The lady legends of the Women’s Rodeo World Championship team roping event, Lari Dee Guy and Jimmi Jo Montera, made history in the South Point Arena on Friday, Oct. 29, 2021.
Guy, who was inducted into the Cowgirl Hall of Fame on Oct. 26, and her long-time partner Montera turned in the fastest run of the week in the final round of the WRWC with a 5.95-second run, to win the event, earning them $60,000 each.
“I just wanted to do my job because I knew my partner would if I gave her a good chance,” Guy, of Abilene, Texas, said. “We drew a great steer and it just felt like a practice run. That just shows the world how blessed and fortunate I am to be able to do what I do. Getting inducted into the Cowgirl Hall of Fame was the biggest honor I’ve received in my life. Now we win the team roping and have a great week.”
Guy and Montera drew the steer that Hope Thompson and Whitney DeSalvo placed second in the semi-finals on with a 6.99-second run.
“That was obviously our best steer,” Montera, of Greeley, Colorado, said. “We did outdraw them in the short round. It didn’t feel that fast, but he was just a good steer and steady. I was happy to get him.”
Guy headed on a 6-year-old bay gelding, American Greed, whom has been under the careful guidance of 26-time World Champion Trevor Brazile for the bulk of the year.
“I picked him up the day after the (American Rope Horse) futurity (Association World Finals) and rode him a day then headed out to Las Vegas,” Guy said. “Riding behind Trevor Brazile, you know what they’re going to feel like. They always feel great. He did a great job with him.”
American Greed—by Starlight Gypsy—is coming off a year that saw his second BFI All-Girl win with Guy, a Royal Crown heading and heeling title with Brazile and a fourth-place finish at the ARHFA World Championship.
Montera captured two feet on her black and white Paint gelding, John Wayne, whom she purchased from two-time NFR qualifier Shay Carroll.
“I lucked into that deal. I bought him after my back fusion,” Montera said. “I knew the horse and he had been at the house, but I had never got on him. He’s been fun. He’s been a real blessing to me. For some reason he just clicks with me. He has a really cool personality.”
As veterans in the sport, Guy and Montera are in awe of the opportunities that the WRWC has provided for women from the amateurs up to the professional ropers.
“They were the first ones to give us that chance,” Guy said. “They were the first ones to give us the opportunity. I’m just grateful and thankful to them for doing this and giving us that opportunity. The women’s events back even before us when we started, we didn’t rope for anything like this.”
“It’s hard to wrap your head around,” Montera added. “I was talking to Bobby (Mote) before the rodeo and I said, ‘If I don’t get a chance to thank you but thank you for doing this because this is huge compared to what we used to rope for.’ It’s mind boggling.”
Guy and Montera have claimed nearly every other title in team roping, including WPRA titles, BFI All-Girl wins and Wildfire Ladies Only crowns. But this marks their single biggest win to date.
