By Ben Clements
Special To Ropers Sports News
The Windy Ryon Memorial Team Roping is a well known team roping event and one that team ropers far and wide enjoy. Windy Ryon was a cowboy and businessman, founder of Ryon’s Saddle Shop and Western Store in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards. Ryon’s soon became a gathering place for cowboys and ranch and rodeo hands. The first memorial event was held in 1973 and has been an annual event ever since.
This year the event took place May 22-24, 2015 and was held at the Windy Ryon Arena in Saginaw, Texas just outside of Fort Worth. The first event of the day was the Windy Ryon Memorial Women’s Roping. The winners of the roping were JJ Hampton from Stephenville, Texas and Danielle Darnall from Deleon, Texas. The pair caught four steers in 42.34 seconds to win $7,720. Second place went to Tibba Smith from Stephenville, Texas and Ashley Richardson from Keithville, Louisiana with a time of 47.06 seconds on four steers. Third place was Megan White from Weatherford, Oklahoma and Annette Stahl from Salt Flat, Texas.
The next roping was the feature roping of the weekend. The Windy Ryon Memorial Open Division. The roping is a Pro View US Open Tour Event and one that professional team ropers have on their schedule each year. Tyler Wade from Terrell, Texas and Dakota Kirchenschlager from Morgan Mill, Texas were the champions of the roping. They were 31.15 seconds on five steers and thus won $16,130 plus ten points for the US Open Tour. Second place in the roping was Chad Masters from Cedar Hill, Tennessee and Kory Koontz from Stephenville, Texas. They were 32.12 seconds on five steers and took home $10,750 plus nine points for the US Open Tour. Third place in the roping went to Clay Tryan from Lipan, Texas and Jake Long from Morgan Mill, Texas with a time of 32.73 seconds on five steers. The fourth place finishers were Dakota Kirchenschalger and cousin Trevor Kirchenschlager from Yuma, Colorado with a time of 34.68 seconds on five steers, while fifth in the average went to Tyler Wade and Kory Koontz.
Just four years ago the Windy Ryon Memorial Committee added an Invitational #11 and #9 Division. The ropings have been very popular with many ropers and this year was no different.
Coy Speer from Weatherford, Texas teamed up with Jarrett Blessing from Paradise, Texas to take first place in the #11 Division. They were 36.52 seconds on four steers and won $5,700 in cash. Second place was Jered Sikes from Gainsville, Texas and Dale Martin from Whitesboro, Texas with a time of 37.29 seconds on four steers. Third place in the roping was James Lee from Gatesville, Texas and Hunter Koch from Vernon, Texas, while fourth in the average was Ty Crouch from Weatherford, Texas and Carson Pligrim from Peaster, Texas.
Jessie Williams from Bridgeport, Texas and Jose Ordonez from Chico, Texas teamed up to win first place in the #9 Division. The team was 40.42 seconds on four steers and took home $5,400 in cash. Second place was Jake Moody from Chico, Texas and Seth Morgan from Azle, Texas. Third place in the average went to the Oklahoma team of Mitchell Iverson from Ada and Eric Thomason from Oklahoma City. They were 47.24 seconds on four steers and won $2,800.
Founded in 1973 the Windy Ryon Memorial annually attracts thousands of spectators.Through its efforts nearly a half a million dollars has been contributed to various organizations that benefit young men and women. Other featured events include a calf roping, breakaway and steer roping . Put it on your calendar for next Memorial Day Weekend.
Results are as follows (payoffs are per team):
MAY 22
#11 LADIES ROPING:
Round 1 FT: 1. Lenzie Andrus and Jessica Bowen, 7.79, $2,300. 2. Shawn Tee Rodenberger and Jessica Bowen, 8.03, $1,600. 3. Ruth Alexander and J.J. Calkins, 8.1, $1,000. 4. Tibba Smith and Sky Parmer, 8.45, $600.
Short go FT: 1. Tibba Smith and Ashley Richardson, 8.29, $600.
Average: 1. J.J. Hampton and Danielle Darnall, 42.34, $7,720. 2. Tibba Smith and Ashley Richardson, 47.06, $5,150. 3. Megan White and Annette Stahl, 49.37, $3,980. 4. Barrie Smith and Ashley Richardson, 50.9, $2,800. 5. Jennifer Williams and Jimmi Jo Montera, 52.82, $2,100. 6. Karen Stahl and Annette Stahl, 53.65, $1,650.
OPEN ROPING:
Round 1 FT: 1. Joshua Torres and Jonathan Torres, 5.46, $2,980. 2. JoJo LeMond and Cesar DeLaCruz, 5.52, $1,790. 3. Joel Bach and Allen Bach, 5.55, $600.
