Brett Hoffman
At 50, Guy Allen isn’t about to slow down.
He’s making too much headway in his attempt to earn a 33rd consecutive berth to the National Finals Steer Roping.
Nicknamed “The Legend,” Allen is ranked ninth in the world standings with $11,818 after winning last weekend’s Cowboy Capital of the World Pro Rodeo in Stephenville.
The top 15 competitors in regular-season earnings advance to the 2009 steer roping championships, scheduled for November in Guthrie, Okla.
No competitor has earned as many berths to a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association National Finals competition as Allen, according to the PRCA. Allen Bach has 27 National Finals Rodeo appearances in team roping, Roy Duvall has 24 in steer wrestling and Mike Johnson has 23 in tie-down roping.
Allen, a resident of Santa Anna, has a record 18 world titles in steer roping, more than any PRCA competitor. He earned his first of 32 National Finals Steer Roping berths in 1977, and he snared his most recent gold buckle five years ago.
Allen said he continues to thrive because he’s well-mounted and has great confidence in the roping horse.
“It’s like a bareback rider or saddle bronc rider having confidence that their horse will buck,” Allen said. “If they don’t have confidence, they may not make a good ride.”
Allen saddles a well-trained steer-roping horse named Dude, owned by Shandon Stalls, a prize-winning steer roper from McLean.
Stalls, who also is Allen’s traveling partner, said he greatly benefits from watching the legendary roper.
“It’s a free clinic every day,” Stalls said.
Stalls said he’s constantly amazed that Allen is so competitive at 50.
“I’m fixing to turn 30 and I can’t move half as fast as he can,” Stalls said.
When Allen backs into the steer-roping box, he said it’s one big match between he and the animal. At the Stephenville rodeo, Allen won the three-head average with a time of 33.9 seconds and earned $2,283, another step toward qualifying for the nationals.
“Everybody wants to win a world championship,” Allen said. “But all you can do is take one steer at time. The way I look at it, I’m not competing against Shandon Stalls, Rocky Patterson, Trevor Brazile, or Scott Snedecor. I’m competing against the steer that I draw.”
Headed to nationals — Texas A&M; is sending a sending a women’s team to the College National Finals Rodeo.
In order to advance to the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s June championships in Casper, Wyo., a team must finish first or second in a region after competing in 10 regular-season rodeos.
Texas A&M; and Hill College advanced to the Casper championships on the basis of finishing first and second in the women’s regional team standings. McNeese State and Wharton County Jr. College made the cut after finishing 1-2 in the men’s standings.
Brazile on a roll — Six-time world all-around champion Trevor Brazile of Decatur and his partner Patrick Smith of Midland won the team roping title at Stephenville in 4.6 seconds.
The duo also lassoed the title at last weekend’s Pioneer Days Rodeo in Clovis, N.M. According to the PRCA, Brazile and Smith each climbed up a spot in the world standings. Brazile is ranked sixth among headers and Smith fifth among heelers. Brazile also is ranked No. 1 in the PRCA’s world all-around and steer roping world standings.
Mesquite rodeo reopens — The weekly Mesquite Championship Rodeo reopened last weekend under a new ownership group after being closed during the past month for arena renovations. The rodeo was sanctioned by the PRCA and the stock was provided by Stace Smith of Athens, who also is part owner of the rodeo.
Camelot Sports, the new ownership group, made significant technological improvements. The Saturday performance featured a laser show and pyrotechnics during the opening ceremonies and the interviews of top contestants were broadcast on two large video boards that were recently installed in the arena.
