ProRodeo Sports News - Dec. 20, 2019

Silver & Gold STEER ROPING WORLD CHAMPION

BY TRACY RENCK O nce again, Trevor Brazile showed why he is the most decorated PRCA cowboy of all time. The 2019 ClemMcSpadden National Finals Steer Roping at the Kansas Star Arena came down to Round 10 with the world championship in limbo. Needing a catch and tie in Round 10 to capture a gold buckle, Brazile stopped the clock in 14.1 seconds to secure the average win and his 25th gold buckle. Brazile finished with $129,552 in the PRCA | RAM World Standings to edge runner-up Vin Fisher Jr.’s $121,834. “We were in a battle, I wanted to do whatever it took to win here,” said Brazile, 43. “All the gold buckles are special. This one was really cool because I was able to stay home because the steer roping schedule fit the new lifestyle I have chosen.” Before the start be his last time he was going to rodeo full time so he could spend more time with his family – wife, Shada; son, Treston, 11; and daughters, Style, 9, and Swayzi, 4. Brazile placed in six rounds at the NFSR and won the average with a 131.0-second time on 10 head to collect his seventh steer roping gold buckle to go with the ones he won in (2006-07, 2011 and 2013-15). When Brazile registered a time in Round 10, it gave him the average win because he was the only competitor to tie down 10, and that in turn clinched his world championship. “I knew if I tied my steer down (in Round 10) I could win it,” said Brazile, who was the last roper out in Round 10. “It is a great scenario, but then again, it takes out trying to win something in the last round for money. It’s just one of those things where you just have to go do your job. I wasn’t scared of the barrier, that was probably the biggest difference in that scenario because I was going to be the only man to tie (10 down) even if I broke the barrier. I wanted to have an aggressive start.” Fisher was gracious in defeat. He’s finished a career-best second in the world twice (2015 and 2019), both times to Brazile. “Trevor Brazile is a hard man to beat,” Fisher said. “I thought I threw everything at him. He never stubbed his toe. Looking back over time, I’m going to realize that is the best roping I have ever done in my life.” Brazile has won a PRCA-record 25 gold buckles – a PRCA-record 14 in all-around (2002-04, 2006-15, 2018), three in tie-down roping (2007, 2009-10) and one in team roping (2010) to go with the NFSR buckles. Brazile’s seven steer roping gold buckles are second on of the 2018Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Brazile announced that season was going to

the all-time list behind only ProRodeo Hall of Famer Guy Allen’s 18. “Guy Allen is the legend,” Brazile said. “Nobody ever dominated a single event like he has. He’s in no danger of me catching him. I just marveled watching him, and that’s good enough for me. If anybody deserves a record it is him.” Brazile earned $57,707 at the NFSR, including $27,347 for winning the average. Fisher was second in the average with a time of 114.1 seconds on nine head. This was the fourth time Brazile has won the NFSR average. He also accomplished the feat in 2012 and 2014- 15. Brazile was riding J.R. Magdeburg III’s horse, Raider, 16. “That’s a great horse,” Brazile said. “When you’re going to a 10-header he has what it takes. He’s just really, really solid and doesn’t take anything away from you.” Nothing came easy for

Brazile during his 22nd trip to the NFSR. He came into the event first, and Fisher was second. Brazile roped his final steer for the win, and Fisher, who competed right before Brazile, clocked an 11.3-second run, which was

Trevor Brazile captures seventh steer roping gold buckle to give him 25 total

fifth in the round and good for a $2,841 check.

“I know a lot of guys were wanting me to be eight seconds in the final round, but in my mind if I missed that last steer everything I did all weekend would have meant nothing,” Fisher said. “That run I made in Round 10 was the best run I made in my life because I gave myself a chance to win a gold buckle. I put the pressure on (Trevor), and it shows you why he has all those gold buckles because he doesn’t fold under pressure.” Fisher earned more money than any cowboy at the 2019 NFSR, taking home $61,990, followed by Brazile, Landon McClaugherty ($45,141), Garrett Hale ($34,917) and Tony Reina ($33,755). After nine rounds, Brazile held a $5,844 lead over Fisher in the world standings. Fisher split sixth place in Round 9 with a 12.6-second run, while Brazile was out of the money with a 14.4-second run Brazile led the average after nine rounds with a 116.9-second time, followed by Reina’s 124.3 seconds on nine head and Fisher’s 102.8 seconds on eight. The average played the final factor in deciding the world champion because it paid six places – $27,347 for the winner, $22,632 for second, $17,917 for third, $13,202 for fourth, $8,487 for fifth and $4,715 for sixth. The round wins paid $9,155. “I can’t speak for anybody else, but I didn’t want any surprises going into Round 10,” said Brazile when asked if he was calculating different outcomes. “I knew what I had to do. I just had to go execute and make a run.” Things became more interesting when Reina received a no time in Round 10, so the world championship and average

Trevor Brazile placed in six rounds and won the average at the 2019 Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping to claim his PRCA-record 25th gold buckle. PRCA ProRodeo photo by William Kierce

ProRodeo Sports News 12/20/2019

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