Dale Woodard (l), ACTRA Arizona President Don Campbell, and Rick Shurtleff.
By Mike Sweeney
Special To Ropers Sports News
The Southwest Championships were held at Dunn’s Arena in Litchfield Park, Ariz., on March 9-10. This is one of the biggest returns to ACTRA members ever. Over $25,000 in awards was given out alone. Twelve Cactus championship saddle certificates, 20 Skyline championship buckles, 12 Cactus championship breast collars, 12 championship bronc halters, four Cactus and Fast Back team memberships, Weaver Leather rope bags, Professional’s Choice saddle pads, and Wrangler gift cards. A big thank you to all of our National Sponsors.
Members from six different chapters qualified for the Wrangler/Professional’s Choice ACTRA National Finals in Reno Nevada October 16-23.
Arizona is a unique chapter as ACTRA members from anywhere can qualify for the ACTRA National Finals in Reno. Even if you’re not from established chapters, if you meet the requirements of the Southwest Qualifier in March you can become qualified for the Wrangle/Professional’s Choice ACTRA National Finals.
A very big tip of the Resistol goes out to the Tanner family for hosting this year’s Southwest Championships. Tim and Trey Tanner went above and beyond to make the Southwest Championships the best it could possibly be. From holding weekly ropings to donating the facility. Dunn’s Arena in Litchfield is a premier venue for any roping event. It was certainly a family affair as Ellena, Tim’s wife, has a fantastic restaurant on site. The Oklahoma breakfast enchiladas are to die for, not to mention everything else. The Tanners also hosted a steak barbecue on Saturday night, what a feast that was!
Another tip of the Resistol to Ariel Zambrano for the cattle. He brought two herds that just fit the ropings, thanks Ariel. The flagging was handled by George Purselley. George handled the flagging duties in a very professional manner and he has to be one of the best in the business. Karen Fuller and Cindy Butler handled the office duties. They too were very efficient and professional. You can’t say enough about a great office staff!
It has always been ACTRA’s goal to be the best in the business for any event they produce, and needless to say the Southwest Championships met all the aspects of that goal.
A big thank you to all the ACTRA members who attended this year’s roping. They are the first to be qualified for the 2013 Wrangler/Professional’s Choice ACTRA National Finals. The Board and ACTRA members would like to send a special thank you to Chad Stringfellow for producing ropings at his arena in New River. He played a big part of getting members qualified for this year’s Southwest Championships, thanks Chad.
Don Campbell, Arizona Chapter President and the Arizona Board presented Amy Stafford a hard luck award. Amy was having a good roping until she got her hand in the dally. We want to thank Professional’s Choice for the trophy pad that was presented to Amy.
Last but certainly not least, a big thank you to the Arizona ACTRA Board for producing a great event for all the ACTRA members.
Hope to see everybody next year at the Arizona Southwest Championships!
Results are as follows (payoffs are per roper):
#8.5 ROPING: 4 for $50, 24 teams.
Average: 1st. Don Campbell and Mike Fuller, 44.21, $220. 2nd. Raymond Kerr and Mark Scheller, 45.12, $155. 3rd. J.J. Butler and Mike Fuller, 46.66, $115. 4th. Raymond Kerr and Daryl Medeiros, 56.30, $85. 5th. Raymond Kerr and Guy Nix, 28.51 on 3, $65. 6th. J.J. Butler and Guy Nix, 28.77 on 3, $50. 7th. Ron Pittman and Mark Scheller, 50.16 on 3, $35.
#7.5 ROPING: 3 for $50, 37 teams.
Rotation 1, Round 1: 1st. J.J. Butler and George Purselley, 5.59, $100.
Average: 1st. Ramey Morrow and Ariel Zambrano, 29.88, $545. 2nd. J.J. Butler and Mark Scheller, 31.55, $325. 3rd. Karen McFarlane and Ariel Zambrano, 33.44, $220.
#6.5 ROPING: 3 for $40, 52 teams.
Rotation 1, Round 1: 1st. Guy Nix and Bob Blair, 7.99, $120.
Average: 1st. Don Campbell and Bob Blair, 31.07, $475. 2nd. Don Campbell and Mark Scheller, 34.41, $355. 3rd. Don Campbell and Trey Tanner, 36.10, $235. 4th. Rick Shurtleff and Dale Woodard, 36.30, $120.
#6 OVER & UNDER; 3 for $40, 54 teams.
Rotation 1, Round 1: 1st. Raymond Kerr and Trey Tanner, 7.20, $120.
Average: 1st. Mike Sweeney and Mark Scheller, 25.67, $480. 2nd. Karen McFarlane and Mark Scheller, 26.49, $360. 3rd. Mike Sweeney and Bob Blair, 26.79, $240. 4th. Ron Pittman and Trey Tanner, 27.08, $120.
#4 ROPING: 3 for $40, 83 teams.
Rotation 1, Round 1: 1st. Amy Stafford and Raymond Kerr, 9.17, $120.
Average: 1st. Ron Pittman and Karen McFarlane, 41.14, $625. 2nd. Steve Kevorkian nd Charlie Johnson, 43.20, $435. 3rd. Steve Kevorkian and Jerry Klaizner, 43.58, $325. 4th. Harry Bernhardt and Kevin Wynder, 50.74, $230. 5th. Ron Pittman and Joe Grace, 22.84 on 2, $170. 6th. Jose Estrada and Scott Repp, 25.01 on 2, $115.
#5.5 ROPING: 3 for $40, 77 teams.
Rotation 1, Round 1: 1st. Ramey Morrow and Lonnie Wright, 6.67, $80.
Average: 1st. Don Campbell and Bob Blair, 27.90, $610. 2nd. Mike Sweeney and Scott Repp, 32.05, $435. 3rd. Raymond Kerr and Scott Repp, 32.61, $330. 4th. Karen McFarlane and Lonnie Wright, 33.28, $245. 5th. Raymond Kerr and Ramon Ballesteros, 35.27, $120.
Scott Repp, Raymond Kerr and ACTRA Arizona President Don Campbell.
ACTRA Arizona President Don Campbell, Scott Repp, and Mike Sweeney.
Raymond Kerr, Ramon Ballesteros, and ACTRA Arizona President Don Campbell.