ProRodeo Sports News - July 8, 2022

LIVINGSTON ROUNDUP RODEO

LIVINGSTON, MONT.

Roper makes the most of holiday run BY PATRICK EVERSON Special to ProRodeo Sports News W ith a name like Jayco Roper, competing in tie-down or team roping would seem a perfect fit. But this Roper is actually a bareback rider – and a pretty darn good one at that, as evidenced by his efforts in a trio of rodeos built around July 4. That included the Livingston (Mont.) Roundup TOP MONEY WINNER Shad Mayfield ($6,632, tie-down roping) BAREBACK RIDING TOP SCORES Mayfield

from July 2-4. Roper competed on the first night and spurred NewWest Rodeo Productions’ Right Spur to an 87.5-point ride. But would that score stay atop the board for two more nights? “I wasn’t sure, but I was sure hoping so. I was just grateful that I drew good and rode good,” Roper said. As it turned out, Roper’s ride held up for first place and a solid paycheck of $5,358. Not bad for a horse with which Roper had zero familiarity. “All I knew is that he was supposed to be a really good horse. I didn’t really have a game plan or anything,” Roper said. “I saw a video of Caleb Bennett getting on him, and he looked pretty good, so I was really excited. I wasn’t expecting (the same) kind of trip, but he had just about the same trip. It felt pretty good.” Lately, every horse is feeling good to Roper. He got his July 4 run off to a firecracker-hot start with 88 points about Bar T Rodeo’s Outlaw to take first at the Oakley (Utah) Independence Day Rodeo. That was worth $4,160. Roper then hauled over to the Kildeer (N.D.) Mountain Roundup and rode J Bar J’s Michigan Monster to 88.5 points and another first-place check of $4,089. Add in the win at Livingston, and Roper cleared $13,607 in just the past few days. He now sits 16th in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings, with season earnings of $44,221. That’s less than $1,000 behind No. 15 Ty Breuer, meaning Roper is inching closer to being within the qualifying cutline for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. “I’m on a roll,” he said, which might be an understatement. “I’ve been training a lot this year, and my mind game is coming together too. And I’m drawing good. That’s the three things you need. And when you draw good, you need to win. You have to take advantage of good horses.” If he can keep doing so over the next couple of months, Roper could well find himself in Las Vegas in December, for his first Wrangler NFR. That would be quite the accomplishment for the young cowboy, who turns 21 on July 12. “I’ve just got to keep going. I’ve got to keep riding them good, even if I don’t draw good. Just keep staying in the mix,” Roper said. Don’t be surprised if he indeed stays in the mix. If there’s one thing Roper has an abundance of – besides his clear talent – it’s confidence. “All I can see in the future is me moving up in the standings,” Roper said. “I’ve got a fire burning in my stomach, and it ain’t going out anytime soon!”

1. Jayco Roper . ....................... 87.5 pts. 2. Kaycee Field ................................ 82.5 (Tie) Ethan Mazurenko ................ 82.5 STEER WRESTLING 1. Tanner Milan .......................... 3.7 sec. 2. Dakota Eldridge ............................ 4.0 (Tie) Stockton Graves ................... 4.0 TEAM ROPING 1. Orman/Crites ......................... 4.3 sec. 2. Driggers/Nogueira ........................ 4.4 3. Minor/Minor ................................. 4.5 (Tie) Yost/Smith . .......................... 4.5 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Dylan Schofield . ..................... 87 pts. 2. Brody Cress ................................ 86.5 3. Layton Green ................................. 86 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Shad Mayfield ........................ 7.3 sec. 2. Riley Webb ................................... 7.5 3. King Pickett .................................. 7.7 BARREL RACING 1. Sissy Winn . ....................... 17.24 sec. 2. Lindsay Kruse ........................... 17.26 3. Stevi Hillman ............................ 17.36 BULL RIDING 1. J.R. Stratford ....................... 88.5 pts. 2. Jackson Ward ................................ 82 3. Trey Holston ............................... 80.5

On Fire

Complete results/Page 88

COWBOY CHRISTMAS

Josh Homer photo

Jayco Roper won the Livingston Roundup with an 87.5-point ride on New West Rodeo Productions’ Right Spur. He earned $5,358.

ProRodeo Sports News 7/8/2022

ProRodeo Sports News 7/8/2022

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