GEORGE STRAIT TEAM ROPING CLASSIC 2011

This page was last updated: March 21, 2011

I was unable to go to this year's team roping so I don't have personal photos or videos to post. However a friend Phyllis Johnson has graciously provided her photos.  Thank you Phyllis for sharing your wonderful pictures. 

The following is the information and results as released by GeorgeStrait.com

San Antonio, TX (March 12, 2011) – The finals for the 29th Annual George Strait Team Roping Classic were held today at the Rose Palace in San Antonio. Forty-two year old David Key from Stephenville, TX and twenty-three year old Jade Corkill from Fallen, Nevada are the new Grand Champions. Fifty teams returned to compete in today’s finals from nearly 500 teams who competed Friday in the preliminaries. This year, founder George Strait made a significant change to how ropers qualified for Saturday finals and cowboys welcomed the new system.

In years past, first day qualifying included two rounds of eliminations with all teams competing together. This year, the 500 teams were broken down into groups of 50 and the Top 5 fastest times from each round qualified for Saturday’s finals. The change resulted in ropers competing against only 49 other ropers versus 100s at a time and an even playing field with the steers in their rotation.

“The new qualifying systems is the fairest way to do it,” says Key. “In the past, the first ropers sometimes got the short end of the stick because it is harder to rope those steer. The later it went the easier it got. No doubt about it this is better.”

“It’s a little more nerve-racking,” admitted Corkill who won the prestigious event in 2009. “When it’s your rotation, you have to be on your game. Before, you might know if you roped a certain time you’d make it in, now it’s all depends on what happens in your rotation.”

Grand Champions Key (Header) and Corkill (Heeler) finished with a 15.62 combined time (3 go rounds) and rode away with custom painted GSTRC Championship Chevy Silverado Duallies from Cavendar Chevrolet (Boerne, TX), Strait X-treme horse trailers from Bruton Trailers, Twister saddles from Tractor Supply, Resitol roping bags, jackets from Wrangler and Justin, Montaqna Silver Smith Belt Buckles and half of the $174,600 cash payoff.

Both agreed Strait’s event is the “roping of a lifetime.” “This roping changes lives,” said Key. “People can work all year and don’t make this kind of money. It’s something I have dreamed about for the 20 plus years I have been coming. Thank you Jesus! Thank you George!” Corkill added, “Twelve days ago my son was born. It can’t get any better than that. Winning today ranks number 2 on my list. It’s been a great 12 days in my life!”

The total cash payoff of this year’s GSTRC was $522,500. Add in prizes and the cash value awarded this weekend was over $650,000.

Second place winners, Spencer Mitchell and Cody Cowden took home $69,840 and prizes with a time of 16.10. Third place went to Camish Jennings and Wade Clayton with a time of 16.84. They won $48,016 and other prizes. The 50 Finalists were awarded custom-made 29th Annual GSTRC jackets from Wrangler and Justin.

The 29th Annual George Strait Team Roping Classic (GSTRC) took place Friday and Saturday, March 11 & 12, 2011 at the San Antonio Rose Palace in San Antonio, Texas. The event, which originated as a small family roping by George and his late brother Buddy in 1982, has grown into the most prestigious open Team Roping competition in the country with hundreds of thousands of dollars up for grabs each year. The GSTRC consistently attracts the biggest names in the sport each year but is not just for the big names. As an open roping, ropers of all levels may compete alongside each other for a chance at the big winnings.

Sponsors for the 2011 GSTRC include Cavender Chevrolet, Bruton Trailers, Wayne Wright Lawyers, Bill Millers BBQ, Tractor Supply Company, Cactus Ropes, Justin Boots, Resistol, Wrangler, LiftMaster, Frost Bank, Classic Ropes, Bar G Feedyard, Montana Silversmiths, Hill Country/Kioti Tractors, Brake Check and Capitol Farm Credit

