Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Team ropers take top prize in Oklahoma rodeo

Tammie Hiatt International Finals Youth Rodeo

Rodee Walraven, of Datil, and Beau Marshall, of Truth or Consequences, claimed the International Finals Youth Rodeo Team Roping Championship in Shawnee, Okla., held July 9-14.

Walraven and Marshall were two of the 1,025 high school-age rodeo athletes that migrate to central Oklahoma each July for the "richest high school rodeo in the country."

The 11-performance rodeo features 10 events and is held in three arenas that run simultaneously. The total payoff for the rodeo was more than $215,000.

The 15th edition of the IFYR marked Walraven and Marshall's first trip to the rodeo, which Walraven dubbed "the Cheyenne of high school rodeo."

The pair turned in a time of 4.6 seconds in the first round to take the win and collect $1,465. A 5.3 second run in Round 2 gave the pair another go-round win and added another $1,465 to their bank accounts. The team turned in a time of 6.4 seconds in the short round to place third in the round for $845. A total time of 16.3 seconds on three head claimed the win in the average to pocket another $1,465 for total earnings of $5,240 for the week.

Walraven credits his grandfather, Dick Wellborn, and his father, Russell Walraven, for his success in the arena.

"They are encouraging and tell me to never give up and to follow my dreams," said he said.

Walraven also credits his 20-year-old gelding, "Moon," with much of his success.

"He's just a 'good old boy' and I couldn't have done any of it without him. He's my best buddy," commented Walraven.

Eighteen-year-old Marshall said, "I have to say my dad has been the biggest influence in my roping career. He encourages me to be better and he hauls me everywhere. I have been riding my heel horse for about three years. We originally bought him for a calf horse and then switched him over to a heel horse. He runs to the spot really good and stops hard, he's consistent."

Walraven plans to return to the IFYR in 2008 to defend his title, but with a new heeling partner as Marshall is college-bound this fall.

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