2018 USTRC Cinch National Finals of Team Roping Remains Second-Highest-Paying, and Single-Largest, Roping in World

2018 USTRC Cinch National Finals of Team Roping Remains Second-Highest-Paying, and Single-Largest Roping in World

The USTRC's 2018 Cinch National Finals of Team Roping paid some $3.7 million between Oklahoma City and Guthrie events.

The United States Team Roping Championships completed its 29th offering of the Cinch National Finals of Team Roping in Oklahoma City on October 27, paying out $3.7 million as the second-richest team roping in the world.

Some 9,000 teams competed during the event making this once again the largest roping in the world. The seven-day event was conducted in three arenas in Oklahoma City and two arenas at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma. All total the five arenas with its huge staff ran 21,000 steers during the week.

Last year, the USTRC started a multi-tiered pricing set up that discounts entry fees to qualified teams versus non-qualified teams direct enter versus on the spot entries. In addition, the association offered two prices of qualification events, one at Lazy E and one at Oklahoma City. The pricing approach is part of a strategy to provide roping that would work in any budget. It appears to be working, as ropings did not cease till nearly 7 p.m. in each location, each night.

USTRC took a big step in 2018 trying to balance the roping offerings between family-oriented divisions and age-protected divisions. The introduction of the “Exclusives” split team counts within divisions and made the singular “Shoot-Out” divisions smaller than past years and therefore much easier for contestants. The splitting of these divisions, along with efforts throughout the year in handicapping, created a noticeable change in winning times of all the lower divisions compared to the 2017 Cinch NFTR. The change also had quite a few ropers traveling back and forth between the two locations. Officials seem confident that they can begin to soften the amount of traveling between venues in future seasons.

USTRC was very proud to launch a #7 ShootOut, and the only obvious glitch in the production came when the divisions were drawn placing teams who entered twice too close together. This draw problem caused the announcers to be on “their toes” the entire week. Even though the problem slowed the normal flow considerably, the three-arena set up was still much faster than a straight two-arena sequence.

The entire event can be viewed on RidePass. The United States Team Roping Championships will return to Oklahoma City next October for its 30Anniversary!

#14 Shoot Out

TJ Allen, Dadeville, AL and Kyle Lawrence, Andalusia, AL

First place earnings: $41,000: Winning time: 29.04 on four steers

#16 Case IH Tractor

Zane Bruce, Graham, TX and Derrick Jantzen, Ames, OK

First place earnings: $37,000: Winning time: 36.05 on five steers

#13 Shootout

Bill Rasberry, Yale, OK and Thomas Smith, Barnsdoll, OK

First place earnings: $44,000: Winning time: 29.26 on four steers

Open Junior NFR

Korbin Rice, Hobbs, NM and Zant Paul Lewis, Hermleigh, TX

First place earnings: $14,700: Winning time: 26.40 on four steers

#12 Exclusive

Cody, Stutenkemper, Bolivar, MO and Chris Pomeroy, Bolivar, MO

First place earnings: $33,50: Winning time: 30.20 on four steers

#12 Shootout

Briar A Teague, Rattan, OK and Colton Scott, Soper, OK

First place earnings: $45,500: Winning time: 29.65 on four steers

#11 Exclusive

Danny Miller, Lawson, MO and Colton Scott, Soper, OK

First place earnings: $34,000: Winning time: 30.77 on four steers

#11 Shootout

Hali Williams, Mineral Wells, TX and Bodi Hines, Ignacio, CO

First place earnings: $48,000: Winning time: 28.96 on four steers

10 Exclusive

Brian Sellers, Cuba, MO and Marty Claiborn, Montreal, MO

First place earnings: $33,000: Winning time: 31.88 on four steers

#10 US Junior NFR

Madison Clark, Adrian, TX and Nicholas Lovins, Canadian, TX

First place earnings: $14,500: Winning time: 31.32 on four steers

#10 Shootout

Jack Foster, Stockton, MO and Jason Obrien, Pineville, MO

First place earnings: $47,000: Winning time: 29.68 on four steers

#9 Exclusive

Justin Turner, Noble, OK and Nelson Turner, Mustang, OK

First place earnings: $29,000: Winning time: 38.13 on four steers

#10 Cinch Ladies

Martha Angelone, Aledo, TX and Sarah Angelone, Aledo, TX

First place earnings: $10,000: Winning time: 35.93 on four steers

#9 Shootout

Steven Bomar, Odessa, TX and Kelly Bomar, Odessa, TX

First place earnings: $42,000: Winning time: 35.83 on four steers

#8 Exclusive

Clay Emmons, Fairfield, TX and Doug Miller, Pecos, TX

First place earnings: $25,000: Winning time: 41.04 on four steers

#8 Shootout

Jeffrey Parsley, Troup, TX and Billy Tosh, Mt Pleasant, TX

First place earnings: $34,000: Winning time: 36.44 on four steers

#7 Pick and Draw

Logan VanderHamm, Ingalls, KS and Jett VanderHamm, Ingalls, KS

First place earnings: $10,000: Winning time: 31.92 on three steers

A complete list of winners can be found at USTRC.com, and roping summaries, at Teamropingjournal.com, and in the December issue of The Team Roping Journal.