Hanchey’s on a Heater
Tie-down roper Shane Hanchey tied the arena record at one of the biggest rodeos of the year, while simultaneously leading two major rodeos Jan. 18.
The 28-year-old cowboy tied Riley Pruitt’s 2016 arena record run of 6.9 seconds at the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver on Thursday evening. Hanchey made the Denver record book just one day after also claiming the lead at the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show in Fort Worth, Texas, with a 7.9-second run.
“I’ve never been in this position of winning Fort Worth and Denver in the first part of it,” Hanchey said. “When I’m rolling and things are happening, I get on a heater and that normally happens midsummer; and I’m feeling that confident already. It feels like a midsummer run, but it’s only the beginning of the year, so it feels really good.”
This isn’t the first time Hanchey’s set or tied an arena record at a big rodeo. In 2014, he set an arena record at the San Angelo (Texas) Rodeo with a 6.8-second time.
“It’s pretty cool, this is right up there with that one,” Hanchey said.
Hanchey is no stranger to success. He’s qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Polaris RANGER every year since 2010 and was the 2013 world champion.
Hanchey’s 15-year-old American Quarter Horse, Bam Bam, played his part well in making the Denver time happen.
“Bam Bam was really good,” Hanchey said. “I missed my slack a bit and pulled it backwards, but it didn’t affect it much. When I got to the calf, he took care of the rest.
“It was pretty easy. It sounds cliché, but it’s true, I drew one of the best calves in the set and I was too close for comfort to the barrier, but it worked out.”
Hanchey is taking a different approach to the 2018 season after placing fifth at the 2017 WNFR and finishing the year sixth in the world standings.
“I’ll be more aggressive and take more chances when I feel the need,” Hanchey said. “I’m anxious to see how it works out for me.”
There was no time to celebrate for the Sulphur, La., cowboy since he returned to the Denver arena at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 19.
“We ate at Texas Roadhouse and I was in bed watching “SportsCenter” by 11 p.m., if that’s celebrating,” Hanchey laughed. “It’s awesome, honestly, to go back in there today and not have much to worry about in getting money quickly.”
Courtesy of PRCA