ProRodeo Sports News - November 17, 1999

Foufteen and clittl Guy AIIen takes his record Go_yet anothr Rocky Patterson clairns his tirst averagl

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Photography by DAVID JE YflTflGS GUTHRIE, OkIa. - The 1999 National Finals Steer Roping should have been remembered as one of the most competitive Finals in PRCA history. Eleven of 15 ropers were still in contention for the average title after the first five rounds were completed Oct. 30. Ten were still in the running at the end of the eighth round, and eight recorded times on all 10 steers. Instead, it will be remembered for the tragic death of 32-year-old Colby Goodwin, who became only the second cowboy to die from injuries suffered while competing in the NFR. The three-time NFSR qualifier died from injuries sustained in a ninth- round crash that left spectators and contestants numb during the final two rounds and the award presentations. Rocky Patterson won his first NFSR average title and Guy Allen took home his 14th gold buckle, but neither was in much of a mood to celebrate as they posed for pictures with family and friends. The traditional awards ceremony at the Lazy E Arena wrapped up earlier than usual, and many fans and cowboys left early to check on Goodwin at Oklahoma City's Mercy Hospital. In a year when the celebrations would have easi- ly gone into the early morning hours, ropers instead consoled the Goodwin family in the emergency room waiting area. Only after Goodwin was moved to the intensive care unit about 3 a.m. did those on hand head back to their hotels. Goodwin was injured about halfway through the ninth round. After a 4s-minute delay, Marty Jones was the first man to rope following the accident. Visibly shaken, he needed two loops to tie down his ninth-round steer in 26.8 seconds. His brother' Delynn Jones, was scheduled to go next but turncd out his final two steers and went to the hospital. Three ropers ended up taking no times in the round followiag the accident, including Allen - orre of Goodwin's closest friends. His steer kicked free in the ninth round to eliminate Allen's slim hopes of placing in the average. Patterson, roping just before Allen in the round, turned ia a lO.S-second run to place second in the round and move to within six-tenths of a second of Roy Cooper for the average lead. The two had been more than three seconds apart going into the ninth round. Cooper, based on his position in the

"I knewthat was a pretty good steef. He ran a little r:roie tonight than he did tast night and made it a little bit interesting." Patterson, a college rodeo coach in Pratt, Kan., had been in a similar position in 1994. He entered the final round of his frst NFSR with a chanc= to win the average. But his steer kicked, dropping his time to 18.7 secslds as he finished thid in the average. This :ime, Patterson wasn't going to let the title sjp through his fingers. Patterson tur:red in an 11 3-second run that handed hjm the average crornm by just three t€fiths cf a se:ond over Cooper, the winningest cowbo'y' ever in terms of NFR average titles. Pa:t€cson finished the NFSR with a lo-tead time of 146.7 seconds. He plac:d in six rounds in addition to earning the $9,06D check that goes to;he average winner, aad collected $17,365 - the second highest btal ever earned by a cowboy at the NFSR.

Guy Allen of Lovington, N.M', ropes a steer during the,National I 29-i0. Alen clinched his 14tb overiall and ninth'straight world sl wbo lost a shot at tbe average title when hts ninth'round steer I

Roy Cooper snags a steer during tb National finals Steer Roping. Gooper, the winningest cowboy ener in tetms of NFR average titles' mf,ssed another average title to Roclry Patterson by iust three{enths of a second.

world standings, was the second

man up in the final round. He recorded a respectable 12.2- second effort to Put the pressure on Patterson, who would rope next-to- last. "I just tried to make a nice, solid run," Patterson said of his 10th- round philosoPhY.

Steer roper Trevor Brazile, 23, arived at the Lazy E Arena-an hour later than expected because of mechanical problems with his plane He won the first round, tied for the win in the fourth round and left Guthrie, Okla., with more than $tO,OlXl.

Roclry Pattersor ning the averag 1t16.7 seconds.Il est total ever ea

Steer roping seteran J.B Whatley stops one of his draws duing tbe NFSR. tluhattey ended up eighth in the final standings.

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