ProRodeo Sports News - Dec. 20, 2019

Unmatched Pair TEAM ROPING WORLD CHAMPIONS

BY MATT NABER A fter a large-scale game of musical chairs with team ropers switching partners, the 2019 team roping heading and team roping heeling world champions did not compete together at the 2019Wrangler 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 team roping heading PRCA | RAMWorld Standings with $268,820 for his second consecutive world title. Meanwhile, Team Roping Heeling World ChampionWesleyThorp 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 team roping heeling world standings with $226,946. Smith and Corkill did not rodeo together the entire 2019 season but paired up for the Wrangler NFR, leaving them at uneven ground in the world standings. “I really want to thank Jade for heeling steers, and there were ones only he could heel this week,” Smith said. “I feel bad, like I let him down. It is a team deal, and I didn’t do well enough for him to win too. He is the best heeler in the world.” by separate teammates Team roper titles won

A partnership at the Wrangler NFR doesn’t guarantee both members of a team roping pair will win world titles. Clay Smith, above, and Wesley Thorp, below, proved that after claiming the top spots in team roping heading and heeling, respectively, though they didn’t rope together. PRCA ProRodeo photos by Clay Guardipee

$518,001 The combined 2019 season earnings for Team Roping Heading World Champion Clay Smith ($268,820) and Team Roping Heeling World Cham- pion Wesley Thorp ($249,181).

ProRodeo Sports News 12/20/2019

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