Four-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo tie-down roper John Douch is one of two Cinch Timed Event Championship presented by Smarty Rodeo freshmen in this year’s field. Two-time Jr Ironman champ Ketch Kelton won his way into this year’s Timed Event, too.
“I’m very excited to take a shot at the Timed Event,” said Douch, 27, of Itasca, Texas. “I’ve always wanted to do it, but never knew how to get invited. I was roping at a PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) judging seminar at Hill College in Hillsboro last spring—I rope at it every year, where they train judges on what to look for in a run—and (Timed Event Chute Boss) John Gwatney asked if I’d ever thought about getting in. I said yes, and he made a call to get the ball rolling on that invite. I’ve been working at it pretty good, but I’ve darn sure gotten sore getting ready.”
Douch spent much of his youth at Hall of Famer Joe Beaver’s 8X Ranch. He drafted his team roping Timed Event help from another cowboy who grew up in Joe and Jenna’s arena and loving care in Huntsville.
“Reno Gonzales will be helping me in the heading and heeling,” Douch said. “Me and Reno are like brothers. We’ve roped together for so long, and he can take pressure. It’s definitely a Joe B connection. We’re all family. I know I can depend on Reno. I’m not yet sure who’ll haze for me in the bulldogging, but one guy can handle helping me in the team roping.
“As for the horses, I’ll probably rope calves on my gray horse, Pistol, that I rode at the NFR in December. I’ll head on my girlfriend’s dad’s (Bryan Hanson) horse, and heel on Reno’s horse. I’m going to ride Shad Mayfield’s horse in the steer roping. I’m not sure what I’ll bulldog on yet.”
About not having his steer wrestling horse and hazer ducks in a row early on—no sweat.
“I’m probably most excited about getting to bulldog again,” Douch beamed. “I made the high school and college finals in the bulldogging. I don’t do it as much anymore, because I’d rather rope. But I really like to bulldog. I’m also looking forward to the tripping, because I’ve never done it. It’ll be fun to do something different.
“I’ll be making my first tripping runs at Shad’s place, and I’ve mostly been working on my left-hand tying. I think that’s going to be the hardest, because I’ve never tied a steer left-handed. Shad has a practice steer horse and a good one. He said I can ride the good one at the Lazy E.”
Douch has been watching Timed Event tape on YouTube every chance he gets. “I’ve had a few people tell me, “Just don’t take a 60 (no-time), and be consistent,” grinned a guy best known for going fast, but smart and versatile enough to “get” the CTEC assignment.
Weak is not a word in this guy’s cowboy repertoire, but if he had to pick an event he most hopes to “get by” on the Timed Event battlefield?
“It’d probably be the heeling or the tripping,” he said. “I’ve never done it before, but I like the tripping more than the heeling. I team rope all the time, but I mostly head. I like to throw my rope first.”
Might Douch be motivated to throw his name in the world all-around race on the heels of past CTEC contestant Mayfield winning the world-around crown in 2024?
“If I had a good chance at it, I would,” Douch said. “If I had a great winter and a lot of money won early, yes. If that happens, my second event would definitely be steer wrestling.
“I’m pretty pumped for 2025 in general, competing for the first time at the Timed Event included. I didn’t have the Finals I wanted, so I’m hungry this year. I’ll take Tyler Calhoun in the truck with me this summer. He’s a college freshman this year, and he’s hungry, too. I’m excited. I’m ready to rodeo hard and redeem myself.”