PRORODEO Sports News - August 23, 2024

CANBY, ORE.

CANBY RODEO

TOP SCORES

TOP MONEY EARNER Haven Meged ($7,333, tie down roping) BAREBACK RIDING

Meged

1. Weston Timberman ............... 90 pts. 2. Jess Pope .................................. 86.5 3. Cole Reiner ................................... 86 STEER WRESTLING 1. Rowdy Parrott .............. 7.7 on 2 sec. (Tie) Gavin Soileau ...................... 7.7 3. Landris White .............................. 9.7 TEAM ROPING 1. T. Wade/W. Thorp ......... 8.9 sec. on 2 2. E. Rogers/P. Eaves ....................... 9.1 (Tie) C. Smith/C. Payne ............... 9.1 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Q Taylor .............................. 87.5 pts. 2. Ryder Wright ............................. 86.5 3. Isaac Diaz ..................................... 85 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Haven Meged .............. 17.0 sec. on 2 2. Ty Harris .................................... 18.8 (Tie) Cash Hooper ...................... 18.8 BARREL RACING 1. Kassie Mowry ................... 16.42 sec. 2. Hayle Gibson ........................... 16.45 3. Abby Phillips ............................ 16.55 BULL RIDING 1. Taylor Toves ........................ 84.5 pts. 2. Jace Trosclair ............................. 82.5 3. Luke Mast ..................................... 55

Julie Smith photo Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp showed off their championship pedigree at the Canby Rodeo. The duo clocked 8.9 seconds on two head to walk away with the win. Not only did they qualify for the National Finals Rodeo, an eighth berth for Thorp and sixth for Wade, they entered as the favorite. They did not disappoint, winning the world title. It was the second for Thorp and first for Wade. Interestingly, it was not their focus when they decided to team up. “It wasn’t the goal. The goal was to just make a living and keep doing what we love to do,” Wade said. “Both of us grew up doing this. I don’t think we know any other way. That’s all we have done.” Added Thorp, “I don’t know if winning (the gold buckle) was the highlight because I never set out to do it or planned on it. It’s not what I rely on for self-confidence. I have always set out to be the best heeler.” Love of the sport and friendship has helped this duo find its traction. Of course, there is pressure. It comes with the territory, especially in timed events where every tenth of a second matters. But they are in a good place – Thorp is the third-ranked heeler, Wade the No. 3 header – quietly chasing a second straight championship even if they are not thinking about it. “It’s not in my mindset right now because it’s too far off. It’s about doing our job,” Thorp said. “We talk about different game plans. And it really helps knowing what the other guy is going to do. We both love to compete. It’s about doing it at the highest level and seeing where it takes us.”

Wade/Thorp add key win in Canby Connected BY BRADY RENCK, Special to ProRodeo Sports News W hen Tyler Wade and Wesley Thorp showed up together for their first team roping event, they fit like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle that had long been waiting to be connected. Everything made sense. Everything with their timing clicked. Eilish and Finneas. They were a hit again the second week of August, claiming the top prize at the Canby (Ore.) Rodeo in Bob Trevers Arena with a two-head time of 8.9 seconds. Canby can be a little tricky. The V-shaped arena means things have to go right, literally. There’s no room on the left side. Wade and Thorp navigated it successfully, benefiting from a first run of 4.1 seconds. It created elasticity on the second attempt, allowing for margin for error.

Complete results/Page 77

“On the first one, we got a good draw, he stayed straight and finished in the middle of the arena. On the second, Tyler rode his horse to him as close as he could. He went a half step left, but it worked out,” Thorp said. “We were able to use the arena to our advantage.” Wade and Thorp had worked together at the jackpots for a few years. So, when they teamed up in April of 2023, things accelerated quickly.

“We are good buddies, that helps. And we are on the same page. We didn’t have to change our style of roping for each other,” Wade said. “Our styles worked well. That isn’t always the case. Sometimes you have two fast guys or one fast and one slow, so somebody has to adjust. With us, we could go right to winning.” It seems like they have been the most successful pairing since Billie

ProRodeo Sports News 8/23/2024

ProRodeo Sports News 8/23/2024

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