Randall Carlisle Uses Short Stay, Fast Runs to Pick up Big Money at Dixie National Rodeo
Randall Carlisle didn’t need to spend much time in Jackson, Miss., last week. In fact, the veteran tie-down roper only needed one evening to get the job done.
At the Dixie National Rodeo, Carlisle made both of his runs Feb. 12, recording an aggregate time of 15.6 seconds on two head, good enough to hold off the rest of the field and win the average championship at the Playoff Series Rodeo.
All in a day’s – or in this case night’s – work.
“I just had two good calves. I basically just made two good runs. I don’t really know anything other than that honestly. It just worked out,” Carlisle said with a laugh. “I got a really good horse that fits situations like that really good. So, whenever you’re able to draw some good calves and not mess up, those things kind of work out.”
The Athens, La., cowboy set the tone with his first-round effort, posting a time of 7.4 seconds. That tied him with fellow tie-down ropers Kincade Henry and Marty Yates for second in the round, earning him a little more than $1,900.
His second go wasn’t quite as strong, as he finished in 8.2 seconds, placing him just outside of earning money. Trenton Smith took 10th in the round at 8.1 seconds which resulted in a paycheck.
While Carlisle didn’t earn any additional round money, his aggregate time of 15.6 seconds held off a strong field of competitors over the course of nine days to get the win, securing him nearly $3,800 for the average title. Ike Fontenot was runner-up in the average at 15.7 seconds, while Trenton Smith was just behind them in third at 15.9 seconds.
The $5,707 in earnings was a small consolation prize for Carlisle as he’ll miss out on competing in Houston and San Antonio this year. A two-time qualifier for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in 2013 and 2017, Carlisle hasn’t gone as hard nationally in recent years, choosing to focus more on the Southeastern Circuit. After finishing outside the top 40 in the RAM | World Standings from 2019-22, he put together a solid 2023 campaign, resulting in a 38th place finish.
While he did pick up almost $2,400 by placing second on his first-round run at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, Carlisle had hoped his 2023 effort would get him a qualifying spot in a few of the indoor winter showcase events, but it wasn’t meant to be.
Even though the veteran is a little disappointed in missing out, he is still making the most of it. A nice win on the Mississippi delta certainly helps.
“In the past couple years, I really haven’t rodeoed much, just kind of gone in the summers because it’s so hot at home just to get away,” Carlisle said. “But this past year I ended up staying out just a little bit longer and I thought I would have Houston and San Antonio made, but I think I was two holes out. Now, I’m just kind of going with the flow.”
Other winners at the $264,757 rodeo were all-around cowboy Toby Deudney ($3,717, bareback riding and bull riding); bareback riders Cole Franks (86 points on Harper & Morgan Rodeo Company’s Sweet Tequila) and Bill Tutor (86 points on Brookman Rodeo’s Super Dave); steer wrestler J.D. Struxness (9.7 seconds on two head); team ropers Brady Tryan/Calgary Smith and Dalton Turner/Justin Delagarza (4.4 seconds each); saddle bronc rider Damian Brennan (87.5 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Richie’s High); barrel racer Emily Beisel (13.45 seconds); and bull rider Brody Yeary (90 points on Harper & Morgan Rodeo Company’s Rondo).
Courtesy of PRCA