ProRodeo Sports News - April 1, 2022

HOUSTON, TEXAS

RODEO HOUSTON

BY TANNER BARTH & TRACY RENCK

Tryan & Long claim glory Clay Tryan and Jake Long have no shortage of performing on rodeo’s biggest stages. Tryan is a three-time PRCA Team Roping Heading World Champion, and Long is an 11-time qualifier for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Tryan and Long, who are in their third year roping together captured their biggest win together by claiming the title at RodeoHouston. As the last team out in the Championship Shootout, Tryan and Long knew exactly what they needed to be the champs. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill were standing in their way with a 9.3-second time. “The other three teams (in the Championship Shootout) were all great teams, but they kind of had trouble,” Long said. “Ultimately, we just had to make a clean run and we had a really good steer. Really if we executed a clean run it was going to be a win for us, and we made a run that we had been making in the practice pen a lot. “For me, it was a little more nerve-wracking because I like to rope aggressive, but it was obviously nice to have that much time.” Tryan and Long left Houston with $56,000. “(A win like this) is a huge thing and it can alter the course of your year getting such a big win that early in the season,” Long said. “It is just going to make our year a lot easier. Roping with Clay has been fun. We get along in and out of the arena really well. Clay has won everything and been in a lot of situations and nothing really bothers him. I have learned a lot from him. It has been good. “In a roping you usually don’t get 9 seconds to win very often. He actually made a comment to me right before we rode in the box to make sure we were on the same page right before we roped. Being the last team out is such a huge advantage because we knew exactly what we had to do.”

Jess Pope is setting the rodeo world on fire in 2022. Coming off his secondWrangler National Finals Rodeo average title, Pope hasn’t slowed down in the new year. He added to his already impressive season with one of the biggest wins of his young career at RodeoHouston inside NRG Stadium. Pope’s 89-point ride in the Championship Shootout onThe Cervi Brothers’ Bay Nation came with a rodeo title and a $50,000 payday. “You know that’s one of the most prestigious rodeos in world and to be able to put my name on top of that it is really awesome,” said Pope, a two-time Wrangler NFR qualifier. “That was my first time getting to compete all the way through Houston. “My first year at Houston was when they cancelled it halfway through (because of COVID-19). So, to be able to experience the full thing it was pretty amazing. It kind of leaves a guy speechless really when he goes to talking about how it all really is.” The win moves Pope into the No.1 spot in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings with more than $90,000 already earned this season. In 2021, he finished second in the world with $340,499. He said while the victory does take a little pressure off him, he’s not worrying about the standings, just going out and doing his job every night. “It definitely helps I think, I’m in a better position than I’ve ever gotten to be in,” he said. “I’m excited for it and I’m excited to keep rodeoing really hard. “I think it does give a guy confidence when you’re riding good and you’re feeling good. You just have to keep building off the momentum that you get from all of that.” Jess Pope fuels fire with Houston win

Photos courtesy RodeoHouston

Clay Tryan and Jake Long shined in the spotlight at RodeoHouston, winning with a 6.4-second run.

John Douch is no stranger to big time wins in front of sellout crowds, but he may have picked up his most impressive victory of all March 19. The Huntsville, Texas, cowboy traveled an hour and a half down the road to RodeoHouston and walked out of NRG Stadium with more than $50,000 in his pocket. He secured the illustrious tie-down roping title with a 7.7-second run in the final round, while sporting the No.77 back number. “This is a type of win that changes a guy’s life,” said Douch, 24. “It gives me a great jumpstart on the 2022 season and hopefully gets me closer to qualifying for the Finals again.” Douch’s first trip to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge came last season. He’s roped on the sport’s biggest stage but acknowledged after the win there were nerves as he was the last cowboy to go in the round of four. “There was a little bit of nerves with those guys going in front of me in the final round. They put down an 8.3 and an 8.2-second run,” he said. “So, I couldn’t be messing around, I had to go out there and make a good run. Thankfully it all worked out for me.” Since he was in the eighth grade, Douch he has had a roping icon in his corner. His mentor is eight-time PRCAWorld Champion Joe Beaver. The ProRodeo Hall of Famer said this is an accomplishment he could see coming for Douch a mile away. “That is well deserved! He’s worked very hard at it for the last 10 years or so,” said Beaver. “We put a lot of time and effort into it. I kept telling him if you work hard, your good at what you do, and you’re a good person things are going to come your way. I think this win was just a result of that for John.” Douch gets big win

John Douch picked up the biggest payday of his ProRodeo career by winning Rodeo- Houston, taking home over $50,000. He secured the title with a 7.7-second run in the finals.

Jess Pope stayed red hot at RodeoHouston. The 23-year-old cowboy won the coveted title with an 87-point ride on The Cervi Brothers’ Bay Nation in the four-man final round.

ProRodeo Sports News 4/1/2022

ProRodeo Sports News 4/1/2022

ProRodeo.com

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