SATURDAY FINALS

Place Time Header Heeler Total Per Roper

1st 15.62 David Key Jade Corkill $174,600 $87,300

2nd 16.10 Spencer Mitchell Cody Cowden $69,840 $34,920

3rd 16.84 Camish Jennings Wade Clayton $48,016 $24,008

4th 17.33 Nick Rawlings Richard Durham $43,650 $21,825

5th 17.48 Colby Schneeman BJ Dugger $34,920 $17,460

6th 18.59 Cody Owens Jed Middleton $26,190 $13,095

7th 20.67 Keven Daniel Allen Bach $21,824 $10,912

8th 21.16 Anthony Lucia Buddy Hawkins $17,460 $8730

GO ROUNDS

Place Time Header Heeler Total Per Roper

1st 4.49 Brock Hanson Clay Cooper $3,000 $1,500

2nd 4.13 Derrick Begay Cory Petska $3,000 $1,500

3rd 4.88 David Motes Ryan Motes $3,000 $1,500

WAYNE WRIGHT RED WRAP STEERS

4.13 Derrick Begay Cory Petska $20,000 $10,000

FAST TIMES OF FIRST DAY QUALIFICATIONS

1st Rotation

Bradley Massey Brent Lockett $4,620 $2,310

Colt Fisher Jeremy Mercer $3,080 $1,540

2nd Rotation

Aaron Tsinigine Clint Harry $4,620 $2,310

Aaron Tsinigine Cory Petska $3,080 $1,540

3rd Rotation

Matt Adams Chad Mathis $4,620 $2,310

Brandon Beers Ryan Motes $3,080 $1,540

4th Rotation

Garrett Tonozzi Broc Cresta $4,620 $2,310

Spencer Mitchell Cody Cowden $3,080 $1,540

5th Rotation

Casey Gattis Billy Bob Brown $4,620 $2,310

Kolton Schmidt Tyrell Flewelling $3,080 $1,540

6th Rotation

Trevor Brazile Kory Koontz $4,620 $2,310

Luke Brown Martin Lucero $3,080 $1,540

7th Rotation

Brad Hamilton JW Cotton $4,620 $2,310

Chad Masters Jade Corkill $3,080 $1,540

8th Rotation

David Key Clay Cooper $4,620 $2,310

Quincy Kueckelhan Paul Eaves $3,080 $1,540

9th Rotation

Brady Tryan Jake Long $4,620 $2,310

Derrick Begay Cory Petska $3,080 $1,540

10th Rotation

Jake Cooper Jake Long $4,620 $2,310

Charley Crawford Russell Cardoza $3,080 $1,540

77000 38500

50 FINALISTS

1 Nick Sartain Russell Cardoza

2 Anthony Lucia Buddy Hawkins

3 Keven Daniel Allen Bach

4 Tee Woolman Calvin Taylor

5 Casey Hicks Billy Jack Saebens

6 Blake Hughes Steve Orth

7 Colby Schneeman BJ Dugger

8 Luke Brown Martin Lucero

9 Cooper Wimberly James Gililland

10 Cody Owens Jed Middleton

11 Nelson Linares Jonathon Torres

12 Matt Robertson John Robertson

13 Anthony Lucia Seth Jones

14 Drew Horner Allen Bach

15 Casey Gattis Jaytin McCright

16 JD Yates Caleb Twisselman

17 Blake Teixeira Ryan Mayfield

18 Kaleb Drigger Travis Woodard

19 Charley Crawford Dakota Kirchenschlager

20 Nick Rawlings Richard Durham

21 Luke Brown Patrick Smith

22 Bubba Buckaloo Monty Joe Petska

23 Spencer Mitchell Cody Cowden

24 Kelsey Parchman Walt Woodard

25 Turtle Powell Russell Cardoza

26 Chad Masters Jade Corkill

27 Brad Hamilton JW Cotton

28 Kolton Schmidt Bryan Bacon

29 David Motes Ryan Motes

30 Colby Lovell Cory Petska

31 Shank Edwards Austin Adams

32 David Key Jake Corkill

33 Camish Jennings Wade Clayton

34 Brady Tryan Paul Eaves

35 Casey Gattis Billy Bob Brown

36 Charley Crawford Russell Cardoza

37 Derick Fleming Rhen Richard

38 Derrick Begay Cesar De La Cruz

39 Shain Sproul Nano Garza

40 Brock Hanson Clay Cooper

41 Willie Guerra Shane Durbin

42 Kevin Stewart Travis Woodard

43 Bradley Massey Brent Lockett

44 Garrett Tonozzi Cody Cowden

45 Colt Fisher Jeremy Mercer

46 Colby Siddoway Caleb Twisselman

47 Trevor Brazile Patrick Smith

48 Aaron Tsinigine Cory Petska

49 Derrick Begay Cory Petska

50 Aaron Tsinigine Clint Harry

Reed Flake of Rodeo Video interiews the winners and George Strait for the 2011 GSTRC video that will be available soon

For additional information or photos go to the GeorgeStrait.com or GSTRC.com websites.

I fully intend to go to next year's Team Roping, which will be the 30th Strait.  I sure don't want to miss it, as I am sure that the Straits will make it a special event.

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