Open winners Nathan McWhorter (r) and Casey Chamberlain (l), in action at the Windy Ryon Memorial Roping. (Photo by Dudley Barker)

McWhorter & Chamberlain Claim Windy Ryon Team Roping Title

By Kent Lynch
Special To Ropers Sports News

It’s been a Memorial Day institution for 39 years now. For roping fans in north Texas, it’s the biggest event of the year. It’s the Windy Ryon Memorial Roping presented by Coors, or The Ryon, a hot, humid, windy, sweaty, gritty tradition that beckons spectators to Saginaw, Texas in search of bar-b-que sandwiches, ice cold beer and three days of roping action.
Over the years, the Windy Ryon has hosted traditional events, tie-down roping, steer roping, breakaway and open team roping, while some years featuring extra events like matches, steer wrestling, senior events and for the past few years, a ranch double mugging. This year, the biggest and maybe most controversial change came in eliminating the senior steer roping and adding a #11 team roping. The move, made by the committee, was strictly based on economics, as the purpose of the event is to raise money for scholarships.
Other changes for the 2012 event included fee increases in the tie-down roping and open team roping, while dropping the entry limit from four times to three and making the open team roping a five header. As a USTRC Affiliate event, the open team roping was also included in the US Open Tour for 2012, awarding points to winners toward tour awards which culminate at the USTRC National Finals in October.
The action kicked off on Friday as Barrie Smith and Lari Dee Guy, probably two of the winningest ladies in Windy Ryon history, claimed the All-Girl team roping championship. The Stephenville/Abilene pair placed in the first go and won the short go on their way to turning in a 45.52 on four head, almost eight seconds ahead of second place. Together, they won over $17,000 and the coveted championship buckles. Lydia Martin and Ashley Mills took the reserve title, while Alicia Stockton and Courtney Small won the first round.
Open ropers took to the arena Friday afternoon looking for their share of the $61,000 pot. Chace Thompson and Jett Hillman snagged the first check of the day by posting a 6.61 in the first round. Sticking it out in the average for the big prize was the team of Nathan McWhorter of Telephone, Texas and Casey Chamberlain of Colorado City. They stopped the clock five times for a total of 38.92 seconds, good for $16,500 and a pair of buckles.
Being a five-header, the Windy Ryon team roping is more of an endurance race than a speed game.
“ We just made sure that we slowed them down, and we tried not to mess them up,” McWhorter told the Fort Worth Star Telegram. “We just tried to make sure we made clean runs and we tried not to beat ourselves.”    
The father/son team of David and Ryan Motes took second with a 39.41 and earned $11,000. The younger Motes also claimed the short round title with Speed Williams with a 5.39.
Saturday was a record-breaking day as the Windy Ryon tie-down roping history books were updated three times. It all started in round one as five-time Wrangler NFR qualifier Hunter Herrin tied his calf in a smoking 7.8 seconds, breaking Ryan Watkins’ 2007 record of 7.9. Herrin’s record lasted less than one hour as 2005 World All-Around champion Ryan Jarrett strung his calf in 7.6. Herrin, though, wasn’t done. He entered the history book again with his average time of 24.4 on three head, breaking another 2007 record of 27.9, set by Randall Carlisle. With two rounds and and the average in his pocket, Herrin left The Ryon with $9,280. Jade Conner was the runner-up with a 26 flat.
