Hunter Herrin Tops Tie-Down Roping Round 8

Herrin muscled through a slow-handling calf to win the round.

Photo by Hillary Maybery for SI Rodeo Daily

Big and soggy is how you can describe the calves in Round 8. The calf ropers saw these calves in Rounds 2 and 5, so they all knew what was ahead of them. The big man from Apache, Okla., Hunter Herrin just muscled through the slow handling calf to be a quick 7.4 seconds, which was good enough for first.

“You know I’ve been off the barrier a little the past few runs, tonight I was on it. The calf was a little slow handling, but I got lucky with Shad having some unfortunate luck. I just pushed through and tried to make a good, solid run. I got the win,” Herrin said.

In the last four rounds, it took a sub-7-second run to pick up the Montana Silversmith round buckle. Tonight, the big set of calves slowed things down a little for the ropers and even caused a few problems. In a bit of uncharacteristic fashion, three ropers took no times and Westyn Hughes had to two loop to complete the time.

Staying solid, John Douch picked up the second-place check with his 7.5-second run. The black calf went a little left leaving the chute and that causes things to be a little slower. Douch kept a nice solid fourth place in the average payout with his effort.

Haven Meged drew calf No. 23 whom Caleb Smidt had previously tied in 6.9. Riding his young horse, For Goodness Shakes “Lil Punch,” a 6-year-old gelding by Kit Kat Sugar, Meged made a veteran run and earned third place in the round.

Meged is doing his best to give the No. 1 ranked cowboy, Riley Webb, a run for the world championship. 

Webb, though, is not taking his foot off the gas. 

The Denton, Texas cowboy has placed in five of the first eight rounds. Tonight, he finished in the fourth position to add $12,876 to his standings.

NFR Tie Down Round 8 Results:

1. Hunter Herrin, 7.4 seconds, $30,706
2. John Douch, 7.5, $24,268
3. Haven Meged, 7.7, $18,325
4. Riley Mason Webb, 8.0, $12,877
5. Blane Cox, 9.2, $7,924
6. Ty Harris, 9.3, $4,953

NFR Average Results:

1. Haven Meged, 60.9/8
2. Riley Webb, 63.7/8
3. Kincade Henry, 70.9/8
4. John Douch, 75.6/8
5. Caleb Smidt, 75.9/8
6. Shane Hanchey 78.7/8