Another Bob Feist Invitational is over, and I must say it was a great one with some very happy winners, Junior Dees and Lane Siggins with a total time of 44.62 on six head. This year’s short round was one to remember as a large crowd watched the top 15 teams come back for their final run.
BJ Campbell and Clint Harry came back 15th with a time of 45.55, which was only 8.19 away from the leaders, Dees and Siggins with a 37.36 on five. Campbell and Harry made a smooth run of 7.15 which gave them a total of 52.70 on six and set the pace for the other 14 teams to go in the short round.
Tate Kirchenschlager and Buddy Hawkins were 14th call back with a 45.46 on five head and a miss at the head end moved us on to the 13th call back team of Boyle and Hixon with a 45.11 on five. They posted a 6.59 run for a total of 51.70 which put them in the lead. The next team to rope was Pace Freed and Dustin Searcy with a time of 43.97 on 5. They went long with 16.52, giving them a total of 60.49.
Coy and Colton Brittain had five roped in 42.96 which had them as the 11th team back and they roped a front leg for a no time. This brought up the Minor boys who have made the short round of the BFI many times. Riley and Brady were 41.91 on five coming into the short round and took a miss at the heels for a no time.
Brandon Beers and Justin Davis came back in 9th after five head with a time of 41.59. They went 11.16 for a total of 52.75 on six. Dustin Egusquiza and Jake Long came in sitting 8th after five with a time of 41.32 . They went 12.15 for a total of 53.47 on six.
As we got into the top seven teams there was less than 3.9 seconds from the lead time on five that belonged to Dees and Siggins. All of the heelers knew they had to make clean catches on the back end if their partner turned one free of a barrier penalty. David Key and Rich Skelton went 6.19 on their sixth steer for a total of 47.43. This brought up Tom Richards and Nick Sarchett with 40.98 on five. They stopped the clock in 6.79 which put them in second. Rhett Anderson and Cole Wilson roped one in 6.50 which brought the crowd screaming as they went to the lead with a 47.14 on six head.
Billy Bob Brown and Evan Arnold made a 6.72 run which gave them a total on six of 46.50, putting them in the lead. Aaron Tsinigine and Patrick Smith came in with a 38.57 on five and went 8.09 on their sixth steer for a total of 46.66 on six and put them in second. This brought up Cale Markham and Brye Crites who were second after five head. They roped one in 7.90 for a total of 45.84 on six and the lead with one team to go.
The lead team of Junior Dees and Lane Siggins backed in the box knowing that if they roped their sixth steer in 8.47 or less they would be the 2019 BFI Champions. They clocked a 7.26 on a steer that wasn’t all that sweet on the back end to cinch the title with a total of 44.62 on six head. They made a great victory lap or three and were more than excited about the win which gave each of them $60,000 plus many great awards.
My Resistol is off to all those who made the short round and to those that took home the big money. This year’s BFI saw many new names in the top 15 and I’m sure we will see some more new names as the talent of team ropers continues to improve.
The addition of the BFI Hooey Jr. Championship showed great talent in the junior ranks and those kids gave us a glimpse of some future BFI competitors. The roping ability and horsemanship displayed by the junior competitors very much impressed me and the other spectators. This was new this year and I’m sure it will be continued in the future. It was great to see all of the ropings through the week which were held in conjunction with the Reno Rodeo, celebrating its 100th year.
The Wrangler Network broke all records on people viewing this year’s BFI and a big thanks to Sam Dunn and his Wrangler crew for an outstanding job.
Congratulations to Ullman and Peterson Events for another fine year of carrying on the BFI Week in Reno. See complete results in the front page story.
Our August issue of Ropers Sports News will feature a program for ACTRA (American Cowboys Team Roping Association). This will be the fifth year that RSN has produced this supplemental insert. RSN is very proud of the fact that we are the official publication of California ACTRA. Our affiliation with ACTRA has been in effect since the establishment of this fine assocation 37 years ago.
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I hope everyone has a great July run and travels safe. Good luck ropers!