Short go FT: 1. Bubba Buckaloo and Paul Eaves, 5.72, $2,980. 2. Dakota Kirchenschlager and Trevor Kirchenschlager, 5.94, $1,790. 3. Stratton Lopez and Quisto Lopez,, 6.04, $600.
Average: 1. Tyler Wade and Dakota Kirchenschlager, 31.15, $16,130. 2. Chad Masters and Kory Koontz, 32.12, $10,750. 3. Clay Tryan and Jake Long, 32.73, $8,310. 4. Dakota Kirchenschlager and Trevor Kirchenschlager, 34.68, $5,860. 5. Tyler Wade and Kory Koontz, 37.21, $4,400. 6. Bubba Buckaloo and Paul Eaves, 40.7, $3,420.
#11 ROPING:
Round 1 FT: 1. Katey Anthony and Cesar Ornelas, 7.43, $1,000. 2. Austyn Grabowski and Brian Groves, 7.59, $500.
Average: 1. Coy Speer and Jarrett Blessing, 36.52, $5,700. 2. Jered Sikes and Dale Martin, 37.29, $3,800. 3. James Lee and Hunter Koch, 37.33, $3,000. 4. Ty Crouch and Carson Pilgrim, 38.38, $2,200. 5. Todd Goforth and Andy Anaya, 40.71, $1,100.
#9 ROPING:
Round 1 FT: 1. Ryan Mims and Tom Smith, 6.25, $1,000. 2. Jose Cuellar and J.S. Cuellar, 8.14, $500.
Average: 1. Jessie Williams and Jose Ordonez, 40.42, $5,400. 2. Jake Moody and Seth Morgan, 44.37, $3,600. 3. Mitchell Iverson and Eric Thomason, 47.24, $2,800. 4. Jose Cuellar and J.S. Cuellar, 47.88, $2,100. 5. Danny Havins and Gary Jacobs, 48.42, $1,000.
TIE-DOWN ROPING:
1st. go: 1. Tim Pharr, 7.23, $2,320. 2. Timber Moore, 7.68, $1,740. 3. Marty Yates, 7.88, $1,160. 4. Jim Bob Fritz, 10.0, $580.
2nd. go: 1. Sterling Smith, 7.0, $2,320. 2. Catfish Brown, 7.33, $1,740. 3. Timber Brown, 7.50, $1,160. 4. Hunter Herrin, 7.53, $580.
Short go: 1. Timber Moore, 7.35, $2,320. 2. Marty Yates, 7.49, $1,740. 3. Cole Bailey, 7.5, $1,160. 4. Chase Williams, 8.1, $580.
Average: 1. Timber Moore, 22.53, $4,640. 2. Marty Yates, 23.61, $3,480. 3. Cole Bailey, 23.97, $2,320. 4. Chase Williams, 25.43, $1,160.
BREAKAWAY ROPING:
1st. go: 1. Tiada Gray, 2.22, $1,371. 2. Martha Angelone, 2.29, $1,028. 3. Katey Jo Anthony, 2.36, $685. 4. Whitney DeSalvo, 2.47, $400.
2nd. go: 1. Lauren Bane, 1.84, $1,371. 2. Cassidy Boggs, 2.24, $1,028. 3. Kambria McDougal, 2.26, $685. 4. Lydia Martin, 2.27, $400.
Short go: 1. Katey Jo Anthony, 2.24, $400.
Average: 1. Katey Jo Anthony, 7.19, $1,691. 2. Devin Riggins, 7.32, $1,268. 3. Lari Dee Guy, 7.86, $845. 4. Kortni McConnel, 8.46, $422.
STEER ROPING:
1st. go: 1. Chet Herren, 11.41, $1,550. 2. J. Tom Fisher, 11.59, $1,300. 3. Ryan Willberg, 12.10, $1,050. 4. Corey Ross, 12.60, $800.
2nd. go: 1. Mike Chase, 10.93, $1,550. 2. Ralph Williams, 11.34, $1,300. 3. Dan Fisher, 11.40, $1,050. 4. Jess Tierney, 11.58, $800.
3rd. go: 1. Ralph Williams, 11.16, $1,075. 2. Luke Blend, 12.53, $975. 3. Kim Ziegelgruber, 13.23, $875. 4. JoJo Lemond, 16.18, $800.
Average: 1. J. Tom Fisher, 58.53, $4,500. 2. Luke Bland, 60.27, $3,375. 3. J.P. Wickett, 64.64, $2,250. 4. Corey Ross, 66.84, $1,125.
J.J. Hampton and Danielle Darnall won the #11 Ladies Roping at the 2015 Windy Ryon Memorial. Dudley Barker Photo
