Precision and speed at Horns and Hocks Team Roping

ARCOLA — Horns and Hocks Team Roping hosted their second annual event on July 5 at the Arcola Rodeo Grounds, with weather conditions matching the forecast. The event was originally scheduled for June 21 with the Arcola Fair, was postponed due to a 90 per cent chance of rain. The committee chose to delay it for safety reasons.

Teams began to arrive early in the morning, and the grounds soon filled up with horse trailers and 183 teams competing and the first team to rope was at high noon. They must follow certain rules of the game to have a good time.

If the header fails to give the steer a proper head start, a five-second penalty called "Breaking the Barrier" is imposed. It is their job to rope the steer and try to turn the animal left. The heeler tries to catch the back hind legs with a rope. Both legs are required; if only one is used, the team will receive a five-second penalty. These seconds are added to their total time.

It is especially important to go out as a team, not only with the people roping, but they must be in control of their horse as well and have a partnership with the animal.

Each roper receives a number reflecting their skill in roping and riding. The two members on the team add their numbers together. For example, if the header is a five and the heeler is a four, their number will be nine.

Rodney Cutler, one of the committee members, said that their event was a 9.5 Slide Roping. This means that if the combined number is under 9.5, they have subtracted time. If the team’s number is above 9.5, they have time added to their run. Rodney explained that the number system is designed similarly to a golf handicap to maintain fairness.

This team roping event was open to everyone who wished to attend, male or female and there was no age limit for taking part. They could be beginners or seasoned ropers, but everyone had a chance to win.

With a small crowd of spectators, the first team started at noon, and the last team threw their last rope around 5 p.m., but throughout the afternoon Willy and Anna Wieler made sure to have everyone fed at the canteen, and the beer gardens were also open to quench everyone’s thirst.

There are many people behind the scenes to make this event come to life and that is the sponsors, volunteers, flaggers, office ladies, the Arcola Ag and the entire community. Rodney explained that without these people events like this are not possible.

Out of the 183 teams, six prize placings were handed out, with first place given to header, Boden Bond. He received a saddle sponsored by Precision Rentals and $2,290. The first-place heeler went to Murray Moran. He too received a saddle sponsored by Flying G and $2,290.

Second place header went to Boden Bond and heeler went to Trevor Gompf. They each received $1,680, while third place header was Ron Gillis and heeler was Matt Veer. They won $1,220. Header Cassidy Carins and heeler Chad Plett took fourth place, winning $1,070, while fifth place went to header Stephanie Colli and heeler Connor Sylvester taking home $760.

The final placing went to header Kevin McCannell and heeler Chad Plett winning $610. There were also fast time winners with 6.21 seconds, and this went to Ron Gillis and Matt Veer winning $360 and a horse blanket.

The committee consists of Rodney and Crystal Cutler, Brent Cutler, Chad George and Mike Wyatt.