Landon McClaugherty, Tilden, Texas

How many cowboys come to the Timed Event Championship for the first time and excel?

Not many. But Landon McClaugherty did just 12 months ago, finishing fourth in the average at the 2011 Timed Event. He scored well and finished strong, earning a 25-head cumulative time of 366.3 seconds. That’s more than respectable, especially considering the competition.

McClaugherty, a 2009 qualifier to the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping, is tremendously talented with a rope. If his performance at last year’s Timed Event wasn’t enough, the Texas cowboy stepped it up a notch throughout the 2011 PRCA season.

You see, McClaugherty won all-around titles at eight ProRodeos, including prestigious ones in Dodge City, Kan.; Abilene, Kan.; and Lovington, N.M. To top it off, he finished in the top 45 in three major PRCA categories: The all-around, steer roping and tie-down roping.

He knows the test involved in this weekend’s competition, and he’s ready for it.