Wednesday, August 8, 2001

Showndown in Cowtown Roping Pits Younger Looper Against Super Looper

FORT WORTH, TEXAS -- Nine-year-old Ryan Schroeder hits the sack early-7 or 8 p.m., he says. Wakes up early. And on Tuesday night he rewrote that old proverb: Early to bed early to rise makes for the youngest roping champion in the history of AQHYA's World Championship Show.

Aboard Raz Lad, Schroeder had to outrope seasoned AQHYA veteran Paul Bogart in a rope off to capture the 2001 World Championship in the heeling competition. "I don't know if I can stand two of these runs tonight," said Ryan's mother Joan of Gainesville, Tx. But Joan and Ryan's father Robbie, a former AQHA Professional Horseman of the Year, left a few nail shavings on the grand stand floor. Ryan's clean run bested Bogart, who missed his first attempt during the rope off.

Ryan's performance capped a dramatic night of roping that witnessed the crowning of two world championships titles to Oklahoma-native Tyler Merrill and a championship run by 15-year-old Cole Michael Bailey, also of Oklahoma.

Merrill captured the calf roping world championship with Jazzy Little Lena and a score of 219. "It just took hard work. Sometimes I can't rope anything at practice but I keep after it; it pays off," Merrill said. Merrill punctuated his first world championship of the night with a dazzling performance in the heading competition, beating out BJ Avila with a score of 223.5 aboard Jazzy Little Lena.

For complete results of the AQHYA World Championship Show, visit www. aqha.com or go to saddletude.com. The AQHYA World Championship Show continues through August 11.