Money Mayfield is his name, and tie-down roping is his game. But the 2020 champ of the world is about to exponentially expand his rodeo repertoire to compete at his first Cinch Timed Event Championship, March 10-12 at the Lazy E Arena.
“The Timed Event is something I’ve always watched coming up,” said Mayfield, the 2019 National High School Rodeo Association tie-down roping titlist, who qualified for his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo that same year. “I’ve always been interested in learning new events. I’ve watched the Timed Event every year it’s been on TV, and wanted to get into it pretty bad.”
Mayfield competed in virtually all events coming up the rodeo ranks—including goat tying, chute dogging, team roping, breakaway roping and steer riding—before settling into his trademark tie-down roping. Shad and big sister Shelby were the ribbon roping champs at the 2013 National Junior High Finals Rodeo in Gallup, New Mexico.
Full List of 2022 Cinch Timed Event Championships Contestants
Now to make five runs in five events—heading, heeling, steer wrestling, steer roping and tie-down roping—at the mettle-testing marathon also known as the Ironman of Pro Rodeo.
“I’ve done all five events now,” said Shad, 21. “I started learning how to bulldog awhile back, and I’ve started tripping steers.”
Does he ever see himself giving Stetson Wright a run for his money in the world all-around race?
“For sure,” said the Clovis, New Mexico native, who now lives in Lipan, Texas. “Tripping’s been my favorite event to pick up. I’ll probably start entering the pro rodeos with that as my second event within a year or two.”
Mayfield’s working on his human TEC helpers. It looks like he’ll head for Lane Siggins in the heading, and heel for Cody Snow in the heeling. Shad’s not yet sure who’ll haze for him in the steer wrestling.
As for horses, he’ll ride one of his own in the tie-down roping, though he’s already ruled out his #1 red-roan, Rampage. Bucky Harmon’s been helping Shad with his bulldogging, so riding one of the Harmons’ horses in that event is likely. He plans to head on one of Wyatt Imus’s horses, and heel on a Siggins steed. In the steer roping, “I’m not 100 percent—maybe one of Don Eddleman’s.”
That gold buckle aside, Shad considers his $600,000 win at The American in 2020 his favorite career highlight to date.
“I get nervous just thinking about it again,” he said. “That’s definitely my most memorable moment.”
What excites Mayfield most as he looks forward to his first Timed Event?
“Just the thrill of being able to do all of the events at one time for an overall time is exciting to me,” Shad said. “It brings out the biggest and best in everyone. That’s what that event does.
“I’ve got all the help I need to get ready for it. I’ve been practicing a lot here at home, and will be roping with Lane and Cody. I’ll trip a few steers with Shay Good. I’ve heard the bulldogging is the toughest event, so that’s the one that worries me the most.”
