Reeves Finds Success Again in Lovington
LOVINGTON, N.M. – Matt Reeves is no stranger to winning the Lea County Fair & PRCA Rodeo.
The veteran steer wrestler most recently won it in 2009 when he split the title with Lee Graves.
He was victorious again Saturday night as he won the crown outright with a 7.9-second time in the two-head average.
“I had to come home and regroup because we were having trouble getting them lined out,” Reeves said. “A guy named Quinn Campbell – I talked to him about going to the Northwest (as his hazer) – and he came over (Aug. 8) and by the end of practice things were going good.”
With Campbell hazing for him, Reeves placed third in the first round with a 4.1- second time and earned $1,250 in Lawton, Okla., earlier this week.
Things went even better for Reeves in Lovington. The Cross Plains, Texas, cowboy placed third in first round with 3.8-second run and followed that up with 4.1-second effort in the second round to clinch the average. Reeves made both of his runs on Aug. 10.
“Quinn served two more of them up at Lovington,” Reeves said. “I got three looks all the same (at Lawton and Lovington), and I don’t remember the last time that happened for me. I had one that was running too far and I blew the barrier out and was 3.8 and my second one I was aggressive and made a good run (at 4.1 seconds). Having a guy on my team like Quinn was good because he gave me consistent looks.”
When Reeves departed Jake McClure Arena in Lovington, he earned $3,666. That visit to the pay window was key for Reeves. He was 14th in the Aug. 9 WEATHER GUARD® PRCA World Standings with $53,688.
“It feels really good to win this rodeo again,” Reeves said.
This season, Reeves has been using a new full-time horse, nine-year-old Roy.
“I rode him some here and there last year, and at Jackson (Miss., in February) I just decided I was going to ride him and win on him,” Reeves said. “I finished second there and he has got better and better and better. I’ve been happy with how he has done.”
Reeves is a six-time qualifier for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (2007, 2009-2010, 2012-13, 2016). A year ago, he tied his career-best season, placing second in the world standings – something he also did in 2013.
With the end of the 2017 season looming, Reeves has a simple plan to get back to Las Vegas for the seventh time.
“Win baby, and keep it going,” Reeves said. “You have to keep running them.”
Although Reeves is 39 years old, he has no plans of leaving the rodeo arena any time soon.
“I still like getting in the pick-up (truck),” he said. “When I don’t want to get in the pick-up anymore I will do something else. It pays the bills and I enjoy it. I love rodeo.”
Other winners at the $212,147 rodeo were bareback rider Orin Larsen (90 points on Pete Carr’s Classic Pro Rodeo’s Scarlets Web), team ropers Jake Orman/Will Woodfin (10.0 seconds on two head), saddle bronc rider Heith DeMoss (84.5 points on Big Rafter Rodeo’s Who Knows), tie-down roper Cory Solomon (16.3 seconds on two head), barrel racer Taci Bettis (17.28 seconds), steer roper Rocky Patterson (33.2 seconds on three head) and bull rider Koby Radley (87 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Half Nuts).
For more coverage of the Lea County Fair & PRCA Rodeo, check out the Sept. 1 issue of the ProRodeo Sports News.
Courtesy of PRCA