ProRodeo Sports News - March 8, 2019

First-time roping partners grab win

T eam roping header Tate Kirchenschlager and heeler Ross Ashford had never roped together before the 2019 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. They made the most of their pairing. The duo teamed up because their regular partners didn’t meet the qualifications for San Antonio. Kirchenschlager and Ashford each earned $25,750 in San Antonio. “I knew Ross roped good,” Kirchenschlager said. “He throws fast and makes my job easy. I just have to catch them. It was a huge blessing to win this rodeo.” Ashford, who is from Lott, Texas, and Kirchenschlager won the final round in 4.7 seconds. “It usually doesn’t work out like this,” Ashford said. “We are super, super thankful that it did. Tate could not have done a better job. This is just awesome. We were first out, and our game plan was just go make the best run we could make, and it worked out. Being from Texas and winning this rodeo is just crazy.” The temporary duo entered the final round ranked second among the finalists with $10,750. Before San Antonio, Kirchenschlager was 17th in the world standings for team roping headers, but he moved into third place in the March 6 standings with $35,447. Ashford rocketed up from 33rd place to fourth with $32,476.

At San Antonio, Kirchenschlager was riding Smoke, a 12-year-old horse owned by Brad Lands, of Kaufman, Texas. “He (Lands) bought him about two years ago, and I trained him for him,” Kirchenschlager said. “I was just fortunate enough he said, ‘If you want to use him, you take him.’ I rodeoed on him last summer. This is the first year he’s ever been ridden in buildings, and he’s doing good. Winning this rodeo is amazing.” Kirchenschlager will return to roping with his regular partner, B.J. Dugger. Ashford will go back to roping with Garrett Chick. Ashford was riding his horse Ice Cube, 10. “He’s awesome,” Ashford said. “Everywhere I’ve ever taken himhe’s always worked, and he couldn’t have done a better job than he did in San Antonio.” – Tracy Renck HANCHEYWINS SANANTONIO FOR FIRSTTIME As Shane Hanchey glanced down at the buckle he was holding it was obvious what this win meant to him. Moments earlier, the Sulphur, La., cowboy won the prestigious San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo for the first time in his decorated career. Hanchey won the final round with a 7.2-second time, earning $15,000 for the run and an event-best $23,500 for the rodeo. “I won second (in San Antonio) in 2017, and I’ve been wanting this buckle

ProRodeo Sports News 3/8/2019

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