Clay Tryan, Header
Clay Tryan, of Billings, Montana, had event earnings of $66,500, placing first in the average, tied second/third in the average, and second fast time in the short round. Tryan rides a 12 year old mare, Syndicate, which he purchased two weeks before the Wildfire Open.
“Having two call backs in the short round meant having two good chances at winning money. I keep close track of the times and how the roping and short round are progressing. This roping is always tough and I knew going into the short round I was going to have to be more aggressive on the barrier and with my roping,” said Tryan. “My game plan in the short round was the same for both runs. They both needed to be six second runs, preferably short six second runs. I knew that I couldn’t hold back because if you let up or fall behind at all, you’re out”.
His sponsors are Roper Apparel & Footwear, Fastback Ropes, Pro Equine, and Reinsman.
“Rodeo is what we do as a family. My mom, dad and brother have all been to the NFR. And while she didn’t rope in this year’s Wildfire Ladies roping, my wife, Bobbie, ropes too. My four and two year-old sons, Tyler and Braylon, are starting to get into roping and we all travel together most of the year,” stated Tryan.
Travis Graves, Heeler
Travis Graves, of Jay, Oklahoma, had event earnings of $50,000, placing first in the average. Graves horse is a 16 year old gelding named Superstar, purchased from his dad when the horse was only four years old.
Graves and Superstar together have won the Wildfire Open three times; in 2007 with Colter Todd and 2009 with Turtle Powell. Graves has pocketed more cash than any other roper with Wildfire earnings totaling $125,000.
“The main thing I was concentrating on was being consistent, aggressive and trying not to over think what I needed to do. I think allowing the guys to enter the event three times and making the barrier shorter this year, made the roping tougher — but it worked out well for me”, exclaimed Travis.
Sponsors are Cinch and Rattler Ropes.
Graves went on to say: “As long as I can remember we’ve made a living producing team roping jackpots, and training and selling rope hoses. My grandpa used to team rope and my wife Tamika ropes some too. She hauls with me all year, so yeah roping is a big part of my family.
“As far as winning this event for the third time, I’ve grown up around jackpot ropings and I think this type of event just suits me. I’ve also been fortunate to enter this event with great partners and a great horse.
Results of the WILDFIRE OPEN TO THE WORLD 2010 are as follows (payoffs are per team):
Round 1: 1st. Jake Stanley and Broc Cresta, 6.09, $6,000. 2nd Morgan Jones and Matt Garza, 6.13, $5,000. 3rd/4th. split) Brandon Beers and Ryan Motes, Shane Philipp and Britt Bockius, 6.23, $2,250.
Short Round; 1st. Matt Sherwood and Allen Bach, 6.29, $6,000. 2nd. Clay Tryan and Patrick Smith, 6.31, $5,000. 3rd. Shane Philipp and Britt Bockius, 6.34, $3,000. 4th. David Motes and Ryan Motes, 6.46, $1,500.
Average: 1st. Clay Tryan and Travis Graves, 41.38, $100,000, Gist buckles, Cactus Saddlery briefcases + Knetsch knives. 2nd./3rd. (tie) Shane Philipp and Britt Bockius; and Clay Tryan and Patrick Smith, 41.71, $28,000. 4th. David Motes and Ryan Motes, 42.68, $22,000. 5th. Mike Fletcher and Michael Jones, 43.02, $18,000. 6th. Logan Olson and Kinney Dale Harrell, 43.23, $15,000. 7th. Erich Rogers and Monty Joe Petska, 43.88, $12,600.
Results of the Wildfire Ladies Open and Sponsors Pro-Am are in the March issue of Ropers Sports News. |
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