Lane Ivy and Ryan Motes roped three steers in a time of 12.36 seconds to win the average at the first-ever Lone Star Shootout Open Roping with a #16 incentive in Stephenville, Texas worth $60,000 total.
“It was a fast roping,” Motes said. “We had a couple of good steers which obviously helps. It was similar to a George Strait style—the barrier was two-foot under. We were a short-four three times. It was one of those deals where we came back third high-call and it was really tight amongst the top six teams right there.”
Ivy and Motes came into the short round in the number-three spot after roping two steers in 8.3 seconds, and turned in a 4.06-second run to move them to the number-one spot in the average.
“It came down to a one-header,” Motes said. “We all knew somebody was going to connect on one real fast, we just weren’t really sure who. It kind of turned out to who was fastest on the last one. I know Kory Koontz was high-call and they had to be 4.3 to win it and Tsinigine (Aaron) ended up winning second and I believe he was fifth high-call and was four-flat in the short round. It was really tight.”
Not only did Ivy and Motes leave $60,000 richer, they each hitched up brand new Bloomer Trailers and loaded them down with custom Teskey’s saddles, Tres Rios buckles, Resistol Hats and Kerry Kelly Handmade Bits.
“The trailer is the coolest trailer that I’ve ever had the chance of owning,” Ivy said. “It’s the first new trailer that I’ve ever owned. Bloomer did an amazing job picking these out—they’re awesome. The cash payout was amazing, too. It’s unbelievable what they put together. We lost such a good roping but they’re making one that’s going to be just as good one day—it just takes time.”
“The trailers are probably the coolest prize I’ve won,” Motes said. “It’s a fancy trailer with the side tack and everything else. Bloomer went over the top as far as how well they built them. It’s the perfect gift for the perfect prize–something you never buy yourself and that’s kind of what these are. They’re the trailer that absolutely everyone wants but you can’t ever convince yourself to go out and buy one and you’d be fooling yourself if you did. We took it to Austin (Texas) and I think it’s just that handiest thing you could ever have.”
The roping was ran in five rotations. Out of each rotation the top 10 teams with the fastest runs on two head advanced to the short round, plus two teams in each rotation that were #16 incentive teams.
“There were five rotations, and they brought 10 teams out of each rotation,” Motes said. “In addition to the 10 they brought two teams that were number-16 teams or under out of each rotation, so the incentive on theirs was that two 16-teams got in.”
Ivy and Motes have roped as second partners for the last two years and seem to have more luck at bigger ropings than smaller jackpots. Ivy was also entered with Buddy Hawkins II and Jim Ross Cooper. Motes roped his regular-season partner Brock Hanson and Tom Richards.
Ivy turned steers all weekend on a bay gelding he calls Cuervo that he got from Chad Masters. Motes cleaned up the back end on Rockstar, which is Motes’ notable Starbucks’ full brother.
“I rode Rockstar,” Motes said. “I rode him at the BFI last year. He’s kind of been my primary jackpot horse lately—jackpot slash long-score type of a horse. Starbucks has gotten older now so I have to kind of pick and choose where all he’s got to go.”
As bigger ropings have started to pull the curtain, Austin Robertson and Robertson Hill Ranch found a way to give back to the open ropers’ needs.
“It was ran as good as any roping that I’ve been to, if not any better,” Ivy said. “Austin (Robertson) did an amazing job, great steers, it was very professional. There’s a ton of good ropings that a guy could go to. I’m so appreciative of the people that put on those ropings. They truly care about the sport of team roping.”
“I’ve never been to a new roping that was that well put together and that well run,” Motes added. “For a first year event I was astounded on how good it went. The five rotation thing was great, the steers were good and everything ran really well. For that type of a roping they should get 400 teams at least next year. It was the type of a deal that was good for everybody no matter the level of roper. It’s crazy to think that if you rope competitively at any type of level that a person wouldn’t make that part of your plan next year.”
Results:
1st Lane Ivy and Ryan Motes, 12.36 seconds on three head, $60,000, Bloomer Trailers, Custom Teskey Saddles, Tres Rios Buckles, Resistol Hats & Kerry Kelly Homemade Bits
2nd Aaron Tsinigine and Kyle Lockett, 12.99 seconds on three head, $42,000 & Tres Rios Buckles
3rd Tate Kirchenschlager and Tyler Worley, 13.94 seconds on three head, $30,000
4th Coy Brittan and Ben O. Gambrell, 16.3 seconds on three head, $20,000
5th Ty Daniel Haller and John Paul Lucero, 16.76 seconds on three head, $18,000
6th Kaleb Driggers and Jade Corkill, 16.92 seconds on three head, $14,000
7th Charly Crawford and Will Woodfin, 17.72 seconds on three head, $10,000
8th Britt Smith and Jake Smith, 18.31 seconds on three head, $6,500