DODGE CITY, Kan. – Nobody expected Clay Smith to be competing this soon, not after suffering a compound fracture of his right fibula and tibia a month ago.

But Smith was determined, and he returned to action this week in order to compete at the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo. His tenacity – and the faith of his partner, Jake Long – paid dividends and the two claimed the team roping championship, the prized Roundup buckles and $8,082 apiece for their week of work in western Kansas.

“He kept saying it; he kept professing it, ‘I’m going to be back,’ ” said Long, a 10-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Coffeyville, Kansas. “I don’t think anybody believed it but maybe him. It’s a miracle that he’s here.”

Smith, a two-time world champion from Broken Bow, Oklahoma, suffered his injury in a freak barrier mishap at the rodeo in Prescott, Arizona, around the Fourth of July. He arrived in Dodge City with a big, gray boot strapped to his leg and maneuvering his way around Roundup Arena on crutches.

The only time he ditched the crutches was when he mounted his horse and prepared to compete. He and Long roped their first two steers Thursday, placing second in the first go-round and having the fastest two-run cumulative time heading into Sunday’s championship round.

That’s when the put the finishing touches to one of the best stories out of Roundup Rodeo this year, winning the short round with a 6.0-second run to claim the aggregate title.

“I give the glory to God,” said Smith, a seven-time NFR qualifier and now a three-time Dodge City titlist who sits 30^th in the heading world standings. “He’s the one who was able to get me through this whole deal. It’s unbelievable what He’s done with me.

“Then my partner’s been mistake-free and has heeled so good. For him to even be ready for me not really knowing what to expect, he’s done an amazing job for me this week.”

A friend of Smith’s has been his primary assistant, saddling and outfitting Smith’s horse and warming it up. When it was time to go to work, he would ride over to Smith and help the cowboy get in the saddle.

“I’ve had so much help,” Smith said. “I thank everybody who’s helped me. If you’re catching, it seems like it hurts less.

“I could get used to it really. It’s not a bad deal. A friend of mine does pretty much everything except nod (his head to start the runs). It’s been a fun week, and it’s good to be back.”

Long sits No. 5 in the heeling world standings and is in good shape to make his 11^th NFR in 12 years. The only year he missed making ProRodeo’s grand finale was 2013, when he finished 16^th – only the top 15 on the money list at the end of the regular season qualify for the finale.

Now, the Kansas cowboy has added a championship from the biggest rodeo in his home state and one of the biggest rodeos in the PRCA.

“It took me a long time to get this one,” said Long, who is in his 19^th year of competing professionally. “I think I’ve probably put more pressure on it. Growing up, this is the one you want to win, especially if you’re from here. I’m pretty pumped up to get it done.

“It’s one of the bigger rodeos of the summer, especially in the situation we’re in. This is a season-saving situation we’re in. Thankfully it worked out.”  

While Long will probably strap his wearable trophy buckle onto his belt and wear it around, Smith will just add another to his trophy case and will rely on his 4-year-old son to handle it.

“My boy likes to collect them,” Smith said. “He’s got a glass case. He wanted me to win a buckle this week, so it’s going to Jade, my little boy.”

Dodge City Roundup Rodeo
Dodge City, Kan.
Aug. 3-7, 2022
All-around: Sam Powers, $7,077 in steer wrestling and tie-down roping.

Bareback riding: First round: 1. Tim O’Connell, 87 points on Frontier Rodeo’s High Heels, $2,786; 2. (tie) Wyatt Denny, Kaycee Feild and Garrett Shadbolt, 86.5, $1,578 each; 5. (tie) Jess Pope and Ty Pope, 85.5, $557 each; 7. Tilden Hooper, 85, $371; 8. Seth Hardwick, 84.5, $279. Championship round: 1. Garrett Shadbolt, 91.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Gun Fire, $1,650; 2. Jess Pope, 87.5, $1,250; 3. Tilden Hooper, 86.5, $900; 4. Wyatt Denny, 85, $600; 5. Seth Hardwick, 84.5, $250; 6. Kaycee Feild, 84, $250. Average: 1. Garrett Shadbolt, 178 points on two rides, $2,786; 2. Jess Pope, 173, $2,136; 3. (tie) Tilden Hooper and Wyatt Denny, 171.5, $1,300 each; 5. Kaycee Feild, 170.5, $650; 6. Seth Hardwick, 169, $464; 7. Cole Reiner, 165, $371; 8. Lane McGehee, 162.5, $279.

Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Bryton Edmundson, 3.9 seconds, $3,762; 2. Landris White, 4.0, $3,271; 3. (tie) Kyle Irwin and Timmy Sparing, 4.1, $2,535 each; 5. (tie) Mitch Hutto, Matt Reeves, Stetson Jorgensen, E.J. Joos and Sam Powers, 4.2, $850 each. Second round: 1. Cody Devers, 3.5 seconds, $3,762; 2. Bridger Anderson, 3.6, $3,271; 3. Dakota Eldridge, 3.7, $2,780; 4. Tristan Martin, 3.8, $2,290; 5. Ryan Shuckburgh, 4.0, $1,799; 6. (tie) Dalton Massey and Joe Nelson, 4.1, $1,063; 8. (tie) Timmy Sparing, Richard Coats and Rowdy Parrott, 4.2, $109 each. Championship round: 1. Stetson Jorgensen, 3.6 seconds, $1,595; 2. Sam Powers, 3.8, $1,320; 3. Stephen Culling, 4.1, $1,045; 4. Rowdy Parrott, 4.3, $770; 5. Landris White, 5.1, $495; 6. Gavin Soileau, 5.2, $275. Average: 1. Stetson Jorgensen, 12.4 seconds on three runs, $5,643; 2. Sam Powers, 12.6, $4,907; 3. Stephen Culling, 12.9, $4,171; 4. Rowdy Parrott, 13.3, $3,435; 5. Landris White, 13.5, $2,699; 6. Timmy Sparing, 14.0, $1,963; 7. Gavin Soileau, 14.7, $1,227; 8. Jace Melvin, 15.7, $491.

Team roping: First round: 1. Zach Kilgus/Jake Edwards, 4.8 seconds, $2,976; 2. Clay Smith/Jake Long, 4.9, $2,588; 3. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 5.1, $2,199; 4. (tie) Paul David Tierney/Tanner Braden, Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan and Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, 5.4, $1,423 each; 7. Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, 5.5, $647; 8. (tie)Chad Masters/Paul Eaves and Marcus Theriot/Cole Curry, 5.6, $129 each. Second round: 1. Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, 4.0 seconds, $2,976; 2. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 4.4, $2,588; 3. Clay Tryan/Jade Corkill, 4.5, $2,199; 4. Derrick Begay/Colter Todd, 4.6; 5. Trent Vaught/Jace McDaniel, 4.8; 6. Logan Graham/Whitney DeSalvo, 5.1; 7. (tie) Tanner James/Max Kuttler and Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 5.3, $453. Championship round: 1. Clay Smith/Jake Long, 6.0 seconds, $1,030; 2. (tie) Quinn Kesler/Caleb Hendrix and Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 6.1, $763 each; 4. Tyler Hobert/Chase Boekhaus, 6.3, $497; 5. Corben Culley/Shane Jenkins, 6.4, $320; 6. Cory Kidd/Lane Mitchell and Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 6.6, $89 each. Average: 1. Clay Smith/Jake Long, 17.0 seconds on three runs, $4,464; 2. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 17.8, $3,881; 3. (tie) Quinn Kesler/Caleb Hendrix and Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 18.6, $3,008 each; 5. Corben Culley/Shane Jenkins, 21.7, $2,135; 6. Tyler Hobert/Chase Boekhaus, 22.5, $1,553; 7. Cory Kidd/Lane Mitchell, 22.9, $970; 8. Curry Kirchner/Reagan Ward, 24.8, $388.

Saddle bronc riding: First round: 1. Statler Wright, 87 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Bordertown, $2,662; 2. (tie) Riggin Smith and Colt Gordon, 85.5, $1,775 each; 4. Ryder Wright, 84.5, $976. 5. (tie) Lefty Homan and Wade Sundell, 83.5, $532 each; 7. Shorty Garrett, 83, $355; 8. Logan Cook, 82.5, $266. Championship round: 1. Colt Gordon, 87 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Yellowstone, $1,650; 2. Isaac Diaz, 86.5, $1,250; 3. Logan Cook, 86, $900; 4. (tie) Shorty Garrett and Ryder Wright, 85.5, $475 each; 8. Lefty Holman, 83, $250. Average: 1. Colt Gordon, 172.5 points on two rides, $2,662; 2. Ryder Wright, 170, $2,041; 3. (tie) Isaac Diaz, Logan Cook and Shorty Garrett, 168.5, $1,035 each; 6. Lefty Holman, 166.5, $444; 7. Brady Hill, 162.5, $355; 8. Jake Finlay, 161.5, $266.

Breakaway roping: First round: 1. Taylor Hanchey, 2.5 seconds, $2,168; 2. Bradi Good, 2.6, $1,885; 3. Loni Lester, 3.0, $1,602; 4. Mable McAbee, 3.1, $1,319; 5. Bryana Lehrmann, 3.2, $1,037; 6. (tie)Winter Williams, Madison Outhier and Tacy Webb, 3.3, $471 each. Championship round: 1. Loni Lester, 2.4 seconds, $1,047; 2. (tie) Tacy Webb and Mable McAbee, 2.6, $654 each; 4. Taylor Hanchey, 2.8, $262. Average: 1. Taylor Hanchey, 5.3 seconds on two runs, $3,251; 2. Loni Lester, 5.4, $2,827; 3. Mable McAbee, 5.7, $2,403; 4. Bradi Good, 5.8, $1,979; 5. Tacy Webb, 5.9, $1,555; 6. Madison Outhier, 6.3, $1,131; 7. Ashley Goforth, 7.0, $707; 8. Lari Dee Guy, 7.2, $283.

