SAN ANGELO, Texas – There’s not a hotter tandem in team roping than Clay Smith and Jake Long, and they kept up their scorching pace this weekend at the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo.
On Sunday afternoon, Smith and Long stopped the clock in 3.5 seconds to set the rodeo record. That, combined with their 3.6-second run Friday night, puts the duo in the lead with 10 more preliminary performances remaining as every contestant in the field battles for a spot in the championship round, set for Friday, Feb. 15, at Foster Communications Coliseum.
WATCH: The first interview when the duo was 1/10th of a second from tying the arena record:
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“I think we’re roping really well right now,” said Long, an eight-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier in heeling from Coffeyville, Kansas. “Our horses are working great. We’re drawing good steers, and we’re both just doing our jobs.”
They’re doing it very well. Over the last month, Smith and Long have won the Texas Circuit Finals Rodeo, the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver and the Wildfire Roping last weekend in Hamilton, Texas. They sit No. 1 in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world standings – both have earned $14,714.
And they stand a great chance of pocketing even more in this west Texas community of about 100,000 people. By setting a new arena record, they have at least put themselves in a place in the rodeo’s storied past.
“It’s cool, especially at a rodeo with the tradition of San Angelo,” Long said. “I remember hearing about that arena record a long time ago; it was a world record at the time, so there’s history behind it. We were just trying to make a good run, and it just happened to come together.”
WATCH: The interview Sunday after tying the arena record:
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He and Smith decided last October to join forces for the 2019 season, but both had some unfinished business to tend to first – both had qualified for the NFR with their previous partners. Smith then put on an outstanding performance in Las Vegas with Paul Eaves and left the Nevada desert with the most cherished prize in the game, the world champion’s gold buckle.
“It means a lot to have that world title,” Smith said. “That’s something you’ll probably never forget. Then again, it doesn’t matter, because as soon as the 10th round was over, it’s a new year, and you’re just trying to make it back to the finals.”
Even with his success with Eaves, Smith likes the opportunities that are before him with Long serving as his heeler.
“We figured we had the same mentality on everything,” Smith said. “We’re both aggressive, and he heels super fast. We’re not opposed to winning second or third, but we sure like winning first.”
They are in that position through the first weekend of competition in San Angelo, and they’d love to be there when it comes down to Championship Friday in less than two weeks.
“Clay is amazing in any setup, and his horses are great,” Long said. “This is a cool rodeo. It’s not an overly big building, but they pack it, and the crowd seems to be in it. It makes for fast times and is enjoyable to watch. It’s like roping at the finals, and you feed off what everybody else is doing.”
San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo — Feb. 1-3, Feb. 8-10, Feb. 13-15
Bareback riding leaders: 1. Bill Tutor, 88 points on Lancaster and Jones’ Highway Man; 2. (tie) Taylor Broussard and Jake Vold, 84; 4. Hunter Brasfield, 83; 5. Zach Hibler, 82; 6. Jesse Pope, 81; 7. Tony Barrington, 79; 8. (tie) Waylon Guy Burgeois and Connor Hamilton, 78; 10. Paden Hurst, 77.5; 11. Wyatt Maines, 77; 12. BoDell Jessen, 76.
WATCH: Bill Tutor
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Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Jacob Talley, 4.0 seconds; 2. Kyle Irwin, 4.7; 3. Blake Knowles, 4.9; 4. (tie) Jacob Edler and Tyler Pearson, 5.0; 6. Steven Culling, 5.5; 7. Dalton Massey, 70; 8. Shane Frey, 7.2. Second round: 1. Tanner Brunner, 4.0 seconds; 2. (tie) Jacob Edler and Stephen Culling, 4.2; 4. (tie) Tyler Waguespack and Blake Knowles, 4.3; 6. Dalton Massey, 4.4; 7. Tyler Pearson, 4.5; 8. Eli Lord, 4.8. Average: 1. (tie) Jacob Edler and Blake Knowles, 9.2 seconds on two runs; 3. Tyler Pearson, 9.5; 4. Stephen Culling, 9.7; 5. Dalton Massey, 11.4; 6. Tanner Brunner, 17.8; 7. Hunter Cure, 27.5; 8. Jacob Talley, 4.0 seconds on one run; 9. Tyler Waguespack, 4.3; 10. Kyle Irwin, 4.7; 11. Eli Lord, 4.8; 12. Jason Thomas, 5.8.
Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Clay Smith/Jake Long, 3.6 seconds; 2. (tie) Justin Yost/Jake Edwards and Aaron Tsinigine/Kyle Lockett, 4.3; 4. Eli Lord/J.W. Beck, 4.6; 5. Billy Bob Brown/Shay Carroll, 4.7; 6. Bart Brunson/Trace Poter, 7.5; 7. Derrick Begay/Cory Petska, 9.3; 8. Jacob Dagenhart/Zack Mabry, 9.6. Second round leaders: 1. Clay Smith/Jake Long, 3.5 seconds; 2. Luke Brown/Paul Eaves, 3.6; 3. Aaron Tsinigine/Kyle Lockett, 3.8; 4. Bart Brunson/Trace Porter, 4.0; 5. Erich Rogers/Clint Summers, 4.3; 6. Rhen Richard/Quinn Kesler, 9.0; 7. Jacob Dagenhart/Zack Mabry, 9.8; 8. Tyler Wade/Billie Jack Saebens, 13.8. Average leaders: 1. Clay Smith/Jake Long, 7.1 seconds on two runs; 2. Aaron Tsinigine/Kyle Lockett, 8.1; 3. Bart Brunson/Trace Porter, 11.5; 4. Jacob Deganhart/Zack Mabry, 19.4; 5. Rhen Richard/Quinn Kesler, 23.2; 6. Eli Lord/J.W. Beck, 24.7; 7. Luke Brown/Paul Eaves, 3.6 seconds on one run; 8. (tie) Justin Yost/Jake Edwards and Erich Rogers/Clint Summers, 4.3; 10. Billy Bob Brown/Shay Carrol, 4.7; 11. Derrick Begay/Cory Petska, 9.3; 12. Tyler Wade/Billy Jack Saebens, 13.8.
Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. (tie) Cody DeMoss, on Lancaster and Jones’ Total Equine Angel Fire, and Colt Gordon, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Sadie’s Gal, 87 points; 3. (tie) Preston Burr and Wade Sundell, 83; 5. Aaron Lide, 82; 6. (tie) Tate Owens, Hawkins Boyce, Jake Wright and CoBurn Bradshaw, 81; 10. Josh Davison, 79.5; 11. (tie) Dawson Dahm and Jesse Wright, 79.
Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Jake Pratt, 7.0 seconds; 2. Tuf Cooper, 7.6; 3. Blane Cox, 7.7; 4. Haven Meged, 7.9; 5. (tie) Ike Fontenot and Westyn Hughes, 8.0; 7. Blake Ash, 8.4; 8. Cade Swor, 8.6. Second round leaders: 1. Justin Smith, 7.2 seconds; 2. Cimarron Boardman, 7.6; 3. Rhen Richard, 8.1; 4. (tie) Tyson Durfey and Blake Ash, 8.3; 6. Ryle Smih, 8.4; 7. Tuf Cooper, 8.5; 8. (tie) Haven Meged and Riley Pruitt, 8.6. Average leaders: 1. Jake Pratt, 15.9 seconds on two runs; 2. Tuf Cooper, 16.1; 3. Haven Meged, 16.5; 4. Blake Ash, 16.7; 5. Ryle Smith, 18.8; 6. Shad Mayfield, 18.9; 7. (tie) Lane Livingston and Riley Pruitt, 19.5; 9. Cooper Mathews, 21.3; 10. Ike Fontenot, 28.7; 11. Justin Smith, 7.2 seconds on one run; 12. Cimarron Boardman, 7.6.
Barrel racing: Second round leaders: 1. Nicole Love, 14.08 seconds; 2. (tie) Teri Bangart and Sherry Cervi, 14.29 seconds; 4. Stevi Hillman, 14.32; 5. Halyn Lide, 14.34; 6. Mindy Goemmer, 14.35; 7. Lois Ferguson, 14.40; 8. Christy Larsen, 14.44; 9. Kimberly Cockrell, 14.46; 10. Cheyenne Hattesen, 14.51. Average leaders: 1. Nicole Love, 30.20 seconds on two runs; 2. Teri Bangart, 30.59; 3. Stevi Hillman, 30.62; 4. Halyn Lyde, 30.79; 5. Kynzie McNeill, 30.80; 6. Carman Pozzobon, 30.81; 7. Ericka Nelson, 30.85; 8. Mindy Goemmer, 30.88; 9. Sherry Cervi, 30.89; 10. Jill Wilson, 30.93; 11. Kimberly Cockrell, 30.98; 12. Lois Ferguson, 31.03.
WATCH: Nicole Love oon her 14.08-second barrel race run
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Bull riding leaders: 1. Aaron Williams, 89 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Tequila Worm; 2. Brady Portenier, 87; 3. Rorey Maier, 85; 4. (tie) Cole Meloncon and Riker Carter, 84; 6. Aaron Pass, 83.5; 7. Dave Mason, 83; 8. (tie) Parker Breding and Koby Radley, 82; 10. J.T. Moore, 81.5; 11. Sage Kimzey, 79; 12. Nathan Hatchel, 78.
WATCH: Bull Rider Riker Carter on bucking to Nickleback
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