ProRodeo Sports News - November 2, 2018

PRAIRIE CIRCUIT FINALS

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BY MATT NABER S witching circuits and switching mounts brought tie-down roper Cody McCartney to the winner’s circle at the RAMPrairie Circuit Finals Rodeo for the first time in his eight years of PRCA competition. Although he didn’t place in any of the rounds, he claimed the average by three-tenths of a second thanks in part to riding 2018 PRCA | AQHA Tie-down Roping Horse of the Year Little Smart Leo (Big Time), owned by McCartney’s lifelong friend, Tyler Milligan. “It was pretty crazy,” said McCartney, 28. “I couldn’t believe it. When you win the average you usually place in some rounds. I was one out in the first two rounds and didn’t want to press it in the last round. I just wanted to go make a good run. I didn’t think I would win the average. It was weird how it worked out, but I’m glad for it.” Riding Milligan’s horse was sort of like good karma coming full circle for McCartney. “I’ve known Cody for what seems like forever,” Milligan said, TOPS AT DUNCAN— October 18-20 ALL-AROUND COWBOY Steven Dent $6,447 BAREBACK RIDING 1. Jared Keylon ............. 251 pts. on three 2. Will Martin .................................. 239.5 3. Steven Dent ................................ 237.5 4. Mark Kreder ................................ 228.5 BigWin bareback riding and saddle bronc riding

McCartney takes tie-down roping crown in Duncan

adding he lets McCartney ride his horse whenever he asks. “He’s the one who actually told me about the horse (Big Time) and that he was for sale.” McCartney’s horse, Jackpot, got sick after the first round, so he asked to ride Milligan’s horse for the final two rounds. After the mount change, McCartney messed up his string a bit in the second round, leaving him in fifth place as the final round began. “Big Time’s awesome and makes roping easy, I’ve ridden him a lot,” McCartney said. “He’s well-deserving to win Horse of the Year because a lot of guys ride him and have success on him. He’s the kind of horse where if you didn’t win any money, nine times out of 10 it’s because of something you did and not something the horse did.” After two rough runs and a sick horse, McCartney had no idea luck was going to be on his side. “There are a lot of good ropers in the Prairie Circuit and several NFR qualifiers,” McCartney said. “But some guys ahead of me didn’t draw well.” Claiming the average in 27.4 seconds was worth $2,776. More importantly, it means a shot at the RAMNational Circuit Finals Rodeo. Before his win in Duncan, Okla., Oct. 20, McCartney was ranked eighth in

STEER WRESTLING 1. Riley Duvall ............ 13.8 sec. on three 2. Cody Devers ................................. 15.6 3. Tyler Pearson ................................ 15.8 4. J.D. Struxness .............................. 16.6

TEAM ROPING 1. Gordon/Boekhaus .... 16.2 sec. on three 2. N. Sartain/A. Rogers ..................... 17.1 3. C. Markham/B. Hawkins II ............ 21.2 4. C. Kirchner/J. Hillman ......... 9.9 on two

ProRodeo Sports News 11/2/2018

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