PRCA for the Record: Tuf Cooper Remembers Blazing Guymon (Okla.) Run
Tuf Cooper is known for making fast tie-down roping runs when he needs them most. One of the fastest of his career came at the Guymon (Okla.) Pioneer Days Rodeo in 2017.
He put together the fastest run in the rodeo’s history when he stopped the clock in 6.8 seconds. It’s a run he remembers like it was yesterday.
“I absolutely remember that run,” said Cooper, a four-time PRCA World Champion. “It was at the very end of the second round. I had a great calf that stepped off to the right and sometimes in Guymon things get fast in a hurry.”
Cooper is back in Guymon competing this week. He said the rodeo always brings out the toughest competition with hundreds of cowboys in the draw every year.
“There are 150 calf ropers here each year and shoot the heat gets turned up in Guymon,” he said. “You have to be on your ‘A’ game if you want to walk out with the win that’s for sure.”
The 13-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier is currently sitting third in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $65,600. He acknowledged while it’s a long season getting the summer run kicked off on the right foot is key even in May.
“It’s usually one of my first rodeos outdoors for the year, so it’s always good to get things going in the right direction,” Cooper said. “Everybody is planning out their summer and fall runs right now. All the big rodeos are back and hopefully this will be another good season for me.”
Cowboys will try to add their names to the Guymon record book this weekend. The NFR Playoff Series presented by Pendleton Whisky stop runs May 6-8 and will be broadcast live on The Cowboy Channel and streamed on the PRCA on Cowboy Channel Plus App.
Below are the other record holders at the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo.
Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo records
• Total payout: $376,535, 2007
• All-around: $14,107, Cody Ohl, 2003
• Bareback riding: 90 points, Matt Mosher, 2005 (172/2, Jason Havens, 2004)
• Steer wrestling: 2.9 seconds, Jason Miller, 2008 (Blake Knowles, 7.6/2, 2020; Luke Branquinho, 10.9/3, 2008; Kirby Kaul, 16.3/4, 2001)
• Team roping: 4.2 seconds, Nick Sartain/Blaine Vick, 2020 (Erich Rogers/Paden Bray, 9.9/2, 2020; Coleman Proctor/Jake Long, 20.0/3, 2015; Frank Graves/Monty Joe Petska, 35.5/4, 2001)
• Saddle bronc riding: 91 points, Glen O’Neill, 2005 (Glen O’Neill, 172/2, 2005)
• Tie-down roping: 6.8 seconds, Tuf Cooper, 2017 (Hunter Herrin, 23.6/3, 2012; Fred Whitfield, 33.4/4, 2006, Justin Smith/Hunter Herrin, 16.8/2, 2020)
• Barrel racing: 15.83 seconds, Cassie Moseley, 2007 (Tammy Key-Fischer, 33.32/2, 2008; Cassie Moseley, 49.76/3, 2007)
• Steer roping: 8.6 seconds, Dan Fisher, 1990 (Darin Suit, 47.1/4, 2021; Brian Garr, 41.0/3, 2017; 63.1/5, Landon McClaugherty, 2009; 77.4/6, Guy Allen, 2000)
• Bull riding: 93 points, Tyler Smith, 2013 (Wesley Silcox, 179/2, 2007)
Courtesy of PRCA