Rodeo Coach Top Steer Roper at San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo
By Susan Kanode
For the San Antonio Stock Show Rodeo
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Even with three world championships to his credit, steer roper Rocky Patterson still has a list of rodeos that he wants to win. He checked one of those off of his list with a title at the San Antonio Stock Show Rodeo on Sunday.
Patterson, from Pratt, Kan., roped and tied three steers in a total time of 33.4 seconds to win the title and $20,288. He was a full second faster than the man in second place, J.Tom Fisher from Andrews, Texas, who had a 34.5.
Not only did Patterson get a new trophy buckle for being the best steer roper at the 67th San Antonio Stock Show Rodeo, just like all of the other champions, he got a $5,000 gas card.
Patterson has been coming to San Antonio to compete since steer roping was added six years ago, and prior to this year had only won a very small check. His success in 2016 came aboard an 11-year-old gelding he calls Buster that he had just purchased. In fact this was their first rodeo together.
“It’s phenomenal to get to show up in any event, but especially the steer roping and get to rope for that kind of money, “ Patterson said of the win. “This will shoot me up in the standings, give me a good boost, give me some confidence in a new horse and it will be a lot shorter ride home than it usually is.”
When he is not competing himself, Patterson uses his experience to help members of the Pratt Community College rodeo team where he serves as coach. They participate in the Central Plains Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. Patterson has five weekends booked during the rest of this year’s school year where he will be hoping to have some of his students earn enough points to qualify for the College National Finals Rodeo.
Patterson earned world titles in steer roping 2009, 2010 and 2012. He has qualified for the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping 21 times and with the money he got in San Antonio, he has a jump start on competing at his 22nd next November.
The following are results from steer roping at the San Antonio Stock Show Rodeo which features over $1.65 million in cash and prizes.
First round: 1, Shay Good, Midland, Texas, 10.3 seconds, $8,408. 2, J.Tom Fisher, Andrews, Texas, 10.4, $7,311. 3, Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas, 10.5, $6,214. 4, Marty Jones, Hobbs, N.M., 10.9, $5,118. 5, Lawson Plemons, Axtell, Texas, 11.2, $4,021. 6, Cody Lee, Gatesville, Texas, 11.3, $2,924. 7, Thomas Smith, Barnsdall, Okla., 11.8, $1,828. 8, (tie) Shane Suggs, Granbury, Texas, and Travis Mills, Gillette, Wyo., 11.9, $366.
Second round: 1, Jason Evans, Glen Rose, Texas, 9.9 seconds, $8,408. 2, (tie) Coy Thompson, Whitewood, S.D., and Casey Tillard, Glenrock, Wyo., 10.1 and $6,763 each. 4, Jess Tierney, Hermosa, S.D., 10.2, $5,118. 5, Troy Tillard, Douglas, Wyo., 10.6, $4,021. 6, (tie) Cody Lee, Gatesville, Texas, and J.P. Wickett, Sallisaw, Okla., 10.7, $2,376. 8, (tie) Bryce Davis, Ovalo, Texas, and Rocky Patterson, Pratt, Kan., 10.8, $365.
Third round: 1, Landon McClaugherty, Tilden, Texas, 9.9 seconds, $8,408. 2, Rocky Patterson, Pratt, Kan., 10.0, $7,311. 3, Dan Fisher, Andrews, Texas, 10.3, $6,214. 4, (tie) Scot Snedecor, Fredericksburg, Texas, and J.Tom Fisher, Andrews, Texas, 10.9, $4,569 each. 6, (tie) Troy Tillard, Douglas, Wyo., and Marty Jones, Hobbs, N.M., 11.1, $2,376. 8, Chirs Glover, Keenesburg, Colo., 11.3, $731.
Overall winners (on three) 1, Patterson, 33.4 seconds, $12,612. 2, J.Tom Fisher, 34.5, $10,967. 3, Chris Glover, Keenesburg, Colo., 34.7, $9,322. 4, Marty Jones, Hobbs, N.M., 36.2, $7,677. 5, Troy Tillard, Douglas, Wyo., 36.7, $6,032. 6, Mike Chase, McAlester, Okla., 39.0, $4,387. 7, Dan Fisher, 39.8, $2,742. 8, Joe Wells, Cisco, Texas, 40.7, $1,097.
Courtesy of PRCA