Clay Smith and Paul Eaves hit the ground running with their partnership with a win at the 2016 National Western Stock Show and Rodeo didn’t just open the season—it set the tone for a duo that would peak with a world title two years later.
Coming into Denver, both men already had plenty to show for 2015. Smith had just qualified for his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, won the Wildfire Open to the World for the second straight year and proposed to longtime girlfriend Taylor Richey. Eaves wrapped up a banner year of his own, marrying his wife Amanda, qualifying for his fourth NFR and winning major rodeos in Deadwood, South Dakota, and Preston, Idaho.
But Denver has a way of separating a good year from a great start.
Smith and Eaves roped three steers in 16.7 seconds to win the average and pocket $7,254 apiece. More important, they proved—early and under pressure—that they could win together on a big stage.
The victory came with a few variables. Eaves was riding his backup horse, Spade, a 12-year-old sorrel gelding making one of his first major ProRodeo appearances. His longtime standout grey, Cadillac, had gone to Las Vegas, but at 18 years old, Eaves opted to turn him out after the Finals and let him rest.
“I got Spade from Kaleb Driggers,” Eaves said. “He bought him from Kent Nixon when he was heeling.”
Smith stayed with what he knew best—Marty, the then 8-year-old grey gelding he’d ridden for most of his career. The horse would be the one Smith
They started steady. A 5.0-second run in Round 1 paid fifth. A 5.3 in Round 2 earned eighth. Nothing flashy, just catches. Heading into the short round, they were tied for the lead with reigning world champion Aaron Tsinigine and Ryan Motes, with several elite teams stacked close behind.
Then Denver did what Denver sometimes does.
The short round unraveled. Steers checked up, ducked off, or stopped altogether. Barriers were broken. Runs were waved off. What looked straightforward on paper turned tricky in a hurry.
“We didn’t have the pressure,” Eaves said. “We just had to catch.”
They needed to be 7.3 or faster. Smith got out clean, got the steer on the corner, and Eaves caught him on the third hop before the left fence came into play. The clock stopped at 6.4 seconds. Clean. Efficient. Enough.
“I’ve never won this rodeo before,” Eaves said. “It feels really good.”
There wasn’t much time to celebrate. An overnight drive took them to Fort Worth, then on to Rapid City. Within days, they were stacking checks again, sitting near the top of the world standings with momentum firmly on their side.
In hindsight, Denver wasn’t just a win. It was a confirmation. Smith and Eaves didn’t need years to figure it out—they needed one rodeo. The National Western was the spark. The gold buckle in 2018 was the proof.
