JUNE 21, 2010

Reno, NV –
By Kendra Santos, Special To Ropers Sports News

Bob Feist Invitational Team Roping Classic veteran J.D. Yates made his 30th appearance at the richest one-day open roping in the world count by taking his first-ever BFI title with his cousin Jay Wadhams. The Colorado cowboys captured the 33rd annual BFI by roping six steers in 45.92 seconds, earning $131,510 of the $630,000-plus in cash and prizes up for grabs at this year’s event.
“This is an awesome feeling,” said Yates, who calls Pueblo, Colo. home. “Winning this roping ranks right up there with as good as it gets. The money’s great at this roping, but the prestige is even better. The notch in your belt for winning this roping is the thing. We were in really good shape on four steers last year and I missed the fifth one. I feel lucky that I gave Jay a chance to rope all six steers this year.”
“This is a lifetime roping,” Wadhams added. “It’s the one you dream about winning. Before the short round I told J.D., ‘I’m going to try him on and try to win something big.’ You have to rope smart but aggressive to win this roping.” Yates and Wadhams were the second high team back in the short round. Travis Tryan and Michael Jones were the high team, but Tryan lost his rope in the short round.
Yates has won numerous rounds and placed many times in the BFI average as both a header and a heeler. The experience of having heeled so long always helps with a header’s handles. “We’ve worked all our lives to put ourselves in this position,” Yates said. “This is awesome. The glory of winning this roping is worth way more than the money.”