ProRodeo Sports News - November 19, 2021

TIE-DOWN ROPING Cajun Power Louisiana native Hanchey again in top spot

BY AMBER BAILLIE A fter winningThe American and notching other big wins this year, veteran tie-down roper Shane Hanchey finished the regular season as leader with $175,079, heading into his 12th consecutive Wrangler Na- tional Finals Rodeo. The last time the 2013 Tie-down Roping World Champion entered the NFR in the top spot was in 2018. “I got off to an early lead and it gave me a lot of confidence to finish the regular season,” said Hanchey, 32. After earning $100,000 – $50,000 which counted toward the world standings – at The American in March, Hanchey stayed consistent with success. He pocketed $9,874 for his win at the Guymon (Okla.) Pioneer Days Rodeo, $10,963 at the Spanish Fork (Utah) Fiesta Days Rodeo and closed out the regular season with a $10,997 win at the Pendleton (Ore.) Roundup. “Winning Pendleton again for the second time, it’s my favorite rodeo of the year, capped off an awesome summer run,” he said. “It was just one of those summers where everything was going right for the most part. I ran a lot of good calves and took advantage of most of them.” Hanchey won 11 PRCA rodeos in 2021, including the World’s Oldest Rodeo in Prescott, Ariz., for the first time after roping two calves in 18.4 seconds and adding $5,044 to his pocketbook. Hanchey rotated his horsepower, winning Pendleton, and Guymon on his 2017 PRCA | AQHA Tie-down Roping Horse of the Year Si and competing on his mare Pam Pam who he shares with his wife, Taylor Hanchey, formerly Taylor Jacob, a professional barrel racer and breakaway roper. She is entering the Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping in the 15th spot and has competed at the Finals twice before (in 2013 and 2015) in the barrel racing. “She was able to make the National Finals this year on her (Pam Pam), so that was pretty cool,” Shane said. Hanchey will compete on TJ, the same horse he rode at the 2020 Finals (Logan Bird’s 2016 Tie Down Roping Horse of the Year). He also wonThe American aboard that horse. “Coming off of the NFR last year, I have a lot of confidence on him, even though it’s a different venue,” he said. “I actually rode him at theThomas &Mack in 2015, so I’ve been on him in Vegas.” Last year Hanchey was third in the world standings

2021 TIE-DOWN ROPING STANDINGS

1. Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La................... $175,079 2. Westyn Hughes, Caldwell, Texas.............. 133,337 3. Shad Mayfield, Clovis, N.M...................... 131,916 4. Caleb Smidt, Bellville, Texas..................... 126,879 5. Tuf Case Cooper, Decatur, Texas............... 120,474 6. Marcos Costa, Iretama, Brazil. ................. 113,742 7. Ty Harris, San Angelo, Texas.................... 110,356 8. Justin Smith, Leesville, La.. ..................... 105,984 9. Marty Yates, Stephenville, Texas.............. 100,751 10. Cory Solomon, Prairie View, Texas. .......... 99,152 11. Haven Meged, Miles City, Mont................. 98,925 12. Ryan Jarrett, Comanche, Okla................... 91,933 13. Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla...................... 89,779 14. Taylor Santos, Creston, Calif..................... 89,038 15. John Douch, Huntsville, Texas.................. 88,874

FROM THE CHAMP

Shad Mayfield came into the 2020 NFR with a huge lead and did just enough to hold on and win his first gold buckle. Mayfield, who enters the 2021 NFR third in the world standings with $131,916 is hoping to change his NFR fortunes this time around.

Mayfield

Shane Hanchey will be looking for his second PRCA Tie-Down Roping World Championship in 2021, his first came back in 2013. PRCA ProRodeo photo by Clay Guardipee

“I haven’t had great NFRs in the past, so I always want to change my mindset at the NFR and try to better myself there and be more consistent. I got to go to Vegas my first year, I really loved it, you just can’t beat the energy there. As a kid I always watched it at the Thomas & Mack (Center). That’s where I think it belongs and where I’m most excited to go to for the Finals.”

$2,408 behind champion Shad Mayfield. Hanchey put on a steady performance during the 10-day stretch toward the world title at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. He placed in seven rounds and concluded the NFR with winning his second average championship, finishing with 83.1 seconds on 10 head. “I’ll certainly take what I did last year, roll it over to this year, and see how the chips fall,” he said. “There’s so much money (at the Finals) to go at, you obviously want to take advantage of that and try and make as much money as you can in those 10 days. I want to get on them early, get some confidence and

keep it rolling through the 10 nights.”

QUOTABLE “I’m competing against the 14 best guys in the world. I know they’re all getting ready and going to prepare for the NFR. Coming in No. 1, I have a target on my back, and everybody wants that spot, so my job is just to hold them off for 10 nights.” – Shane Hanchey

Hanchey holds the Wrangler NFR record he set in 2013 of the fastest average in tie-down roping with 80.1 seconds on 10 head. “I’m excited to get back to theThomas &Mack and back to the fans,” he said. “2019 was a great NFR for me in Vegas, so I’ve got a lot of confidence in that building now. Luckily this being my 12th NFR, I’ve got it anchored down a bit and figured out how we’re going to prepare and lead up to it. My big thing is quality over quantity, so getting in some good reps through the week and staying sharp on the weekends to prepare.”

ProRodeo Sports News 11/19/2021

WRANGLER NATIONAL FINALS RODEO

DEC. 2-11, 2021

ProRodeo Sports News 11/19/2021

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