RENO — Just two weeks into their partnership, Texans Caleb Mitchell and Ryan Motes came tight on the title every team roper dreams of. Mitchell and Motes won it all at the 32nd edition of the Bob Feist Invitational Team Roping Classic, hauling home the $149,410 lion’s share of the richest one-day open roping in the world’s $700,000-plus in cash and prizes.
Mitchell, 26, and Motes, 28, stopped the clock six times in 45.49 seconds to top the 2009 BFI and leave the Reno Livestock Events Center with the cash and the second-to-none BFI champs’ prize line. In addition to the loot, Mitchell and Motes rode away with Running P saddles and breast collars, Gist Buckles donated by Dodge Rodeo, B&W; Trailer Hitches and U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co., Schnei-der three-piece buckles sponsored by Coors Original, Boot Barn and Classic Ropes, and Justin full-quill ostrich boots. The BFI, Cactus Ropes, Team Equine LLC and Wrangler again awarded the winning team a $10,000 cash bonus, and 1 Bar 3 presented a $5,000 cash bonus to the winners.
Motes is the son of 1977 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association World Champion Team Roper and 1981 BFI Titlist David Motes, who won the roping when Ryan was just a baby. “This win will help him his whole career,” said Proud Papa Motes. “This is worth a lot of confidence to Ryan, and it’s more exciting for me than if I won the roping.”
Ryan Motes lives in Weatherford, Texas, with his wife, Courtney. “I’ve been coming here since I was little,” said Motes, who cut off half his thumb last October when he pantyhosed a steer and a coil came tight as he was headed down to the horn to dally. “This has been the big one since I was born. Bob does a great job of putting it on, and the cattle were great this year. Everybody dreams of winning the world and the BFI. One down, one to go.”
BFI Champs Mitchell and Motes topped the 100-team field that this year represented 16 states. They were 7.15, 7.95, 7.66, 7.40, 7.34 and 7.99 seconds on their respective steers to beat out BFI reservists Derrick Begay and Cesar de la Cruz by just under a second. Arizonans Begay of Winslow and de la Cruz of Tucson earned $95,060 in addition to the reserve champs’ prize package that included Coats Saddles, Skyline Silversmiths buckles donated by Boot Barn, Purina Mills Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank.
Motes’ American Quarter Horse Association-registered CD Starbucks is the one he rode at the 2007 Wrangler NFR. “He’s cool,” Motes said. “Everybody who rides him gets along with him and wins on him. He’s just easy. You can head, heel and ranch on him. He does it all, and I love him. This is a tough setup. This horse scores good and runs. He’s fast, and he never cheats you. It’s especially neat to win this, because everybody’s on his good one horse at this roping.”
The BFI is “Open to the World,” and held in conjunction with the “Wildest, Richest Rodeo in the West,” the million-dollar Reno Rodeo, which this year runs June 18-27.
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COURTESY PHOTO/KIRT STEINKE
Motes, Mitchell recent pairing reaps quick rewards
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