Dear ropers,

When you read this issue of the ropers news it will be 2003. I don?t know about you but for me that is hard to believe. The AATRC finished the year with a bang. Our 2002 finals were held at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Ok. Over 1800 teams came out for this spectacular event. If you missed it, then you missed one of the greatest amateur ropings of the year. The preliminary was held Friday the 6th and Saturday the 7th. Winners of the preliminary went to Bart Lowry and Joey Hill both from Texas. These guys had a 24.42 on 3, which won them $4000 and 2 Running P saddles. The heeler, Joey Hill, is from El Khart, TX. Joey came to our finals with just finding out his wife was having twin girls! So with that in mind we know that $2000 was put to good use! Congratulations guys! After we had our preliminary we went right into the Sponsors Challenge were the top 10 out of each of out AATRC ropings were qualified to enter. We ended up with about 114 teams in this specialty roping. With fresh steers and short barrier these guys were the best of the years ropings. Dwight Adams from Nebraska and Nathan Strothers from Arkansas showed that they could handle the conditions and roped 3 steers in a smoking time of 28.52 winning by over 6 seconds. Dwight and Nathan took home $2600 and 2 saddles. We ended that Saturday night with the Sponsors Challenge only to come back Sunday morning for the ?Big Daddy.? Expectations were high by over 600 teams to win the $30,000 that was up for grabs. Lots of guys left with winnings in their pockets but none as happy as Robert Morman and Rodney Watson both from Arkansas. These guys won our 2002 finals with a 25.97 and took home $30,000, 2 Running P ostrich seated saddles, 2 breast collars and 2 Hy-O-Silver world champion buckles. Robert and Rodney have been faithful AATRC customers all year long! Thanks for your support and Congratulations guys!
These big guys were not the only ones to bring home winnings. The competition in the Jakesteer junior ropings got pretty exciting. In the 5 and under Brady Norman took home the winning saddle with 2nd place going to Colton Kirtley winning a $60 gift certificate and 3rd place was Morgan McCreary winning a $40 gift certificate. In the 6 to 9 the saddle winner was Tyler Branstetter (winning on his 6th loop) 2nd went to Cole Clark winning a $60 gift certificate and 3rd was Chad Waide with a $40 gift certificate. There are lots of kids that can rope the dummy really well when you get to the 10 to 12 age group. And we had several of them there. With his brother winning the saddle in the 6-9 Jerry Don Branstetter knew he had to rope up to take one home too. So that is what he did! Jerry Don won the 10-12 year old saddle and 2nd went to Brody Self with 3rd going to Cory White. We want to wish all the kids a Happy New Year and to us they were all winners!

To keep you updated we will be having a church roping on January 25th at the Hardy Murphy Coliseum in Ardmore, Ok. The entry fee is free as long as you attend the church service that Clay O?Brien Cooper will be preaching at that morning at 9:00 am. Option A is attend church and rope for the prizes for free or option B attend church and put $50 and rope for the prizes and against the other guys who put money up. This will be a draw pot only and each roper may draw 4. You may enter once only as a header or as a heeler (not both). The head side is open and the heel side is capped at a #4 and there will be a handicap on this roping. USTRC #?s only if you do not have a rating then you may call ahead of time to get rated. Stalls are available and we will have a concession. For any other info call 580-653-2467 and speak to Buddy or Kelly.
To start the 2003 year off our first AATRC roping will be in Ada, Ok on the 1st and 2nd of February. In the year of 2003 we intend to give more saddles and cash out. (Rather than a high point prize). This way more ropers win! Also mark the 1st and 2nd off so you and your family can go to our yearly roping in Tunica Ms. This is a fabulous facility and always lots of fun. If you need more info call us @ 580-653-2467, email us @ fear not@brightok.not or visit our web site AATRCROPE.com.
Until next time,Buddy and Kelly Norman
AATRC
Fear Not Production