TEAM ROPING TITLES TIMELINE
Jake Barnes and Clay Cooper won their seventh set of world team roping titles together in 1994, which was the last year a lone team roping titlist was possible. Each got his own gold buckle, because their earnings were identical. Flip the page on that rodeo records book back just one year, and you'll find that Bobby Hurley took center stage solo as the 1993 world champion team roper. Not header, Team roper, The reserve world champ that year was Allen Bach, so by 1994 standards on, Big Al would haveshould have—been the 1993 world champion heeler, But not in 1993.
“It was such a long grind to get team roping at every rodeo, equal money at the NFR (National Finals Rodeo), world champion headers and heelers—all of it,” said four-time World Champion Bach, who roped at a record 30 NFRs between 1978 and 2008. “We all just kept on it, and kept fighting for what we knew was right. The longer I roped fora living, the more we battled to try and change things.
“It was kind of a bummer when Bobby and I won five rounds in a row (at the 1993 NFR), I was the winningest heeler of the year and didn't win the world, We had to win the 10th round for Bobby to win the world, and I was so happy for him to win it. But yes, I do sometimes look back on it now, it's hard not to wonder if the rules were then what they are now if I might be mentioned in some of the same conversations as Jake
