After a season of team roping in the Canadian Intercollegiate Rodeo Association, two local cowboys emerged at the top of the standings.
Tyler Davis and Derrek Griffith won the season leader buckles, as the top team ropers at the end of the 2010-11 intercollegiate rodeo circuit. Over 120 students from 20 different colleges participated this season.
"When we found out we were the leaders in points I was pretty excited. It's a pretty big accomplishment," said Davis.
"It felt really good," Griffith explained. "It's tough to rodeo and go to school and keep your marks up. You have to sacrifice a lot. But winning the buckle paid off in the end."
Davis is the header of the team and Griffith is the heeler. In team roping, both teammates wait on their respective horse. Then a gate drops and a calf is let loose. The goal is to have the header rope the head and the heeler rope the hind feet and to do it as fast as possible.
Davis and Griffith toured six rodeos during the season, culminating with the finals in Edmonton earlier this month.
The standings after each rodeo determines the number of points each team receives.
The boys went into the finals with the lead in points and managed to hold onto it, earning their first ever season leader buckles.
Both Griffith and Davis have been involved in the rodeo since they were children.
Davis said his grandfather participated in rodeos and the interest in the sport just continued down the family ranks.
Griffith also credits his family with getting him involved in rodeo. He said he began doing different rodeo events as a child in Bonnyville, but has focused his sights on team roping over the past few years.
A big part of the boys' success is due to the horses they ride.
"I've got a new horse. He's pretty green," said Griffith. "I haven't rode him too much, but he did great this season."
Davis said his horse was also new to the rodeo scene. "For his first rodeo season he did really good. I'm proud of him."
Part of being a team roper is taking care of your horse and both boys acknowledge the commitment it takes to prepare themselves and the horses for rodeos.
"We keep our horses here at college," Griffith explained. "You've got to keep him in shape, ride him, keep his mind right. It's a big commitment."
Both boys are attending Lakeland College in Vermilion. Davis is taking an Animal Science Technician program, while Griffith in enrolled in Environmental Conservation and Reclamation.
With their shiny new buckles and two eager young horses, the boys plan to continue to compete in team roping, defending their title next season, in their final year of college.
Davis and Griffith both said they look forward to roping for years to come.
