Dear Ropers,

The holidays are right ahead! I do hope you all have your shopping done! Hint. …Hint to all you cowboys who might have a cowgirl expecting a present under the Christmas tree this year!
There are lots of good ropings around this time of the year and at the top of the list is the AATRC Finals! Dec 3rd, 4th & 5th. Check next months issue for the 2004 World Champion AATRC winners.
Leading up to our finals we have had two fantastic ropings in November. To start the month off we were in West Monroe La on Nov 13th & 14th. This facility is awesome not only to rope in but for the spectators too! The #6 winners were a father and son team. These Okies drove several hours to rope with us in Monroe. Ricky and Jeremy Stewart from southern Oklahoma took the win in the #6 with a 38.35 on 4. These guys received $2000 and 2 beautiful Red Bluff Buckles. In the #4 Jeremy tried to sneak in for the victory once again. Him and his partner Courtney White held first after they roped at the 26th call back position for quite a while. But first place changed after Courtney roped with her other partner Johnny Rigdon . Allowing Courtney to win not only 1st but 2nd also. Courtney has competed in the rodeo world many years with a lot of wins but a saddle never accompanied those wins. This time two saddles came her way along with splitting $5000! Know I did hear something about her back being sore after the roping from carrying her husbands roping that weekend. That is just what a reliable source and good friend of theirs said!!
The next weekend we headed North to Claremore Ok. The temperature dropped but the roping stayed hot! In the #6 Billy Ross and Casey Wycoff were 38.82 on four. These guys split $2000 and each took home a fully tooled Running P Saddle. In the #4 Roy Brown (no stranger to the winners circle) and Dave Windsor won first with a 26.13 on three. This victory paid $3200 and two fully tooled trophy saddles. Congratulations to all our winners!
I know you all have questions on the USTRC’s new numbering system and what numbers we are going to. With much deliberation we have decided in next years ropings to have a #10 capped at a #5 with a #8 incentive then to replace our #4, we will have a #8 capped at a #4 with a #6 incentive capped at a #3. This allows us to have two ropings over the weekend with each having an incentive. Only time will tell but I do believe this new system will aid to the betterment of team roping.
We also have some great new ideas for next year. At each AATRC roping we will keep points on the top 20 places. (1st being 20 points and 20th being 1 pt.) At the end of the year the top point #1, #2 and #3 roper will receive a respectable bonus from the AATRC! We are always trying to come up with ideas to keep the sport of team roping fun and at a quality that every can respect and enjoy.
A subject that has come up at the end of this year is, if we will keep the format of dropping a time. Most feed back that I have received is the ropers in general want to be able to drop a time. Even though this makes the roping tougher than usual most of the amateurs still want it. Myself, I do not understand that idea. Even though Buddy and I came up and birthed this highly popular idea, I have come to realize it is not the best thing for amateur ropers. Let me explain my reasoning. To win a roping with this format you must be extremely fast on three. Bottom line is we all go to a roping to try to win! I feel I am speaking to ropers at the quality of myself and that we can not always be a 7 second run but can make catches. This format is for those that can be fast but not consistent. I have kept times and have experience probably one million runs in the past few years. Not only do I see the runs but I am at the end that does the math on them. Now I will be the first to tell you that I don’t know it all but team roping is something I consider myself fairly educated on, especially at the novice end. And if you rope in a progressive on one roping at a novice level then it is anyone’s game. Everyone is given a chance if you make catches. Winning a 3 head roping with 10’s is possible! Or maybe you have a fast run but the heeler legs, you are still in! Winning a 4 head roping with a leg at our level is very likely. But if you rope in a roping where you can drop a time then you will never win it with a 30 on three and a leg totally takes you out of the roping. You will possibly place, but not win with 3 long clean runs. Now as a roper that has roped in both I know getting to drop a time lets you rope more for your money. And it is fun to think you still have a chance even if you miss. I just feel led to lay it all on the table to each of you on what I feel is the best thing for you as an amateur. And that is a progressive on one roping. If you guys as a majority still want the format we will give it to you. Because you are who we have to make happy. My reasoning does not foot the bill! We are open to everyone’s opinion on this matter. I encourage you to find Buddy or myself and let us know what you would like to see next year with the AATRC. Be sure to stay tuned to each of our news letters for our most updated AATRC news.
As I end this letter I want to leave you with a story that a good friend of mine (Glenn Bond) told me at the last roping. He knows a young lady that had an amazing story to tell him and I want to share it with you.
A young lady that is in school had worked a little long on her school work which made her late for work. So instead of taking the regular route to work she decided to take a short cut. This lead her down a dark alley. As she was walking quickly to work she notice a man coming towards her that gave her a very eary feeling. She quickly said a prayer for God to give her safety and protection. The man stepped on the other side of the road and passed her. Later on that night word of a woman being raped and murder at the area that she had used as her short cut had come out. The next day she felt directed to go to the police station and give her account of the night before. The officer asked if the young lady could recognize the gentlemen that she described to him. And assuredly she said that she could. In that line up the man was identified. The man then admitted to the crime. She then asked to speak to him. A question had to be asked! Once in the room with the identified murderer and rapist she asked why he did not attack her. His reply, “There is no way I would have touch you with those big guys walking right behind you!” ……….To the young ladies account she walked alone. But this was only visibly alone. The Lord God had heard her cry for protection and sent his angel to her side. This is a true story! Never give up on the Lord awesome power and love for each you!

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight”

Proverbs 3:5&6

Kelly Norman
American Amateur Team Roping Championships
AATRCROPE.COM
fearnot@brightok.net