ProRodeo Sports News - March 9, 2018

Crowd helps carry Crawley to buckle B efore he nods his head, Jacobs Crawley definitely notices the crowd inside the AT&T Center in San Antonio. The Boerne, Texas, saddle bronc rider considers the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo to be his hometown rodeo. And the fans in the arena apparently considers him their hometown competitor. With a raucous crowd behind him, Crawley won his first San Antonio buckle by riding for 87 points on Calgary Stampede’s Tokyo Bubbles – tying for the best score of the finals – earning him $25,765 and the title. “It’s nuts, I love it, it’s ridiculous,” Crawley said about the crowd. “I noticed it last year. Whenever (announcerWayne Brooks) does his wind up and cracks off Boerne and whenever Hadley (Barrett) did it last year it really is one of my favorite memories, second to last year. Hadley announcing the short round last year when I was 86, it was probably one of my best memories of rodeo, and now this one is right there with it.” Crawley, who was in first place in the 2018 PRCAWorld Standings before the rodeo concluded, has a noticeable lead as of March 5 with $63,794. His next closest competitor – brother, Sterling – has $34,648. Sterling is temporarily out of action after suffering a broken collarbone. “Everybody knows that if you can get hot here, you can make a lot of Quick run ropes victory for Smith R yle Smith is the first to admit he’s not the fastest tie- down roper in the world. If he’s shooting for a win in a competition, it’s often the average he’s after. He showed he could do both with his win at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, capping it off with a run of 7.1 seconds in the final round to bank $18,928. “I don’t tie a lot of calves in 7.1 or 7.2,” said the Oakdale, Calif., cowboy. “This was me out of my element. I’mmore of an outlast-them kind of guy, not a gunslinger. I don’t celebrate usually, but after that run I slapped my leg and was pretty excited, because that’s hard for me.” What made it more impressive was that Smith injured his right ankle at the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show in Fort Worth, Texas, in January during a steer wrestling run. Because of the injury, he didn’t rope for three weeks. “I just worked out and did physical therapy,” Smith said. “I practiced about three days before I came here. I just made it on. I’ve never had a whole lot of luck at this rodeo. It’s not my style of roping because it’s so fast.” Smith climbed from 22nd in the 2018 PRCA Tie-down Roping World Standings to eighth as of March 5. “It’s just a huge boost,” said Smith, who turned 31 two days before claiming the title. “It’s one of the biggest rodeos of the year. …There’s so much to be won.” Smith’s final run tied Marty Yates for the fastest run of the finals.

Saddle bronc rider Jacobs Crawley shakes hands with fans during his victory lap at the AT&T Center, Feb. 24. Greg Westfall photo

money quickly,” Jacobs Crawley said. “To be honest, I’m just really fortunate I was able to draw solid horses and use the opportunities. I didn’t imagine myself sitting here with a buckle in my hands.” Winning the San Antonio title ranks up there with the 2015 PRCA world title and his two Wrangler National Finals Rodeo average titles, Crawley said. “Pretty special,” said the 29-year-old. “… It’s a thirty-minute drive. I call it my hometown rodeo. It means a lot. This win is probably right behind my gold buckle and NFR average wins.”

Ryle Smith posted a time of 7.1 seconds on Feb. 24 to help secure the title at

the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo after winning a total of $18,928.

Greg Westfall photo

Smith pointed to his horse, Trouble, 15, as a key reason for the win. “My horse has taken me everywhere,” Smith said. “For him to be on the poster out front next year means a lot to me. I bought him when he was 3 years old. He and I have been through everything together.” Smith was stunned when he found out he had won. “When I threw my hands up, it got loud,” Smith said. “I saw 7.1, I thought, well I won second, I split whatever. But I guess I ended up winning by a hair.”

ProRodeo Sports News 3/9/18

ProRodeo.com

24