Steer by Steer: How JR Dees and Lane Siggins won the Bob Feist Invitational

A steer-by-steer breakdown of Dees and Siggins' biggest win.

Round 1: 8.43 seconds

Dees: We both missed the start a little bit. At that point, we were just going to get by that steer. We weren’t trying to rush or speed anything up. I was trying to let my horse work. Lane just got to the inside and heeled two feet.

Siggins: I missed the haze, and I was a little bit behind. They talk about the first steer at the BFI, and it’s such a critical steer to get by. I was trying to pick up a groove. Junior had him by the neck, and he hit going down the arena. It felt long, I felt like we were 10 on him. I wasn’t very happy with my situation. I called my dad walking out of the back end after this one because I was so frustrated.

Round 2: 7.26 seconds

Dees: I got a better start, and Lane got up there more. It came together a little better. He was a little straighter than the first one.

[LISTEN: The Score: Season 2, Episode 12 with BFI Champs Dees and Siggins]

Siggins: We called (Dees’ mentor) Matt Zancanella, and he wanted me to get up there higher and get closer to the steer. I was worried because a steer going left will take a guy out. I didn’t want to panic Junior or make him take a throw he didn’t want to take. It would have been a terrible way to go out. So I had to work on my scoring and be disciplined with my position.

Round 3: 7.41 seconds

Dees: We were just trying to stay in the roping. I got a good start on him. I was mainly trying to get out the barrier and get to him. He handled wild. I told myself I needed to make it easy on my partner here. It’s easier for me to rope going to the steer, and I like to pick up with the steer and square him up. I like to watch the steer through the corner, then pull him to get big hops for my partner.

Siggins: I took my rope nose tie-down off for this run. I let his head out a little bit. I put a Keith Wellington dog-bone bit on instead. It’s nothing, but it doesn’t let him run through it. That horse doesn’t take pain very good as far as a bridle or spurring him. I turn my spurs on my feet after I warm him up because don’t want them to grab him or they’ll make him step out of his stop. He felt super strong to the horn on the first two steers, so I didn’t think I needed much pullback. Really, I almost slipped a leg on that one. I feel like I got too close. I got back to the end of my saddle trying to get away from the steer because of the position I rode. I gave my rope back, and that happens when you get too close to one. I needed to keep enough distance and come back to my saddle to get the right separation for myself.

Round 4: 7.16 seconds

Dees: This steer stepped back to the right. My horse was running really good to the steer, and I didn’t have to reach all day. I was trying to run real close and set them up and not rush anything. My horse made it really easy for me to do that.

Siggins: I knew we were right there in the top three or four of the roping, but I hadn’t watched anyone go. I knew we had a great chance, as far as winning something, but I didn’t think we were high call. I didn’t want to be high call, I wanted to be second or third, because high call has so much pressure. Running down the arena, I noticed the steer had dropped his right horn and he was running and stepping toward Junior. That steer went a touch to the left. I needed to get back away from him. He hit dead and didn’t give me much separation. That was my most disciplined shot of the jackpot. I had to stay down and stay true to my rope. My horse felt the best that run and could have easily bumped into that steer.

[READ MORE: Knowing Your Horse with JR Dees]

Round 5: 7.1 seconds

Dees: I went a little earlier than I did on the other runs. I wasn’t trying to be aggressive, but it seemed like that. I didn’t feel like I would break the barrier, but a lot of people told me I was close. That was the most comfortable run I made all day. I just wanted to get out the barrier and be aggressive and see what call we were.

Siggins: Cale Markham and Brye Crites were 7 not long before us, and I thought we’d be second back after our run. I was just trying to catch up. That was a bigger, stronger steer. People have said we drew good, but I don’t think people realize how good Junior’s head horse is. That steer was heavy. That was a good run. That horse took him up away from me, and that run was text book. I was more nervous for that steer than any steer all day.

Round 6: 7.26 seconds

Dees: I’ve been in a few situations for a lot of money like that, where I get rammed up and excited and jazzed up. I’ve really tried to make it a point to breathe to where I never ever do feel like I’m panicking. I knew when I went, I was out. I needed to breathe and see the start and make it as easy as the other ones. I think a person gets to thinking too much how he wants to do good, but that messes me up. I wanted to be aggressive, see the start and not change anything, and that’s what happened.

Siggins: I rode across there and asked for a new barrier. It gave us just enough time to stop. I didn’t know the steer, but I didn’t like the looks of him. He was brown with a wider back. He looked better than our steer before that, but he was big and bush-hoggy. I wish I had helped Junior more really. He took off over to the right, and it looks like Junior missed the barrier, but Junior’s horse covers so much ground and gets there so fast. He’s a superstar, and he really took that steer’s head. I felt like we were 10 on him, but sure enough, it worked.

[READ MORE: The JR Dees Story]