Tie-Down Roper Macon Murphy Gets Huge Win in Caldwell
Caldwell, Idaho is a far place, from Keatchie, La., but the famous Caldwell Night Rodeo fans were like a hometown crowd for tie down roper Macon Murphy as he captured his first title here on Aug. 20.
Murphy tied three calves in 24.8 seconds to secure the win and take home a much-needed $10,630 along with valuable points on the NFR Playoff Series presented by Pendleton Whisky.
“It’s loud every night in Caldwell but there’s nothing like the short round,” said Murphy, 23. “This was really a special win for me because I have family who live outside of Caldwell, and they were able to come tonight.”
“It was good to see someone with the same blood,” Murphy joked about months out on the road, far from home. “I got to stay with my cousins and my uncle, put my feet up for a few hours.”
Murphy had a long but lucrative week. He roped both his long round calves in Caldwell during the slack on Monday, Aug. 15 before heading to Canby, Ore., Gooding, Idaho, Kalispell, Mont., and Billings, Mont. before arriving back in Caldwell for the finals. Luckily, he picked up a little help just before Billings when buddy Quinn Haughton flew in to help him drive.
Riding his good bay horse Julian in Caldwell, Murphy placed in both long rounds and held a comfortable lead going into the finals.
“I was really going after it, on the barrier and trying to put the pressure on them. I didn’t want to do anything stupid, but I was trying to win some money,” Murphy said of the first two runs.
Though he says he doesn’t watch the PRCA | RAM World Standings, he knows he needs to win to keep his dreams of reaching the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo alive.
“It’s the craziest thing. When I left for the summer, I figured it would take about $1,000 a rodeo, so $75,000 to get to the Finals,” Murphy said, noting that his estimate kept climbing as the season progressed.
“Now, it’s like, I’m going to try to win $150,000. All the right guys keep winning,” he noted.
Murphy’s trek through the north country brought him close to relatives not only in Caldwell but Montana as well and the familiarity, along with the addition of Haughton for driving, seemed to bring luck.
“We’re two for two since I picked him up,” Murphy joked, referencing the win in Billings as well. “I told him, I don’t care if you have to go back to work, you’re staying out here.”
Murphy was 17th in the world standings prior to Caldwell, Murphy remains locked in a battle with a handful of other ropers for the final positions into the Wrangler NFR.
“It’s actually been pretty fun,” he said. “I can’t get ahead. If I win something, then Riley Webb does too. If it’s not us, then Kincade Henry is winning or Copper Martin.”
“It really is a blast, the head-to-head is what it’s all about and it makes you stronger and stronger. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
The tough competition coupled with the electric crowd on Saturday had Murphy fired up when he made his final run to seal the championship.
“Normally I’m not one to show much emotion but I definitely let a little out there,” he laughed.
Other winners at the $358,958 rodeo were all-around cowboy Stetson Wright ($10,236, saddle bronc riding and bull riding); bareback rider Tim O’Connell (170.5 points on two head); steer wrestler Tanner Bruner (13.0 seconds on three head); team ropers Jr. Dees/Levi Lord (17.8 seconds on three head); saddle bronc rider Dawson Hay (177.5 points on two head); barrel racer Margo Crowther (51.81 seconds on three runs); breakaway roper Beau Peterson (8.4 seconds on three head); and bull rider Stetson Wright (93 points on Powder River Rodeo’s Domino).
Courtesy of PRCA