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World's Greatest Roper
Reno, Nevada - June 20-21, 2009
Reno Livestock Events Center
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PRESTON WILLIAMS IS THE NEW WORLD’S GREATEST ROPER!
Former Indian NFR Champion Wins $25,000
The World’s Greatest Roper came to a climatic close on Sunday afternoon when multiple Indian National Finals Rodeo Champion Preston Williams, from Casa Grande, Arizona roped his way into history by claiming $25,000 and the 2009 title of “World’s Greatest Roper”.
In front of a great crowd at the Reno Livestock Events Center, Williams bested a field of PRCA World Champions, former World’s Greatest Roper Champions, multiple Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Qualifiers, Pro Rodeo Hall of Famers, and the overall best ropers on the planet to win the prestigious $88,000 World’s Greatest Roper event presented by Silver Legacy Resort Casino.
Williams had to qualifier for his chance to compete on Sunday in the WGR Qualifier Event that was held on Saturday. For his work of 78.1 seconds on 9-head of cattle (3 Rounds of Heading, Tie-Down Roping, and Heeling), Williams’ name is now etched along side other WGR Champions K.C. Jones, Burlington, Wyoming from 2008 and 2-time WGR Champion Daniel Green of Oakdale, California. Williams was consistent from the start of the Qualifier on Saturday to the last Heeling run on Sunday. Although Williams came into the 2009 WGR as a relative long-shot – Williams is no stranger to titles having won the INFR a total of 5 times and he is also a former National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Finals Champion.
2008 PRCA World Champion Randon Adams of Logandale, Nevada finished the event in the reserve spot after a 9-head total of 80.1 seconds followed by Jake Cooper of Monument, New Mexico – 87.7, Marty Becker of Calgary, Alberta, Canada – 87.7, and rounding out fifth was PRCA World Champion Chad Masters from Clarksville, Tennessee – 100.3.
Other top money paid out was to Pat Boyle from Simi Valley, California who claimed the “Fastest Round” of the competition – a 20.9 worth $7,000.00. A complete breakdown of money won at this year’s WGR follows this release.
New for 2009, Lazy E Productions changed the event format from previous years. For the first time ever, the WGR was “OPEN TO THE WORLD”. Meaning, any contestant could enter this year’s event – thus making the WGR a true WORLD COMPETITION. Qualifying rounds were held at 10:00AM on Saturday, June 20th to determine who advanced to the Sunday show and where the 2009 Champion was crowned. Another interesting fact for 2009 was the exemption of former PRCA World Champions and former Lazy E Event Champions. Contestants with those credentials automatically qualified for the competition at 12:00PM on Sunday, June 21st. All totaled, the WGR action was fast and furious boasting 330 runs in two days that showcased the best Timed Event cowboys on earth competing for the title of the World’s Greatest Roper!
The event was again held in conjunction with two of the greatest western events in the world “The Reno Rodeo” and “The Bob Feist Invitational Team Roping”. Organizers from all three major forces in the rodeo industry are committed to making the first weekend of the Reno Rodeo one spectacular show by combining the Reno Rodeo, the World’s Greatest Roper, and the Bob Feist Invitational Team Roping - all within 3 action-packed days.
The World’s Greatest Roper is one of pro rodeo’s most unique events and is patterned after the highly successful Wrangler Timed Event Championship – which is a true all-around test of roping skills. At the WGR, each contestant is required to compete in all three roping disciplines: team roping heading, tie-down roping, and team roping heeling.
The World’s Greatest Roper was developed by Lazy E Productions in 2006 to determine the best roper in the world - the man who could stand out in more than his specialty roping event, but the man who could be consistent over multiple rounds of over-all competition. This event attracted the biggest names in the rodeo industry in addition to fans from across the country! Some of the top named cowboys that competed for the mega-jackpot purse were highlighted by 6-time PRCA All Around World Champion Trevor Brazile; two-time World’s Greatest Roper Daniel Green; 2008 WGR Champion K.C. Jones; PRCA World Champions Matt Sherwood, Chad Masters, and Randon Adams; multiple NFR qualifiers Kyle Lockett, Marty Becker, and Kory Koontz; and ProRodeo Hall of Famer Jimmie Cooper.