Tie-down roping: First round: 1. Cory Solomon, 8.3 seconds, $3,687; 2. Chance Thiessen, 8.5, $3,206; 3. Kincade Henry, 8.7, $2,725; 4. Westyn Hughes, 8.8, $2,244; 5. Tuf Cooper, 9.2, $1,763; 6. Blake Chauvin, 9.3, $1,282; 7. Marty Yates, 9.4, $801; 8. Tyson Durfey, 9.7, $321. Second round: 1. King Pickett, 8.2 seconds, $3,687; 2. Ryan Thibodeaux, 8.5, $3,206; 3. Riley Webb, 9.0, $2,725; 4. Marty Yates, 9.2, $2,244; 5. (tie) Cory Solomon and Adam Gray, 9.3, $1,523 each; 7. Marcos Costa, 9.4, $801; 8. Sy Felton, 9.6, $321. Championship round: 1. Lane Livingston, 8.4 seconds, 41,450; 2. (tie) Jase Staudt and Cory Solomon, 9.2, $1,075 each; 4. Westyn Hughes, 9.3, $700; 5. Marty Yates, 9.4, $450; 6. Riley Webb, 10.7, $250. Average: 1. Cory Solomon, 26.8 seconds on three runs, $5,530; 2. Marty Yates, 28.0, $4,809; 3. Lane Livingston, 28.9, $4,087; 4. Westyn Hughes, 29.8, $3,366; 5. Jase Staudt, 30.7, $2,645; 6. Riley Webb, 32.0, $1,923; 7. Sy Felton, 34.5, $1,202; 8. Austin Lawrence, 19.8 seconds on two runs, $481.

Barrel racing: First round: 1. Jordan Briggs, 16.96, $3,714; 2. Michelle Darling, 17.22, $3,183; 3. Tarryn Lee, 17.28, $2,653; 4. Keyla Polizello Costa, 17.35, $2,299; 5. Stevi Hillman, 17.37, $1,768; 6. Randi Holliday, 17.38, $1,415; 7. Jordan Driver, 17.39, $1,061; 8. Jessica Routier, 17.40, $707; 9. Destri Devenport, 17.45, $531; 10.  Tana Poppno, 17.46, $354. Championship round: 1. Stevi Hillman 17.34 seconds, $1,572; 2. Michelle Darling, 17.37, $1,189; 3. Tarryn Lee, 17.52, $786; 4. Ari-Anna Flynn 17.53, $393. Average: 1. Michelle Darling, 34.59 seconds on two runs, $3,713; 2. Stevi Hillman, 34.71, $3,183; 3. Tarryn Lee, 34.80, $2,653; 4. Jordon Briggs, 34.85, $2,299; 5. Ari-Anna Flynn, 25.08, $1,768; 6. Tammy Peterson, 35.28, $1,415; 7. Jessica Routier, 35.33, $1,061; 8. Jordan Driver, 35.36, $707; 9. Keyla Polizello Costa, 40.03, $531; 10. Randi Holliday, 40.08, $354.

Steer roping: First round: 1. Billy Good, 10.3 seconds, $1,984; 2. Garrett Hale, 11.1, $1,642; 3. Cash Myers, 11.3, $1,300; 4. Vin Fisher Jr., 11.4, $958; 5. Slade Wood, 12.1, $616; 6. Taylor Santos, 12.4, $342. Second round: 1. (tie) Cole Patterson and Tyrel Taton, 9.7 seconds, $1,813 each; 3. Will Eddleman, 10.6, $1,300; 4. Tony Reina, 10.8, $958; 5. Chet Herren, 10.9, $616; 6. Coy Thompson, 11.4, $342. Third round: 1. Scott Snedecor, 9.5 seconds, $1,984; 2. Slade Wood, 10.0, $1,642; 3. Tuff Hardman, 10.1, $1,300; 4. Vin Fisher Jr., 10.2, $958; 5. Rocky Patterson, 10.9, $616; 6. Cole Patterson, 11.0, $342. Average: 1. Cole Patterson, 34.3 seconds on three head, $2,976; 2. Taylor Santos, 39.3, $2,463; 3. Roger Branch, 41.6, $1,950; 4. Martin Poindexter, 41.7, $1,437; 5. Blake Deckard, 42.6, $924; 6. (tie) Reo Lohse and Chad Mathis, 44.0, $257 each.

Bull riding: First round: 1. JR Stratford, 87.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s He’s Legit, $2,987; 2. Trey Holston, 86.5, $2,290; 3. Canyon Bass, 85.5, $1,692; 4. Tyler Bingham, 85, $1,095; 5. Brett McAbee, 84.5, $697; 6. Hayes Weight, Brady Portenier and Tom Harmon, 83, $398 each. Championship round: 1. (tie) Reid Oftedahl, on Frontier Rodeo’s County Jail, and Creek Young, on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Geronimo, 90 points, $2,500. Average: 1. Creek Young, 169.5 points on two rides, $2,987; 2. Reid Oftedahl, 163, $2,290; 3. J.R. Stratford, 87.5 points on one ride, $1,692; 4. Trey Holston, 86.5, $1,095; 5. Canyon Bass, 85.5, $697; 6. Tyler Bingham, 85, $498; 7. Brett McAbee, 84.5, $398; 8. (tie) Tom Harman, Brady Portenier and Hayes Weight, 83, $100 each.