rope horses, barrel horses and operate a small business, and helps out while building his ProRodeo resume.

A standout in amateur and high school competition, Kilgus earned a scholarship to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College (NEO), qualifying for the College National Finals Rodeo each year of his eligibility while competing in both team roping and tie-down roping. During the summers, he returned to the First Frontier Circuit, capturing titles in tie-down roping, steer wrestling and the all-around at the First Frontier Circuit Finals.

The Cinch Timed Event Championship will demand more.

Kilgus admits steer roping may present the steepest learning curve.

“I’ve maybe tripped 10 or 12 steers,” he said. “I had to go rope my dummy for a little bit just to make sure I remember how to rope the horns.”

To help manage the team roping portion of the Ironman, Kilgus has enlisted reigning World Champion Jake Long.

“If you’re going to find somebody, you’d better find the best,” Kilgus said. “I’ve roped with Jake a good bit, and I’m grateful he’s going to step in and help me out.”

Leading the horsepower lineup is Gus, Kilgus’ ProRodeo gelding who carried him through the California rodeos in 2025. Kilgus and his father originally trained Gus before convincing the horse’s owner to sell him a few years later.

“I just kept asking him,” Kilgus said. “Finally one day he called me and asked if I really wanted him. I told him to name his price. He’s been mine ever since and been there for me through college and everything. I’m excited for him to work in Guthrie.”

Kilgus will make his Cinch Timed Event Championship debut when competition begins tomorrow at the Lazy E Arena.

JC Flake will replace Jess Tierney in the 2026 Cinch Timed Event Championship after the 2017 CTEC champion was sidelined due to a back injury.

The 16-time CTEC competitor’s absence opened the door for Flake, a rookie who has been pushing to get on the list for the last three years.

“[Lazy E General Manager Dan Wall] called me probably three weeks ago, and he said I was second alternate,” Flake, 27, said. “(Tyler) Worley was ahead of me, and he wanted a guy to be ready if he got a call. And I said, ‘Alright, well I’ll start doing it.’ Then Worley got in, he called me again and he said, ‘Well, I can’t promise you nothing, but you’re getting closer.’ I started making some phone calls, getting some help and started finding a busting horse.”

Flake finished just outside the Top 15 in 2024 at No. 17 in the PRCA heeling world standings. He has an early jump on the 2026 ProRodeo season sitting No. 2 after the win at the Sandhills Stock Show & Rodeo in Odessa, Texas, this January. While the heeling is Flake’s priority these days, he’s made plenty of runs in multiple events. Flake bulldogged and roped calves through high school and college. While rodeoing for the University of Wyoming, the bulldogging was no joke under coach and NFR steer wrestler Beau Clark.

“Bulldogging was taken very seriously at the University of Wyoming,” Flake said. “I guess the last one was the college rodeo in 2021, that was the last one I bulldogged. I’ve thrown some on the ground, messing around at the house and stuff, and when he called and said I was first alternate, I got off and threw one on the ground at my house to make sure I could still do it.”

What will be new for Flake is the steer roping, but he’s rounded up some major help as he prepares.

“Actually, I got really lucky, Justin and Denton Parish, they had a busting dummy, and they brought it over and we’ve been working my horse in the busting,” Flake said. “I’ve been tying the dummy, and I got super lucky and Jimmy Brazile’s been helping me. He come over twice this week and taught me how to tie and right-hand tie and left -and tie.”

Four-time NFSR qualifier Brazile has been Flake’s all-around timed event coach for the Ironman, helping him with the calf roping as well. Horses have been lining up well for Flake, who bought some practice calves from Zane Kilgus. Flake bought a heel horse from Pablo Robles last year that was a calf horse once upon a time, and he proved in the practice pen that he’s still got it.

“When this deal kind of come about, we roped the dummy on him one time the other night, the tie-down dummy, and Jimmy told me to get off,” Flake recalled. “He said, ‘That horse is too good. Get off, don’t run anymore on him.’ So, I said ok. I said, well, if he’s that good, Denton Parish was headed to the college rodeo at Fort Worth, I said if he’s that good, let’s run him for money and see if he’s going to be good enough to go if I get the call. Denton tied one in 10.1 at the college rodeo on him, so I got a calf horse.”

Flake will ride a tripping horse named “Rio” that came from 20-time NFSR qualifier Cody Lee.

“It’s a horse that Pedro (Egurrola) used to rodeo on when me and Pedro used to rope,” Flake said. “It’s a buckskin horse, and Cody Lee had him and they used to bust on him. I told my stepdad, I said, ‘Hey, send that horse to me and we’ll see if he still knows how to bust.’ And so he’s been refreshing, and I’m learning.”

Flake will enlist two-time NFR steer wrestler and fellow Ironman contestant Justin Shaffer for bulldogging help leading up to his breakout appearance. Though it’s been a few years since he’s ran a bulldogging steer, his nerves lie mostly in the tripping.

“I’m going to go jump a couple and just try to get the fundamentals back again. But I think I’m going to be ok in that event. I’m not going to say I’m going to go throw ’em in 4, but I think I’ll get ’em tipped over. But the busting, there’s a lot more to it than I thought. Like, the ways you get off and how you get your leg underneath the rope and everything like that. So I guess I’m more nervous for that. I think Jimmy will have me prepared, as much as we can be in a month.”

Flake will take some of his own head and heel horses to the Lazy E with his brother-in-law and eight-time NFR header Dustin Egusquiza helping him on both ends of the team roping. He’ll ride one of Shaffer’s bulldogging horses as well. Though this will be Flake’s first time experience Ironman competition, he has sent horses in years past.

“I’ve actually sent, when I owned a bulldogging horse, I sent one for Clayton Van Aken the year he went—he rode my bulldogging horse,” Flake said. “And then two years ago, Clayton rode my head horse and heel horse. So I’ve sent horses and always wanted to go, and I’ve always watched it with my dad and my family. Since I was 5, I’ve always wanted to go the Timed Event if I ever had the chance, and it kind of worked out this year.”