Hat team ropers hit by penalty flag at rodeo
Great time spoiled by penalty flag for Hat team roper Davies
The clock said 4.7, but a flag in the dirt knocked Medicine Hat’s Braidy Davies and teammate Chase Simpson off the team roping leaderboard on Saturday at the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede rodeo.
The strong run would have shaved 0.3 seconds off the top time set by Riley Minor and Brady Minor, but an early start from Davies resulted in a frustrating finish.
“It would have been a great time, but with the plus-10 it doesn’t count,” said Davies, adding it’s always nice to compete in the Gas City, even when it doesn’t work out. “It’s awesome. This is a great rodeo. Everybody comes to this rodeo.”
Davies added Saturday’s unfortunate run seemed to summarize his season so far. The header sat 21st in the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association standings entering the weekend with $4,995 in winnings, and the 10-second penalty cost him dearly.
“It’s pretty terrible actually,” Davies said of his season. “It’s been like that. Ups and downs and we can’t catch a break.”
Davies grew up outside Brooks, where he says roping ran in the family.
“My dad roped and I grew up around it,” he said. “All my family, my uncles, everybody roped.”
It was during his formative years that Davies met Claresholm’s Simpson, and the two have been roping together ever since. While they’ve been struggling as a team this summer, Davies says it’s great competing alongside a lifelong friend. “Him and I have been best friends forever and we’ve been roping for a long time together. He’s good,” he said, adding their talents match up well. “Everybody kind of specializes in one or the other, and as a header I try to find a heeler who’s roping good and go rope with them.” The Minors took the Medicine Hat team roping buckle with a time of 5.0 seconds. Layton Green stole the show on Saturday with a wild ride on Gone Country. The Meeting Creek product closed out the saddle bronc event with a 90-point ride, knocking Cort Scheer into second after holding the top since Thursday with an 87.5point ride on Spanish Pair.
Scott Guenthner took over the top of the steer wrestling leaderboard with a 4.1 second run on Saturday, while Ty Taypotat held on for the bareback buckle after Friday’s 86point ride on Illegal Smile.
No one was able to top Logan Bird’s tie-down roping time of 8.3 seconds, set Thursday’s opening performance, while Lynette Brodoway held on to the best time in ladies barrel racing with a 17.493 in Thursday’s slack performance and Garrett Smith took the bull riding title with Friday’s 86-point ride on Black Sugar.