Another tradition at the Windy Ryon is the tie-down match roping tournament. This year Clint Cooper edged defending champion Cody Ohl 88.4 to 91.8 on their preliminary four head, while Justin Maass defeated Shane Hanchey 37.9 to 88.6. In the championship six-header, Maass jumped to the lead on the first calf and never trailed. A close match after five head saw Cooper take a 60 on his final calf and leave the door open for Maass to finish. Maass clocked a 72.2 on six head for $5,000 while Cooper turned in a 121.3 and took the reserve prize of $2,000.
As mentioned earlier, a #11 handicapped team roping was added at the Windy Ryon this year. The roping, an enter one/draw one format for $200 per roper, had a limit of 100 entered teams to ensure it would not conflict with the Invitational Steer Roping. Entries were to open at 2pm on Friday and it was no surprise that the roping filled quickly…too quickly according to some. As ropers lined up at the entry window, secretaries decided to go ahead and accept some to shorten the line. Little did anyone know that the roping would fill right after 2pm, leaving some potential contestants a little upset. Being the first year for the event, the Windy Ryon committee learned from this miscommunication and plans are already underway to improve the entry process for next year and allow more contestants access to entry.
That aside, ropers who did manage to enter were astounded at the format and payout of the #11. Probably most impressed were Sam Early of Flat, Texas and Taylor Mitchell of Midland. Early and Mitchell roped four head in 37.28 to claim the championship and $8,000 and a pair of buckles. Tara Hill and Isai Serna took home $5,240 for their second place 43.69. Mitchell also won the first round with Tommy Zant with a 7.26.
Just three weeks after returning to competition, Scott Snedecor, took the steer roping title at the Windy Ryon. Snedecor suffered a torn ACL while competing in early March, but you would have never known it by his performance. Snedecor turned in a 50.4 for the win, earning $4,212. Cody Lee claimed second with a 50.7 for $3,160.
Other winners at the 2012 Windy Ryon Memorial Roping included: Keri Pasley – Invitational Breakaway; Wilfong Land & Cattle (Chick Wilfong and Brian McBride – Invitational Ranch Double Mugging; Lari Dee Guy – Top Horse, Invitational Breakaway; Cody Ohl – Top Horse, Invitational Tie-Down; Chick Wilfong – Top Horse, Invitational Ranch Double Mugging (judged by world renowned horseman, Chris Cox).
The Windy Ryon Memorial Roping is held in memory of Don J. “Windy” Ryon, a Fort Worth businessman. Money raised through this volunteer-run event is used to fund scholarships and community programs for area youth.
Results are as follows:
OPEN ROPING: total payout; $61,000.
1st go: 1st. Chance Thompson and Jett Hillman, 6.61, $2,400. 2nd. Lane Ivy and Justin Copp, 6.67, $1,500. 3rd. Chance Thompson and Kinney Harrell, 6.67, $1,500. 4th. Turtle Powell and Travis Graves, 6.38, $600.
Short go round: 1st. Speed Williams and Ryan Motes, 5.39, $2,500. 2nd. Ty Blasingame and Kollin VonAhn, 5.48, $1,500. 3rd. Blake Hughes and Will Woodfin, 5.70, $1,000.
Average: 1st. Nathan McWhorter and Casey Chamberlain, 38.92, $16,500. 2nd. David Motes and Ryan Motes, 39.41, $11,000. 3rd. Turtle Powell and Travis Graves, 39.80, $8,500. 4th. Charly Crawford and Jake Long, 40.57, $6,000. 5th. Casey Hicks and Brady Norman, 40.97, $4,500. 6th. Dylan Gordon and Jess Morgan, 41.79, $3,500.
#11 LADIES ROPING: total payout; $58,000.
1st go: 1st. Alicia Stockton and Courtney Small, 7.64, $3,300. 2nd. Lydia Martin and Jimmi Montera, 8.23, $2,200. 3rd. Kim Maxwell and Kelly Snow, 8.74, $1,700. 4th. Alycia Garson and Mary Richter, 9.22, $1,200.
Short go round: 1st. Barrie Smith and Lari Dee Guy, 13.77, $3,000.
Average: 1st. Barrie Smith and Lari Dee Guy, 45.52, $13,500. 2nd. Lydia Martin and Ashley Mills, 53.44, $8,550. 3rd. Jayme Marcrum and Kayelen Helton, 55.32, $5,850. 4th. Hope Thompson and Katey Anthony, 60.42, $4,950. 5th. Janet Garnett and Sherry Robinson, 63.14, $4,050.

For complete results, visit the Windy Ryon website at windyryon.org