Quaney Maintains Wave of Success at Prairie Circuit Finals
DUNCAN, Okla.- The 2017 season proved to be the best year yet for tie-down roper Cody Quaney. It’s still early, but it isn’t too bold to say he’s carried that same momentum into 2018.
On the strength of a three-head score of 26.3 seconds, Quaney walked away from the RAM Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo as champion, and for the 27-year-old, it was a win he had to have.
“It’s exciting,” Quaney said. “It’s my first average win. I’ve won the year-end a couple times and was able to go to (the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo), but I knew I wouldn’t be able to win the year-end this year, so I knew I had to win the average. It’s really exciting, it worked out good.”
Following Quaney in the final tie-down roping scores were Tyler Milligan (26.5 seconds) and L.D. Meier (26.9 seconds), as the Cheney, Kan. cowboy’s $5,404 earned at the RPCFR was swayed by the blink of an eye. Quaney thought his 9.4-second final round score wouldn’t be strong enough to hold his eventual winning time.
“I didn’t have the ideal run on my third go,” Quaney explained. “I took a little longer than I was hoping to. It turned out that Tyler (Milligan) had a little trouble, he kind of fell down and got kicked, so I was able to get the win.”
Quaney, who was ranked 17th in the WEATHER GUARD® PRCA tie-down roping standings at the conclusion of the 2017 season, couldn’t pinpoint one reason or the other as to how he crafted such an important win, but he did give credit to his cavalry.
“(Spook) really takes care of me,” Quaney said. “He’s probably the reason I was able to win the average over here. I’ve had him for about five years now and he’s just been solid.”
A veteran quarter horse, Spook has become a trustworthy asset for Quaney.
“He does the same thing every time,” Quaney detailed. “There’s no surprises with him. Same thing every time.”
Narrowly missing his first Wrangler Nationals Finals Rodeo presented by Polaris RANGER qualification by approximately $8,000, Quaney believes that his recent season finish and claim as RPCFR champion are testaments to his maturity as a cowboy. Quaney is also pondering what a quality win will do for a 2018 season that now includes an invitation to Kissimmee, Fla.
“It really helps,” Quaney said. “It takes off some pressure. I’ve had some bad winters in the past, and so when you’re able to rack up quite a bit here first, it really takes off some pressure.”
Other winners at the $181,425 rodeo were bareback rider Steven Dent (237 points on three head), steer wrestler Stockton Graves (13.6 seconds on three head), team ropers Jesse Stipes/Jake Smith (18.4 seconds on three head), saddle bronc rider Hardy Braden (244.5 points on three head), barrel racer Carley Richardson (47.67 seconds on three head), steer roper Carley Richardson (47.67 seconds on three head) and bull rider Guthrie Murray (222.5 points on three head).
Check out more coverage of the RAM Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo in the Nov. 10 issue of ProRodeo Sports News.
Courtesy of PRCA