ProRodeo Sports News - November 16, 2018

DECEMBER 6-15 LAS VEGAS

Top Spot

Hanchey rides to Vegas in pole position BY TRACY RENCK A s strong as tie-down roper Shane Hanchey’s PRCA career has been, 2018 brought him into new territory. The Sulphur, La., cowboy will arrive at the 2018Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Dec. 6, as the season leader – something he’s never done in his career, including 2013 when he won the world championship. “This was a great regular season, the best I’ve ever had,” said Hanchey, 29. “I’m happy I’m going in No. 1, but that really doesn’t matter. What matters is what happens after those 10 days. If you leave No. 1, that’s what people are going to remember. They are not going to remember I went in No. 1.” This is Hanchey’s ninth career Wrangler NFR qualification, all consecutively. Hanchey enters with $136,577 won. Some competitors wilt under the bright light in Las Vegas, but not Hanchey. Five years ago, when he won the gold buckle, he earned a then-tie-down roping record of $134,766 at the Wrangler NFR, placing in seven rounds. He earned $47,776 of that by winning the NFR average title in 80.1 seconds on 10 head, breaking FredWhitfield’s 1997 record of 84.0 seconds on 10 head. Hanchey’s record still stands. Usually during the regular season, cowboys have peaks and valleys, but Hanchey never slumped this season. He had a great winter run, highlighted by winning Denver and Fort Worth, Texas. For the first time in his career he was victorious at Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days over the summer. Then, as fall approached, he won in Kennewick, Wash. By the time the regular season ended Sept. 30, Hanchey had won 14 rodeos. “I’ve had a lot of good winters, but it seems like in the past when I had a great winter I had a not so great summer or not so great fall,” Hanchey said.

“But this year, from start to finish it was good all the time. Being the season leader was something I started thinking about when I was in the Northwest the last week of the regular season. I won Kennewick, and I won third at Ellensburg (Wash.), and then I won Lewiston (Idaho) and ended up earning $30,000 in about two-and-a-half weeks.” During his late-season charge, he was primarily riding his new mare, Pam Pam, 13. “Honestly, if it wasn’t for her making the turn and coming around as well as she did the last couple of weeks, I would not have won the season leader,” Hanchey said. “I bought Pam Pam in October of 2017, so I never took her out in

the summer until this season.” Pam Pam is the full sister of Bam Bam, whomHanchey also owns. Hanchey won Denver and Fort Worth on Bam Bam. He also rode Si, the 2017 PRCA | AQHAHorse of the Year in tie-down roping, during the season. “Having three great horses was the main reason for my success,” Hanchey said. “Not one of my horses ever got tired, and I think that’s a big deal.” In Vegas, Hanchey plans on riding Bam Bam and Pam Pam. “I’ve taken Bam Bam to the NFR before, and Pam Pam and Bam Bam are so much alike it’s scary,” Hanchey said. “(Competing at the NFR) will not be a big deal to Pam Pam. But good Lord willing, I will not be making a switch and I will stick with Bam Bam the whole time.” As Hanchey prepares for the Finals, he already knows what mind-set he’s going to take into theThomas & Mack Center. “I’m going to stay aggressive,” Hanchey said.

“I think last year I didn’t remain aggressive at the barrier. A lot of rounds where I had decent calves I should have placed on I missed the barrier and took myself out of contention. This year, I’ll be the last roper in Round 1, but that doesn’t matter to me. I’m going to stay aggressive, and I have a good feeling. I have a lot of confidence from the year. I’m excited to go in No. 1 and hopefully hold everybody off.” Hanchey also acknowledged competing at the Wrangler NFR never gets old. “You never understand how bright those lights are until they crack those gates for the first grand entry,” he said. “It’s something that will take your breath away. This is going to be my ninth trip, and it still gives me chills when they crack the gates for the first grand entry. There’s nothing like it.”

ProRodeo Sports News 11/16/2018

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