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The Cowboy Shop Classic
A Western Tradition
by Terry Allen
September 14, 2015
This August 30th the 27th annual Cowboy Shop Classic was held at the Pinedale Rodeo Grounds. We asked Bob Bing if he would share the history of the Classic with our readers.
Bob Bing: "It was started in about 1990 when Ken McKinney approached me with the idea that we create a roping event and give a saddle away. So, we got the sponsors and we did it. The first one that won that saddle was a gal named Karen Seipp. So, we did one every year and it grew and grew and grew until it is what it is now.
Throughout all the years I’ve always done it and given away saddles and prizes and lots of money and buckles. Everybody kind of cherishes the buckles along with the Lance Koppenhafer buckles.
Awhile back, my good friend Todd Stevie said he’d like to take it over so he’s taken over the Lance Koppenhafer and the Cowboy Shop Classic. I still help him with the prize line. The event is run by Todd Stevie. Nick Nichols provides most of the cattle for it, which are very expensive. Kyle Crissman and Mandy help with it and Todd’s wife Bev and Kyle’s mom Penny also helps. Throughout the years everybody kind of throws in.
One thing that might sound a little unusual, but we think it makes it special is, you need to wear cowboy attire to participate. You have to rope in a cowboy hat, button down shirt and boots. As you noticed, everybody at the roping looked the part. We wanted to do that to make it special. I guess it’s about the 26th or 27th year we’ve done the Cowboy Shop Classic.
It’s always a good weekend. It’s about the end of the roping season, so, everybody enjoys getting together to see old friends and visit. The Cowboy Shop Classic is an invitational because we want the people that have supported the rodeo throughout the year to be involved in it. There’s no age limit. I guess the youngest competitor this year was about 11 and the oldest was in the late 70’s."
The rules of the Cowboy Shop Classic: This is a six head draw pot, so you enter either heading or heeling. You draw six partners. You rope with those six partners and at the end of the roping if you have six steers roped in a certain amount of time you’ll end probably winning because things happen, people miss. This year five head won it because everybody missed one. Sometimes even if you rope four head you might place.
The horses: All the horses are quarter horses or have quarter horse behind them…in their lineage. They have bigger bone and more muscle so they can handle the sudden jerks experienced in stopping the steer. They also have great sprint speed, being clocked at speeds up to 55 mph. These working cow horses are compact, strong, and well-muscled, which makes them well suited to the intricate and speedy maneuvers required in calf roping, barrel racing, reining and cutting work.
The Results from Todd:
The Cowboy Shop Classic
1st place header Mark Jones
1st place jeweler Tim Rutar
3rd Jj Butler
4th Lora Nichols
5th George Lickin
6th Kyndall Tibbitts
7th Sadeee Kreikemeyer
8th Wade Tibbitts
9th Nick Kalivas
10th Arye Espenschied
The winner of the Reid Schoube achievement award. Kolby Bradley
For questions, corrections or prints, contact Terry Allen 307-231-5355.
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