PRCA for the Record: Fort Smith
The Old Fort Days Rodeo in Fort Smith, Ark., has records tracing back to its inception in 1949 when it was known as the Arkansas-Oklahoma Rodeo.
The 2021 version of Old Fort Days began May 30 with slack and concludes June 5. So far in 2021, no rodeo records have been broken.
In 2018, team ropers Clay Smith and Paul Eaves tied the Old Fort Days record with a 3.9-second run. Smith and Eaves went on to win their first world championships in their respective events at that season’s National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
After a four-year partnership, Smith and Eaves parted ways in 2019. That year Smith, roping with Jade Corkill, won the heading world title. Corkill, who won three consecutive heeling world crowns in 2012-14, finished fourth with Smith.
Smith and Corkill will take aim at the Old Fort Days record book when they compete in Fort Smith June 4.
The oldest rodeo record in Fort Smith belongs to steer wrestler Dan Courmier, who clocked a 3.1-second time in 1994. His record was tied by Jason Tapley in 2014.
Rodeo records
• Total payout: $181,080, 2000
• All-around: $5,102, Justin McDaniel, 2005
• Bareback riding: 88 points, Chris Harris, 2007; Bobby Mote, 2014
• Steer wrestling: 3.1 seconds, Dan Courmier, 1994; Jason Tapley, 2014 (7.5/2, Mike Bush and Shane Henderson, 1996)
• Team roping: 3.9 seconds, Logan Olson/Matt Kasner, 2013; Clay Smith/Paul Eaves 2018 (9.2/2, Joel Bach/Jim Ross Cooper, 2015)
• Saddle bronc riding: 88 points, Sam Sheppick, 2003
• Tie-down roping: 6.8 seconds, Hunter Herrin, 2014 (14.4/2, Hunter Herrin, 2014)
• Barrel racing: 15.97 seconds, Brittany Pozzi, 2013
• Steer roping*: 7.7 seconds, Cody Scheck, 2012** (20.6/2, Vin Fisher Jr., 2014)
• Bull riding: 91 points, Cole Echols, 2014
* Steer roping has not been held at Fort Smith since 2015
** Scheck’s record is also a PRCA world record.
Courtesy of PRCA