Local team ropers qualify for National USTRC Finals

Heeler Glenn Smith (left) finishes roping a calf that has been partially lassoed by header Dalton Fuhrman at the U.S. Team Roping Championships at Valley Center , Kan., on Sept. 18. Smith and Fuhrman won the No. 8 shootout which qualifed them for the National USTR Championships in Oklahoma City, Okla., in October.

Submitted to the Tribune

Valley Center near Wichita was the site for the U.S. Team Roping Championships, Sept. 16-18 at the Kansas Coliseum.

On Sept. 18, Dalton Fuhrman, a header from Bronson and a Uniontown High School freshman, and Glenn Smith, a heeler from Redfield, won the No. 8 shootout qualifying them for the National USTRC Championships in Oklahoma City in late October.

They beat out about 300 other teams with their time of 26.90 seconds on three head. In addition to a cash payback, Fuhrman and Smith also received Martin trophy saddles.

Upon finding out they had won, Fuhrman said, "This is the best day of my whole life!"

He had been to USTRC ropings in Grove, Okla., and Topeka this past summer and made it to the short go both times, but his team had failed to earn a winning time at either roping. Fuhrman was thrilled to have won his first trophy saddle.

"(It's) really exciting that he did it at such a young age," Smith said. "Dalton just stayed focused and roped like he was in the practice pen. He was consistent all day."

This was the 20th trophy saddle Smith had won. David Fuhrman, Bronson, and Smith also qualified for the National USTRC competition when they placed seventh out of 399 teams in the No. 9 roping. Nineteen years ago, Smith won the National No. 8 USTRC Roping with Larry Martin, Fort Scott. At that time, the roping was held at Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla.