2009 Northern Range Ranch Roping Series comes to an end
The 2009 Northern Range Ranch Roping Series Finals, which took place October 10 and 11 at NILE in Billings, MT, was a huge success with the fastest times and highest scores in its history. There was a lot of whooping and hollering, especially from the three teams from Canada, who trailered their horses many miles in the unseasonably cold weather to participate in the Novice Finals.
Open Finals
On October 10, 36 teams competed.
1st place with 94 points: Scott Grosskopf from Billings, MT; Marty He Does It from St. Xavier, MT; & Dwight Hill from Rexburg, ID, took home heirloom Sterling Silver belt buckles made by Arne Esp, Hardin, MT, a long time NRRRS supporter ; halters from Double Diamond Halter Company, another long time NRRRS supporter; and silk wild rags from Covey of Quail, Buffalo, WY.
2nd place with 90 points: Dean Delp from Hardin, MT; Ed Disney from Sheridan, WY; & Scott Grosskopf each went home with a set of beautiful 30-plait reins and romel courtesy of Buckaroo Businesses, Billings, MT.
3rd place with 88 points: Scott Grosskopf, Dwight Hill, & Luis Velasco won snaffle bits from Tom Balding, Sheridan, WY, and wool saddle blankets donated by King Saddlery, Sheridan, WY.
High-Point Roper:
Scott Grosskopf with 2,511 points took home a nice saddle built by Reid Flatten of Word of Mouth Leather, Livingston, MT; close but not close enough were Marty He Does It with 2,301 points and Caleb French with 2,225 points.
High-Point Run of the Day: Racking up 37 out of a possible 44 points and winning down vests were Ed Disney, Caleb French, and Scott Grosskopf.
Fancy Head: Ed Disney from Sheridan, WY, with his turnover - won a custom 20X hat from H Bar Hatworks, Billings.
Fancy Heel: Louis Velasco from Lima, MT, with his signature contra-Viento took home a pair of 4” Moran stirrups from Fandek Saddles & Stirrups, Huntley, MT.
Calcutta: Linda Grosskopf couldn't afford to buy every team that had somebody named Grosskopf in it, but she bought three teams and was relieved to get her money back plus a little to boot by winning first AND second monies.
Paula Cox from Canada bought the team that placed third.
A very special guest, Garrett Simons, watched from his wheelchair on the sidelines his roping hero, Marty He Does It, take home first-place honors.
Novice Finals
On October 11, after Cowboy Church services by Slash Lazy U Ministries got the day started out right, 32 teams competed; 3 of those teams traveled from Canada to compete, having placed at the NRRRS-sanctioned Border Battle in July.
1st: With 78 points, the father-son duo of Dwight Hill and his 11-year-old son Cody together with Caleb Munns, all from Idaho, won sterling silver conchos donated by Buckaroo Businesses, halters from the Double Diamond Halter Company, and wild rags from Covey of Quail.
2nd: With 71 points, the team of Staci Grosskopf from Billings, MT, Jake Wald from Lodge Grass, MT and Scott Grosskopf won new boots from the Olathe Boot Co.
3rd: With 65 points, lady ropers Staci Grosskopf and Katie Kapphan from Melville, MT teamed up with Scott Grosskopf to win Crystal Lenhart prints and Atwood hats.
High-Point Roper of the Year: Crystal Lenhart from Bighorn, WY, with a total of 1,033 points, took home the saddle made by Sam and Cathy Cole, Bozeman, MT. Katie Kapphan came in 2nd with 913 points, and Staci Grosskopf came in 3rd with 877-not bad considering Staci lost the tip of her index finger in her dallies on August 8, 2009 and had to miss four ropings!
High-Point Run of the Day: The father-son duo of Dwight Hill and his 11-year-old son Cody teamed up with Caleb Munns, all from Idaho, took home down vests donated by NRRRS.
Fancy Head: Jake Wald from Lodge Grass, MT, with his turnover won a 20X hat from H Bar Hatworks.
Fancy Heel: Cody Hill, age 11, with his Del Viento was awarded 4” Moran stirrups made and donated by Fandek Saddles & Stirrups.
Youth Finals
New this year was the Youth Roping Finals. At several of the season ropings, youth ropers (11 years old and under) competed. Nine-year-old Sterling Grosskopf, on his trusty horse Trigger, was the only qualifying youth to come to the finals; they did a fine job heeling their critter. Sterling won an heirloom sterling silver concho made and donated by Todd Hansen, Molt, MT, and Trigger got to go home and rest until the next roping! Sterling’s parents, Scott and Staci, had best “rope up” because Sterling is hot on their trail!
All participants took home official NRRRS Finals denim shirts sponsored jointly by Dally O and NRRRS. Bob Blackwell both educated and entertained the spectators with his running commentary on the arena action; it was noted but not explained a far calmer commentary on Sunday morning (after Saturday night).
Herb French again did the honors as roping judge, Rich LaFranboise flagged, Dawn Shryock announced, Kimme Duffy helped keep score, Thea Disney manned the in-gate and kept things moving, Joe Close worked the cattle, and Brianne Fandek did anything else that needed doing‹many thanks! Events of this nature take a lot of behind the scenes work to run smoothly.
Buckaroo Businesses again sponsored the arena, as well as several of the prizes. It was a COLD weekend, and heat in the form of quiet, diesel radiant heaters - was provided for at no charge by HOTSY, Billings, MT.
In addition to the prizes already listed, H Bar Hatworks donated a beautiful aluminum hat carrier, which was given to the participant who traveled the farthest: Congratulations! Art Cox, from Canada!
Photos may be viewed and purchased at www.wdphotos.net
