ProRodeo Sports News - January 11, 2019

House of Payne Steer wrestler

wins average for Kissimmee berth BY TRACY RENCK Q ualifying for the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo was the last thing on steer wrestler Don Payne’s mind this year. The Stephenville, Texas, cowboy was just thrilled to be competing at the RAMTexas Circuit Finals Rodeo for the first time. Payne made his inaugural appearance a memorable one, winning the average with a 12.3-second time on three head to earn a trip to the RAM NCFR in Kissimmee, Fla., March 21- 24. “It was crazy,” said Payne, 24. “I was just happy to be there, and then I won. It was amazing. I was even more excited to get to go to Kissimmee. The announcer said I earned a spot to Kissimmee and I thought he must not be talking about me. I asked (fellow steer wrestler) Matt Reeves if that was true about me qualifying for Kissimmee and he said, ‘Yes.’ I thought, that’s really cool. I can’t wait to go down there.” Payne leftWaco after earning a career-rodeo best $6,354. That total vaulted him to 14th in the Jan. 7 PRCA | RAMWorld Standings. “Competing at the Texas Circuit Finals was great,” Payne said. “I’ve never been anywhere like that.” Although the setting – the Extraco Coliseum inWaco – was new to him, Payne displayed the talent of a savvy

Competing in his first RAM Texas Circuit Finals Rodeo, steer wrestler Don Payne won the average and earned $6,354. James Phifer photo

In the second round, Payne made a 4.2-second run – just out of the money. That set him up for what he originally thought was unthinkable – winning the average. As the second-to-last competitor to go out in the third round, Payne had another 4.2-second performance that placed him atop the average. Reeves, the final competitor, needed a 4.2-second run or better to claim

veteran. Stopping the clock in 3.9 seconds, Payne tied for the win in the first round with Reeves, a six-time qualifier for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. “I was impressed that I won the first round and things just kept getting better,” Payne said. “It was very exciting.”

TOPS AT WACO — Jan. 3-5 ALL-AROUND COWBOY Trevor Brazile $1,776

BAREBACK RIDING 1. Tilden Hooper ........... 258 pts. on three 2. Richmond Champion .................. 252.5 3. Lane McGehee ............................ 248.5 4. Leighton Berry ............................ 243.5

STEER WRESTLING 1. Don Payne .............. 12.3 sec. on three 2. Matt Reeves .................................. 13.2 3. Clayton Hass ................................ 19.6 4. Heath Thomas .............................. 20.6

TEAM ROPING 1. C. Smith/J. Long ..... 15.1 sec. on three 2. C. Snow/W. Thorp ........................ 15.7 3. T. Waters/D. Davis ........................ 26.1 4. T. Wade/R. Motes .... 10.0 on two head

tie-down roping and steer roping

ProRodeo Sports News 1/11/2019

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