2020 Media Guide - World Champions

Team Roping

Unmatched pair wins

After a large-scale game of musical chairs last season with team ropers switching partners, the 2019 heading and heelingworld champions did not compete together at the 2019 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Header Clay Smith and heeler Jade Corkill placed sixth in the average and won enough to keep Smith at the top of the heading world standings with $268,820 for his second consecutive world title. Meanwhile, heeling world champion Wesley Thorp placed first in the average along with his header Cody Snow, leavingThorp at the top of the heeling standings with $249,181. Corkill finished fourth in the heeling world standings with $226,946. Smith and Corkill didn’t

compete together during the entire season, but paired up for the Wrangler NFR, leaving them on uneven ground in the world standings. “I really want to thank Jade for heeling steers, there were ones only he could heel this week,”Smith said.“I feel bad, like I let him down. It’s a team deal and I didn’t do well enough for him to win too. He is the best heeler in the world.” Snow finished second in the heading standings with $256,938 – about $11,000 behind Smith. “I’m so proud of how he (Snow) has done this week,” Thorp said. “I truly thought he had more control with his roping and his horse than anyone in this arena and that goes a long way. Hemademy job easier and ropes phenomenally all year long. He is one of my best friends.”

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Clay Guardipee

Header Clay Smith won his second straight gold buckle after entering as season leader and earning $118,308 at the 2019 Wrangler NFR.

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2019 WORLD CHAMPIONS