Three-time world champion Tuf Cooper won Round 3 of tie-down roping at NFR thanks to a run of 6.9 seconds and he did so while battling a bit of a sickness.
“I’ve been a little under the weather,” he said. “But it’s something you can block out for six seconds at a time.”
Cooper said consistency is the name of the game this time around because he last year he felt he was a little too aggressive at times. He did not call his 2019 approach conservative but did say that he was focused on scoring, catching and tying them all down because of the importance of the average.
“I felt relaxed and was able to get the start that I wanted, so that helped out,” Cooper said.
Shane Hanchey, the winner of Round 1, finished right behind Cooper with a time of 7.10 and Shad Mayfield and Ty Harris tied for third with runs of 7.30 Saturday night.
Hanchey now has more than $50,000 in NFR earnings which has catapulted him to the top of the world standings.
Tie-Down Roping World Rankings (NFR money in parentheses)
1. Shane Hanchey - $159,159 ($56,961)
2. Haven Meged - $158,859 ($38,980)
3. Marty Yates - $146,431 ($45,115)
4. Caleb Smidt - $141,899 ($10,000)
5. Taylor Santos $141,868 ($40,461)