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NATIONAL FORMATS SIMPLIFIED
As you flip through this issue of The Arena we’ll be zeroing in on two large-scale, three-day events; The Big Nevada in Fernley and The Big Horn Classic in Buffalo, Wyo. Both take place June 17-19 and kick start a spectacular NTR summer schedule.

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NATIONAL 12
Clark Hufty qualified for the inaugural National 12 with veteran NTR roper, Willy Vietor, during Tour Stop No. 1 at Ranch Rio Arena in Wickenburg, Ariz. With only 15 qualifiers nationwide—where the top 10 teams qualify—no more than 150 teams will rope for $100,000 in the National 12 Finale next March.

NTR NATIONAL FINALS II $100,000 CHAMPIONS
It’s been three months since the curtains closed on the NTR National Finals II, but for those who got to rope for that $100,000 payday, the memories have yet to fade. From March 6 to 12, the NTR paid a record-setting $876,930 in cash, plus $100,000 in prizes.

National 8 Champion Heeler - Bonnie Matlack
1. Len LeBlanc / Bonnie Matlack / 38.86 / $100,000 2. Tom Mcdonald / Willy Vietor / 40.95 / $20,000 3. Chi DeLaPena / Jr DeLaPena / 44.07 / $15,000 4. Bruce Berry / Bob Rose / 45.58 / $12,000 5. Dan Leadbetter / Jim Savoini /45.62 / $9,000 6. Ricardo Ramirez / George Parra / 46.

NATIONAL 9 FINALE CHAMPIONS
In the National 9 Finale, Don Ramsour, Casper, Wyo., and Sam Garside, Prescott, Ariz., roped four steers in 53.61 seconds to take home the $100,000. Garside returned to the short round with three partners, including: Ramsour, his mom, Shelly Garside, and another up-and-comer, Ketch Kelton.

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ROUGHSTOCK TO ROPING
Though the years have since limited Erickson to the team roping boxes, there was a time the cowboy worked both ends of the arena. On the professional rodeo circuit, he focused primarily on the bareback riding and bull riding. When things would quiet down, he would ride a few broncs and work the steer wresting as well.

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WORLD Famous
Team roping and Texas have gone hand-inhand for as long as cowboys have swung a rope, and this year, the National Team Roping Tour will make its mark in the Lone Star State with its own events at the World Famous Wildfire Ranch Arena—one in July and one in August.

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FAMILY FRIENDLY FOCUS
Linsay Rosser-Sumpter has been the Head Rodeo Coach at Otero Junior College in La Junta, Colo., since 2009. She and her husband, Wade, a six-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier in the steer wrestling, live 30 miles away in Fowler, where they also farm and ranch.

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