SAN ANGELO, Texas – Friday’s trip home got a little better for Derrick Begay and Colter Todd.

After being saddled with a no-time Thursday, the team-roping tandem found a bit of redemption during the sixth performance of the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo after posting a 3.6-second run to take the second-round lead. 

“We’ve got all night to enjoy this,” said Todd, a four-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Willcox, Arizona. “It helps the all-night drives pretty good. I don’t think it matters as far as momentum, but it just gives us the adrenaline for a while.”

The duo is coming off a fantastic run during the NFR, which took place this past December in Las Vegas. Begay and Todd were the only one of the 15 teams in the field to catch all 10 steers, winning the aggregate title. Each man left town with $131,000 and finished the 2023 campaign fourth in the world standings with $270,000 each.

“Making the run we did is salvaging something,” said Begay, a 10-time NFR heading qualifying header from Seba Dalkai, Arizona. “You want to be going for the rounds, especially the second one. You want to say you did all you can to do win something there.

“Ideally, you want to catch two and make the short round. That’s what we had in mind. After last night, that wasn’t an option anymore. At a rodeo like San Angelo, it’s really fast. You’ve got only one option, and that’s to be as fast as you can be.”

The setup inside Foster Communications Coliseum is quick. Last year, world champions Erich Rogers and Paul Eaves were 3.4 seconds to win the second round. It’s difficult for two men to rope one steer and do all the things they need to do to stop the clock that fast, but team ropers at the ProRodeo level can make it happen. 

“It’s good to get a time … a fast time,” Todd said. “It’s good to do your job. We knew we needed to be fast, especially after not catching anything the first night. We’ll call it satisfying.”

He should know. Todd first qualified for the NFR as a header, roping with Cesar de la Cruz. They made three straight trips to Las Vegas together from 2006-08, then Todd went home and focused on his family and a life away from rodeo. He got back in the mix, this time as a heeler with Begay, who made his first NFR in 2008. A year later, Begay and de la Cruz began a run of trips to the finale that lasted five years.

Both Todd and Begay have been at this a while. Todd joined the PRCA in 2003; Begay was a year later. They’re veterans, and they understand the ins and outs of the sport. Each man knows that while they can celebrate their 3.6-second run Friday night, there are plenty of talented ropers who could overtake that top spot over the next four performances.

“I like our time, but there are still 20 guys that have to rope yet,” Begay said. “There are some rodeos that are pretty unique that we go to throughout the year, and San Angelo is definitely one of those. It’s got the feel of a good rodeo, and it’s got a fast setup. We’re roping in front of a knowledgeable crowd that loves rodeo, and these guys know what we need to do to win.”

That makes it fun, whether they have a shot to win the rodeo or are roping for fast cash.

San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo
April 5-19
Bareback riding leaders: 1. Cooper Cooke, 88.5 points on Korkow Rodeo’s Buffalo Soldier; 2. R.C. Landingham, 87; 3. (tie) Ethan Mazurenko and Will Norstrom, 86; 3. 5. Caleb Bennett, 84; 6. (tie) Cole Franks and Clayton Biglow, 83.5; 8. (tie) Jess Pope and Weston Timberman, 83; 10. (tie) Ty Pope and Waylon Bourgeois, 82; 12. Danton Bertsch, 80.5.

Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Jacob Edler, 3.6 seconds; 2. Cole Walker, 3.7; 3. Stetson Jorgensen, 3.8; 4. (tie) Don Payne and Trisyn Kalawaia, 3.9; 6. Gavin Soileau, 4.0; 7. (tie) Matt Reeves and Jay Williamson, 4.1. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Rooster Yazzie and Trever Nelson, 3.6 seconds; 3. Ty Erickson, 3.7; 4. (tie) Heath Thomas and Adam Musil, 3.9; 6. Chance Howard, 4.1; 7. (tie) Dirk Tavenner, Tanner Brunner, Tyke Kipp and Wade Steffen, 4.2. Average leaders: 1. Matt Reeves, 8.4 seconds on two runs; 2. Cole Walker, 8.7; 3. Trever Nelson, 8.9; 4. Gavin Soileau, 9.0; 5. Trisyn Kalawaia, 9.2; 6. Stetson Jorgensen, 9.3; 7. Heath Thomas, 9.4; 8. Jake Nelson, 9.6; 9. (tie) Bridger Anderson, Justin Schaffer, Chance Howard and Gus Franzen, 9.8.

Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Brady Tryan/Calgary Smith, 4.1 seconds; 2. (tie) Luke Brown/Travis Graves, Devon Johnson/Boogie Ray and Max Kuttler/Cashton Weidenbener, 4.2; 5. Kolton Schmidt/Landen Glenn, 4.3; 6. (tie) Jesse Boos/Jace Steenhoek, Garett Chick/Lane Siggins, Devon McDaniel/Walt Woodard and Peyton Walters/Brandon Gonzales, 4.5. Second round leaders: 1. Derrick Begay/Colter Todd, 3.6 seconds; 2. Chace Thompson/Chad Williams, 3.7; 3. J.C. Yeahquo/Buddy Hawkins II, 3.8; 4. Mason Appleton/Cooper Freeman, 3.9; 5. (tie) Wade Smith/Zach Varian and Slade Wood/Nathan Walker, 4.0; 7. (tie) James Arviso/J.R. Gonzalez and Shay Carrol/Jace Helton, 4.1. Average leaders: 1. James Arviso/J.R. Gonzalez, 8.7 seconds on two runs; 2. Shay Carroll/Jace Helton, 9.4; 3. (tie) Cash Duty/Ross Ashford and Devon Johnson/Boogie Ray, 10.1; 5. Brye Crites/Tyler Worley, 10.8; 6. Curry Kirchner/Jake Edwards, 11.0; 7. Jesse Boos/Jace Steenhoek, 14.0; 8. Koby Sanchez/Trace Porter, 14.2; 9. Coy Brittain/Colton Brittain, 14.3; 10. Reno Stoebner/Clay Green, 14.5; 11. Chace Thompson/Chad Williams, 14.7; 12. John Wesley Sharp/Dodge Hare, 15.2.

Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Sage Newman, 87.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Code Blue; 2. Lefty Holman, 87; 3. (tie) Cort Scheer and Tyrel Roberts, 86.5; 5. Brody Cress, 86; 6. Tanner Butner, 85.5; 7. Zac Dallas, 83; 8. Jake Watson, 82.5; 9. Kyle Wanchuk, 82; 10. Tegan Smith, 81; 11. (tie) Cash Wilson, Jarrod Hammons and Q Taylor, 80.

Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Riley Webb, 6.9 seconds; 2. Tuf Cooper, 7.6; 3. (tie) Bryce Derrer and Connor Atkinson, 7.8; 5. Ryan Jarrett, 7.9; 6. Cash Hooper, 8.1; 7. (tie) Tom Crouse and Marty Yates, 8.2. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Cash Enderli, Zaine Mikita and Marty Yates, 7.3 seconds; 4. Jake Pratt, 7.4; 5. Charlie Gibson, 7.5; 6. Jeremiah Peek, 7.6; 7. (tie) Hunter Herrin and Paden Bray, 7.7. Average leaders: 1. Marty Yates, 15.5 seconds on two runs; 2. Cash Cooper, 16.3; 3. Ryan Jarrett, 16.4; 4. Connor Blaise Atkinson and Cole Clemens, 16.5; 6. Tuf Cooper, 16.7; 7. Dylan Hancock, 17.1; 8. Riley Webb, 17.5; 9. (tie) Carson Watford and Chance Oftedahl, 18.0; 11. Westyn Hughes, 18.2; 12. (tie) Ty Moser, Brey Yore and Garrett Jacobs, 18.3.

Breakaway roping: First round leaders: 1. (tie) Madalyn Richards, Megan Powell and Timber Allenbrand, 2.1 seconds; 4. Alli Masters, 2.3; 5. (tie) Brooke Eddy and Jenna Lee Adams, 2.4; 7. Haley Mason and Britta Strain, 2.5; 9. (tie) Josie Conner and Angie Green; 11. (tie) Aspen Miller, Rickie Fanning, Riley Welch, Kadin Jodie, Addee Carder, Abby Medlin and Delaney Kunau, 2.7. Second round leaders: 1. Emilee Charlesworth, 2.0 seconds; 2. (tie) Alli Masters, Taylor Munsell and Hannah Bass, 2.1; 5. (tie) Hadley Clearman, Shelby Whiting and Jessi Everett, 2.2; 8. (tie) Bailey Jay and Kristy Stewart, 2.3; 10. (tie) Jayden Gould, Hollie Ladner, MaryBeth Beam and Chelsi Arnold, 2.4. Average leaders: 1. Alli Masters, 4.4 seconds on two runs; 2. Timber Allenbrand, 4.7; 3. Brooke Eddy, 4.0; 4. Haley Mason, 5.0; 5. Angie Green, 5.1; 6. Josie Conner, 5.2; 9. (tie) Jackie Crawford, Kadin Jodie and Riley Welch, 5.6; 12. (tie) Bailey Jay and Jenna Lee Adams, 5.8.

Barrel racing: Second round leaders: 1. Dona Kay Rule, 14.08 seconds; 2. Jordan Driver, 14.15; 3. Timber Allenbrand, 14.20; 4. Abby Phillips, 14.26; 5. Mindy Holloway, 14.30; 6. Sami Jo Buum, 14.34; 7. Tessa Arnold, 14.35; 8. Paige Jones, 14.36; 9. Taylor Baize, 14.37; 10. Sadie Wolaver-Troyer, 14.39; 11. Rachel Heurkamp, 14.42; 12. Sophie Nolen, 14.43; 13. Ashley Castleberry, 14.45; 14. Chelsea Moore, 14.46; 15. Shannon Pearson, 14.47. Average leaders: 1. Dona Kay Rule, 30.25 seconds on two runs; 2. Ashley Castleberry, 30.54; 3. Abby Phillips, 30.56; 4. Timber Allenbrand, 30.60; 5. Paige Jones, 30.78; 6. Mindy Holloway, 30.80; 7. Sami Jo Buum, 30.83; 8. (tie) Tessa Arnold, Sophie Nolen and Shy-Anne Jarrett, 30.93; 11. Sadie Wolaver-Troyer, 30.94; 12. Taylor Baize, 30.97.

Bull riding leaders: 1. J.R. Stratford, 90 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Bruised Kitty; 2. (tie) Jackson Carter Ward, Colton Byram, Vinell Vince Mariano and Beau Gardner, 86.5; 6. Riley Shippy, 86; 7. Clayton Sellars, 85.5; 8. Kase Hitt, 85; 9. Tyce Willis, 82.5; 10. Jesse Flores, 81; 11. Scottie Knapp, 80; 12. Lane Michael Vaughan, 78.