Rodeo Daily

Top Dogs of Tie-Down Roping Take Stephenville Pro Rodeo

The Cowboy Capital of the World PRCA Rodeo hosts top tie-down ropers with only one week left in the 2023 season.

Andrea Hanson

Top Dogs of Tie-Down Roping Take Stephenville Pro Rodeo
Top Dogs of Tie-Down Roping Take Stephenville Pro Rodeo /

The Tie-Down Roping at the Cowboy Capital of the World PRCA Rodeo in Stephenville, Texas was somewhat of a preview to what we will see at the National Finals Rodeo in December.

Caleb Smidt of Bellville, Texas, came in first with a blazing 7.8-second run. The reigning world champion two years in a row is currently sitting ninth in the Tie-Down World Standings. The nine-time NFR qualifier has some catching up to do if he aims to three-peat his world champion titles, consecutively. 

Stopping the clock for second place was Blane Cox with an 8.1. It has been seven years since we last saw Cox competing in the coveted Thomas and Mack arena in Las Vegas. Seven may be his lucky number in Vegas, as he is currently seventh in the standings. 

Riley Webb came in third with an 8.7 in Stephenville. The young cowboy has dominated the top spot in the world standings, with an $85,000 lead over second place, Haven Meged. 

Quade Hiatt clocked an 8.9, placing fourth in Stephenville, though placing 43rd in the Tie-Down world standings. The Canyon, Texas cowboy claimed the all-around title at the 2023 College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming. The college calf-roper was also competing in the team roping representing the Southwest region in the CNFR as their champion calf roper and all-around cowboy. 

Splitting fifth place in Stephenville three ways at 9.1 seconds were John Douch, Mesquite Mahaffey, and Shad Mayfield. Douch currently holds the tenth spot in the world standings, while "Money" Mayfield holds third. 

Stephenville Results with World Standings

  1. Caleb Smidt 7.8, $2,485, World Standings - 9th
  2. Blane Cox 8.1, $2,193, World Standings - 7th
  3. Riley Mason Webb 8.7 $1,900, World Standings - 1st
  4. Quade Hiatt 8.9 $1,608, World Standings - 43rd
  5. John Douch, Mesquite Mahaffey, Shad Mayfield 9.1, $1,316 each
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Andrea Hanson
ANDREA HANSON

Andrea Hanson strives to live the western lifestyle every day. Growing up in northern Minnesota, resources to the rodeo world were scarce. Though other hobbies persist, as her father is widely known in the snowmobile racing community. Knowing that season was short, she was always drawn to horses as her sister with Rett Syndrome was in hippotherapy since she was a young age. When the scholarship opportunity to Dodge City Community College in Dodge City, Kansas came, she jumped on it. Moving south just a barrel racer, she worked every day to tie goats and rope calves. Concluding her time in Kansas, she continued her education at Oklahoma State University, where she will graduate in May of 2024 with a Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Communications. Hanson is passionate about college rodeo, and its impact on her life. After not having a traditional step into the rodeo world herself, she strives to share the stories of others in the industry so many call home. 

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