Rounds 1 and 2 at the Wrangler NFR on Dec. 8–9, 2023, yielded notable movement throughout the Top 15 tie-down roping standings, with one of the largest jumps going to Round 2 Champion Caleb Smidt who moved from No. 7 to No. 4.
With eight go-rounds left for ropers, there are still opportunities for round wins and a slice of the average payout.
Tie-Down Roping World Standings following Round 2
| 1 | Riley Webb | $296,843 |
| 2 | Haven Meged | $229,335 |
| 3 | Shad Mayfield | $216,603 |
| 4 | Caleb Smidt | $173,834 |
| 5 | Shane Hanchey | $166,660 |
| 6 | Ty Harris | $165,282 |
| 7 | Westyn Hughes | $162,048 |
| 8 | Blane Cox | $158,421 |
| 9 | Cory Solomon | $158,421 |
| 10 | John Douch | $155,760 |
| 11 | Kincade Henry | $145,405 |
| 12 | Tuf Cooper | $142,651 |
| 13 | Beau Cooper | $127,416 |
| 14 | Brushton Minton | $126,551 |
| 15 | Hunter Herrin | $124,552 |
Biggest movers
Caleb Smidt, No. 7 to No. 4
Smidt was out of the money in Round 1 but rebounded to win Round 2 with a time of 7.3 seconds, earning $30,706 that bumped him from No. 7 to No. 4 with $173,834 in earnings on the year. He’s still $123,009 behind leader Riley Webb, but Smidt is still in average contention and has eight go-rounds left to make up ground.
John Douch, No. 13 to No. 10
John Douch’s Round 1 win boosted him into the top 10 with a $30,706 payday. Douch currently boasts $155,760 in earnings ($141,083 behind No. 1 Webb) and is sitting No. 6 in the average race with a 17.4 on two head.
Tuf Cooper, No. 15 to No. 13
After battling on the bubble to secure his 15th NFR qualification, Tuf Cooper has been hustling to make the trip worth his while. He gathered $18,325 in Round 2 for a No. 3 finish with a time of 7.6 seconds, and he’s currently splitting No. 2 in the average with Cory Solomon with a time of 16.4 seconds on two head.
Blane Cox, No. 10 to No. 8
Blane Cox has quietly cashed in on both rounds so far—$24,268 in Round 1 and $4,953 in Round 2 to move up two places in the world standings. He’s No. 4 in the average with a time of 16.5 seconds on two head.
Haven Meged, No. 3 to No. 2
Although Haven Meged’s only moved one place, it’s arguably the most important move of the NFR so far—earning a total of $24,268 to surpass Shad Mayfield and crawl closer to Webb, who he now trails by $67,508. He’s sitting No. 1 in the average with a time of 16.2 seconds on two head, which pays $78,747 to win.
Tie-Down Roping NFR Average Update
| 1 | Haven Meged | 16.2/2 |
| 2 | Cory Solomon | 16.4/2 |
| 2 | Tuf Cooper | 16.4/2 |
| 4 | Blane Cox | 16.5/2 |
| 5 | Westyn Hughes | 17.1/2 |
| 6 | John Douch | 17.4/2 |
| 7 | Shane Hanchey | 17.8/2 |
| 8 | Riley Webb | 18.5/2 |
| 9 | Shad Mayfield | 19.0/2 |
| 10 | Kincade Henry | 20.1/2 |
| 11 | Caleb Smidt | 24.1/2 |
| 12 | Ty Harris | 26.9/2 |
| 13 | Bruston Minton | 29.1/2 |
| 14 | Hunter Herrin | 9.2/1 |
| 15 | Beau Cooper | 11.4/1 |
World Champion contenders
There are eight go-rounds left, each paying $30,706 to win. The average pays $78,747 to win.
There are a handful of ropers that—if they build some momentum—can reasonably win $100K. The top three—Webb, Meged and Mayfield—are all candidates for a World Championship (especially considering Meged’s leading the average). Smidt and Shane Hanchey $123,009 and $130,183 behind Webb, respectively, which would be a tough climb but is not out of the question.
Tie-Down Roping average payout
- $78,747.07
- $63,889.14
- $50,516.99
- $37,144.85
- $26,744.29
- $19,315.14
- $13,372.14
- $7,428.97
Total: $297,158.77
NFR coverage from all angles is supported by Rattler Rope.
