Joseph Harrison and Royal Nites, better known as “Lewie,” claimed the 4-&-Under Pre-Futurity Heeling championship at the 2026 Old West World Championships in Amarillo, Texas, Oct. 17, with a 910.78 on four head, earning $20,056.

Harrison and Lewie entered the Open finals second high call with a 680.97 on three head, trailing Hunter Koch and Rebel X, who led the field with a 686.00. A 229.81 in the short round secured the championship by 2 points over Koch and Hide N Go Seek, who finished second with a 908.78 for $15,696.

For Griggs, the championship meant considerably more than another check.

“I’m just kind of in shock,” Griggs said. “It’s such a blessing.”

Royal Nites, by Gunners Special Nite out of Whatta Royal Vintage, was bred by Tom and Mandy McCutcheon, who also had the gelding before Harrison found him for Griggs.

Harrison had found two prospects for Griggs, but the little bay, Lewie, caught her attention. Since then, he has become a favorite around Harrison’s barn, though he has a personality that keeps everybody on their toes.

“He’s been a pretty cool little horse from the get-go,” Harrison said. “We got him off of Tom and Mandy McCutcheon, and he’s just been super cool the whole time, really.”

While Harrison describes Lewie as an easygoing horse, he’s a different character when it’s time to eat.

“He’s kind of a clown, pretty fun to be around all the time,” Harrison said. “Honestly, the least favorite thing that I have is to feed him. You need two buckets, a feed bucket and then a spare bucket to beat him with so you can get the feed in the tub.”

Despite his antics around feeding time, Lewie has proven to be a levelheaded participant when it comes time to work.

“He’s a cool little customer,” Harrison said. “He doesn’t get wound up that much.”

That disposition was particularly important in Amarillo, where the roping featured 94 of the industry’s top 4-year-old heel horses.

Harrison and Lewie started the week with a 227.56 in Round 1, finishing second in the round for $1,000. They continued to build on that opening steer, entering the short round with a 680.97 on three head.

For Harrison, the key in the finals was keeping Lewie relaxed in the box and giving the gelding a chance to do his job. The pair answered with a 229.81 in the finals, enough to be crowned champions.

For Griggs, watching from outside the arena came with its own challenges.

“I am nervous every time,” Griggs said. “I aggravate everybody around me, but this was a whole new level.”

Harrison understood the pressure, too, joking that catching the last steer was particularly important for his job security.

“Let’s just say it’s a good thing I caught that one,” Harrison said. “I might have got fired.”

Griggs was quick to disagree.

“There’s no chance,” Griggs said. “We’re family.”

That relationship between Harrison and Griggs has become an important part of Lewie’s success. Griggs considers Harrison and his wife, Jodi, family, and watching the gelding they’d developed together come through in the biggest moment of the week made the win particularly meaningful.

“There’s really not words,” Griggs said. “This has been a hard year, and we needed this—we needed a win.”

The championship also carried weight for Harrison, who has watched the rope horse futurity industry develop into what it is today.

“The guys are all so good now, and the horses have gotten so good,” Harrison said. “If you win first place at one of these deals today, you’ve accomplished something.”

With many of the industry’s best trainers roping against one another, Harrison said making the finals alone has become an accomplishment, much less leaving with a win.

“All my friends, they all rope really good and they all ride good,” Harrison said. “So just to stay with them at all is something, let alone getting in front of them.”

Griggs shared that appreciation for the level of competition, especially after watching Lewie come back second high call against such a deep field.

“That was 94 head of very salty horses, and I just felt so blessed to even make it back,” Griggs said. “But to come back second high call was amazing.”