San Antonio, TX (March 12, 2005) – When Speed Williams and Clay O’Brien Cooper looked up at the scoreboard after
roping their third and final steer of the day, they knew they had done what 501
other teams couldn’t do that weekend – they’d won the George Strait Team Roping
Classic. Amidst thunderous cheers and applause, Speed and Rich threw their hats
up in the air in amazement and pride. “When I saw Speed throw his hat off, I figured
I had better too,” laughed Clay O’Brien Cooper. “All of a sudden, it dawned on
me, ‘You’ve done it!’ It’s just an awesome feeling.” The team nabbed the championship
with a combined time of 15.90 seconds for three head. They’ll split a cash prize
of $72,734 and each drive home brand new Chevy Silverado Truck furnished by Cavender
Chevrolet of Boerne, TX and Strait X-treme 3-horse slant trailers by Bruton. They
are no strangers to the winners circle in San Antonio. O’Brien won the GSTRC in
1995 and Williams in 2003.
The George Strait Team Roping Classic started the morning of Friday,
March 11 and went well into the night before the numbers were tallied and the
top 50 teams named to return to Saturday’s finals. All together an impressive
total of $470,000 in cash and prizes was awarded throughout the weekend – more
than in any of the 22 prior George Strait Team Roping Classics.
Part of that incredible cash prize allotment went to the teams of
header Kevin Stewart and heeler Casey Chamberlin and header Nick Sartain and heeler
Michael Jones who both won the HEB Red Wrapped Steer Competition with best go
times of 4.88 seconds and 4.45 seconds respectively. Each team picked up $15,000
checks from HEB for having the best time of the round on randomly selected steers
with red wrapped horns.
Saturday’s competition was fierce. It was a mere .46 of a second that separated
the first place team from the second. Kevin Stewart and Casey Chamberlin split
$46,065 and took home hand-tooled Twister Saddles for their second place finish
of 16.36.
It was a tremendous day for Clay O’Brien Cooper who also grabbed third
place with his header Jake Barnes. That team split $31,518 by roping their three
steers in 16.47. Please see below for final totals and winnings.
The George Strait Team Roping Classic will return to the San Antonio
Rose Palace on March 10 and 11, 2006.
TOP TWELVE TEAMS
First Go - Amount - Header - Heeler - Combined 3-Go Time
1st Place - $72,734 - Speed Williams - Clay O’Brien Cooper - 15.90
2nd Place - $46,065 - Kevin Stewart - Casey Chamberlin - 16.36
3rd Place - $31,518 - Jake Barns - Clay O’Brien Cooper - 16.47
4th Place - $26,669 - Speed Williams - Brad Colpepper - 16.53
5th Place - $21,820 - Shane Sproul - Boogie Ray - 16.69
6th Place - $16,971 - Matt Sherwood - Brian Wilkenson - 17.40
7th Place - $14,547 - Wade Wheatley - Corey Petska - 17.43
8th Place - $12,122 - Garrett Tonozzi - Gill York - 18.08
HEB FOOD STORES’ “RED WRAPPED CHALLENGE”
Amount - Header - Heeler - Time
$15,000 - Kevin Stewart - Casey Chamberlin - 4.88
$15,000 - Nick Sartain - Michael Jones - 4.45
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