Snedecor Makes History at San Antonio with Back-to-Back Titles
SAN ANTONIO – Two years ago, steer roper Scott Snedecor, despite a prestigious career that included two steer roping world titles, had never won the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo average buckle.
After Sunday’s performance, Snedecor became the first steer roper to win back-to-back average buckles in the history of the famed rodeo.
Snedecor, while riding Possum, won the 2018 San Antonio average in 32.6 seconds on three head, besting his closest competitor by more than two seconds.
“Any time you win one of these big deals it’s exciting, it doesn’t matter if it’s back to back,” said Snedecor, who turned 43 Feb. 2. “It’s a tough chore to win one of these big ones with the pressure-packed runs. It fell in the right direction for me though.”
Despite not placing in the first round, Snedecor still cashed in for a giant payday, earning $28,394. He tied for second in the second round, which helped put him in first place in the average heading to the finals. He was the last roper out, and needed a run of 12.9 seconds to beat then-leader Tuf Cooper to claim the title. Snedecor finished in 10.4, tying for the third-round win with Chris Glover while simultaneously grabbing his second-consecutive San Antonio title.
“I didn’t know exactly how much time (I had to finish in),” Snedecor said. “But I knew I had some time to work with. I knew I had a pretty good steer, so I knew I just needed to go out there and make a solid run.”
Snedecor is from Fredericksburg, Texas, about 70 miles from San Antonio, giving him extra motivation.
“Last year was a big thrill for me to get it off my back,” he said. “This year was just a bonus. Such a great committee, great event, hats off to everybody involved in this deal. I’ve got a lot of people here. It’s kind of my hometown rodeo.”
With the win, Snedecor could vault to the front of the 2018 PRCA World Standings. He entered the final weekend of the San Antonio rodeo in 10th place. That will definitely change.
Snedecor’s win in San Antonio played a key role in him adding his third steer roping gold buckle at the National Finals Steer Roping last year. He’s hoping Sunday’s win will do likewise.
“It jumpstarts your whole year,” Snedecor said. “I’m just coming off winning the world, so it keeps snowballing, it keeps you on a high.”
Possum was the same horse Snedecor won on last year and the same one he was on at the NFSR. Snedecor was borrowing him from Stephen Stransky.
“I trained him (Possum) a few years back,” Snedecor said. “We’ve grown up together, Stephen and I, and he’s an outstanding friend to let me take that horse when he’s not using him.”
Cooper’s second-place finish in the average, anchored by a third-place finish in the third round and a split for fourth in the first round, earned him a total of $22,677 – the second-most among steer ropers in San Antonio. Four-time Steer Roping World Champion Rocky Patterson left San Antonio with a total of $20,389 thanks to a winning the second round and finishing fifth in the average.
Glover earned a total of $16,197, while Garrett Hale left town with $12,387 and Troy Tillard also cracked five figures with $10,671.
Courtesy of PRCA