ProRodeo Sports News - December 16, 2022

STEER ROPING WORLD CHAMPION

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J. Tom Fisher, riding Gump, 20, was able to rise to the occasion and win his first career gold buckle at the 2022 National Finals Steer Roping on Nov. 5 in Mulvane, Kan. PRCA ProRodeo photo by Rod Connor

J. Tom Fisher is all smiles after capturing a steer roping gold buckle in his 10th appearance at the National Finals Steer Roping. PRCA ProRodeo photo by Rod Connor

HIGHLIGHTS CLAY LONG IS TOP NEWCOMER Clay Long, who finished sixth in the world standings with $96,560, won the Dixon McGowan Award, given to the highest-ranked first time qualifier to the NFSR. The award memorializes McGowan, who died at age 23 in an automobile accident on May 10, 1997. VIN FISHER JR. CLAIMS COLBY GOODWIN AWARD Vin Fisher Jr. won Round 2 with a 9.8-second time to win the Colby Goodwin Award. The Second Go Round Award is given in honor of the late Goodwin, who passed away after being injured during the ninth round of 1999 NFSR. This was the fifth time Fisher Jr. has won the Colby Goodwin Award as he captured the honor in 2006, 2010, 2012 and 2020. POINDEXTER WINS LEGACY STEER ROPING Martin Poindexter won the Legacy Steer Roping championship with $10,149. The event concluded before Round 10 of the NFSR at the Kansas Star.

Mission Accomplished

Patterson stopped the clock in 11.0 seconds, which tied for seventh in the round and out of the money. Patterson needed a third-place check or better in Round 10, since he was out of the average money. “This is just incredible,” J. Tom said. “I worked at this every day the last 20 years and this something you dream about, having a chance to win the round to win the world. You think about something like that every day. I’m just very blessed that this all worked out.” The coveted gold buckle was a long time coming for the Fisher family. Father Dan, has 16 NFSR qualifications, Vin Jr. has 19 and J. Tom has 10. Finally in 2022, the family left with a gold buckle. Vin has been second in the steer roping world standings two times in 2015 and 2019 and Dan was reserve world champ in 1996. “Getting this gold buckle after all those (NFSR) qualifications in my family is incredible,” J. Tom said. “In the 1990s, you started off the year trying to be reserve because Guy Allen was going to win it and there was nothing you could do about it. So, this never seemed like it could be a reality until seven or eight years ago.” J. Tom was riding Gump, 20, a horse Vin had ridden at the NFSR in the past, including when he set the record for the fastest time in NFSR history

with an 8.2-second run in 2020 at the Kansas Star. “I traded for (Gump) this September and I won the first two rodeos I was on him in Henryetta (Okla.) and Abilene (Texas),” J. Tom said. “He’s just the easiest horse I have ever ridden or done anything on. He is such an awesome horse, and I knew when I had that good steer (in Round 10) and if I did my deal, I could tie him in 9 (seconds).” Scott Snedecor, who came in to the NFSR as the season leader and led after the first five rounds, finished fourth in the world standings with $109,286. Cody Lee, who won the average with a 123.3-second time on 10 head, earned $30,349 for that title and finished third in the world with $113,096. This is the third NFSR average crown for Lee, as he also won in 2016 and 2018. J. Tom came to the 2022 NFSR fifth in the world standings and reached the steer roping pinnacle thanks to earning $64,575, the most of any competitor at the NFSR. He placed in six rounds and won Round 5 and Round 10. “This is just a dream for me. It’s like hitting a three-pointer to win the NBA championship,” he said. “This is so incredible.”

“This is a lifelong dream,” said Fisher, 37, fighting back tears. “This is the best day of my life. Vin (Fisher Jr., J. Tom’s brother) is an amateur mathematician and he had it figured that I needed to win like third in (Round 10) and Cole not place and I had to stay third in the average. I knew I had a great steer because Cash Myers tied him in 9.7 (in Round 5). I just wanted to be a little off the barrier and just blast him on the ground and that’s the way it worked out.” Patterson, who went moments after J. Tom needed to finish third or better in Round 10 to claim his second world crown in a row. However, J. Tom Fisher wins his first career steer roping gold buckle

BY TRACY RENCK C This is a moment J. Tom Fisher replayed in his head thousands of times – having a chance to be the PRCA Steer Roping World Champion in Round 10. Well, the stage wasn’t too big for the Andrews, Texas cowboy at the National Finals Steer Roping, Nov. 5 at the Kansas Star Arena. Fisher won Round 10 with an electric 9.5-second run, which set things in motion for him to win his first career gold buckle. Fisher earned $10,160 for the round victory and more importantly it allowed him to finish third in the average with a 111.2-second time on nine head and collect another $19,884. J. Tom finished atop the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings with $123,477. Reigning world champ Cole Patterson was second with $117,036.

ProRodeo Sports News 12/16/2022

ProRodeo Sports News 12/16/2022

ProRodeo.com

ProRodeo.com

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