Tie-down roper Shane Hanchey captures emotional Round 1 victory – NFR 2021

LAS VEGAS – Less than two weeks before the 2021 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge, tie-down roper Shane Hanchey was dealt some adversity.

The primary horse Hanchey was aboard all season – TJ – passed away. The horse was owned by Logan Bird.

Hanchey said the loss wouldn’t set him back at the Wrangler NFR and it didn’t – at least for Round 1.

The Sulphur, La., native clocked a 7.4-second run to win the round before 16,804 fans at the Thomas & Mack Center.

“That run was so much more than a round win, with me losing TJ, 10 days ago and he was what I was planning on riding at the Finals, so I really wasn’t sure what I was going to do,” Hanchey said.

Hanchey, the 2013 world champion, leads the world standings with $212,076. He earned $26,997 for the victory.

However, Hanchey had his doubts about getting on Peso.

“I said Logan, he’s never been there, and Logan said ‘you have to trust me’,” Hanchey said. “I put my trust in him and the man upstairs and it paid off.”

After watching the field of ropers compete in front of him, Hanchey was confident he could deliver a victory.

“I knew I had the calf to win it,” Hanchey said. Peso handles fast calves and I just had to make sure and stay out of his way and he did his job so I could do mine.”

 

-information is courtesy of the PRCA-