Each round of competition featured excitement with leaders changing after every run, with only seconds separating them. The champion wasn’t determined until the last rope was thrown, the flag dropped and the clock had stopped.
The World’s Greatest Roper was sponsored by Reno-Tahoe, Wrangler, the Silver Legacy Resort Casino, Boot Barn, Priefert Ranch & Rodeo Equipment, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco, Ariat Boots, Gist Silversmiths, CSI Saddlepads, Rodeo Video, the Reno Rodeo, the Bob Feist Invitational Team Roping Classic and Cactus Saddlery.
The World’s Greatest Roper is a Lazy E Production. For more information contact the Lazy E Arena at (800) 595-RIDE or log on to www.lazye.com.
2009 WORLD’S GREATEST ROPER FINAL RESULTS
$88,000 Pay-Out:
WGR Average *
3 Rounds Totaling 9 Head (Heading / Tie-Down Roping / Heeling)
1. Preston Williams, Casa Grande, AZ 78.1 seconds - $25,000.00
2. Randon Adams, Logandale, NV 80.1 seconds - $12,000.00
¾. Jake Cooper, Monument, NM 87.7 seconds - $6,000.00
¾. Marty Becker, Calgary, Alberta, Canada 87.7 seconds - $6,000.00
5. Chad Masters, Clarksville, TN 100.3 seconds - $3,000.00
Fastest Go-Round *
1. Pat Boyle, Simi Valley, CA 20.9 seconds - $7,000.00
2. Chad Masters, Clarksville, TN 22.7 seconds - $4,000.00
3. Marty Becker, Calgary, Alberta, Canada 23.7 seconds - $3,000.00
4. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, TX 23.9 seconds - $2,000.00
Fastest Run Bonus *
Heading – JoJo LeMond, Andrews, TX 4.8 - $3,000.00
Tie-Down Roping – Chad Masters, Clarksville, TN 9.0 - $1,500.00
Trevor Brazile, Decatur, TX 9.0 - $1,500.00
Heeling – Mike George, Oakdale, CA 5.1 - $3,000.00
Qualifier Pay-Out (Saturday 6/20/09):
Qualifier Average *
2 Rounds Totaling 6 Head (Heading / Tie-Down Roping / Heeling)
1. Austin Adams, Logandale, NV 52.3 seconds - $3,000.00
2. Jay Adams, Logandale, NV 58.5 seconds - $2,000.00
3. Brett Fleming, Worden, MT 60.9 seconds - $1,000.00
Fastest Go-Round *
1. Austin Adams, Logandale, NV 26.1 seconds - $2,000.00
Fastest Run Bonus *
Heading – Adam Rose, Willard, MO 6.3 - $1,000.00
Tie-Down Roping – Austin Adams, Logandale, NV 9.5 - $1,000.00
Heeling – Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, UT 5.0 - $1,000.00
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The following are the results from the Saturday qualifier.
Qualified for Sunday Competition
1. AUSTIN ADAMS 52.3 10. JAKE COOPER 80.1
2. JAY ADAMS 58.5 11. KORY KOONTZ 83.7
3. BRETT FLEMING 60.9 12. JOJO LeMOND 84.4
4. LANCE HARVEY 66.1 13. PRESTON WILLIAMS 84.7
5. BEAU FRANZEN 70.8 14. CALEB TWISSELMAN 85.3
6. RUSSELL CARDOZA 71.1 15. BOOGIE RAY 90.2
7. PAT BOYLE 72.6 16. RHETT KENNEDY 97.4
8. SHANE SPROUL 73.6 17. MIKE GEORGE 100.5
9. MARTY BECKER 78.1
Failed to Qualify for Sunday Competition
18. GARRETT TONOZZI 102.1
19. JADE CORKILL 116.6
20. ADAM ROSE 118.2
21. CHRIS GREEN 140.9
22. COLEMAN PROCTOR 164.3
23. JIM ROSS COOPER 178.9
24. BLAINE KETSCHER 185.2
25. RHEN RICHARD 185.3
26. JUSTIN DAVIS 222.1
OFFICIAL CONTESTANT LIST
Click here for FINAL Event Format and Ground Rules
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