IN A CLASS FULL OF HARD LUCK, ONE TEAM PULLED OUT A GRUELING RUN FOR THE GOLD.
BY JODY REYNOLDS, INTERNET EDITOR
It wasn't the cattle. The exibitors commented that they were as fresh as they should be. But the 2008 Bayer Select World team penning finals saw a fair share of tough luck. After numerous "zero" times, the team with a 76 came out on top. Wally Hays of Fort Smith, Arkansas, riding PS Ima Little Jerry; David Hall of Ripley, Oklahoma, riding Ima Freckle Lena; and Tom Sparks of Marlow, Oklahoma, riding IBA Spook earned their first tropies at a Bayer Select World. And they were might glad they were gold.
Q. Take us through your run.
David: When we took off, we had one sitting on eacd corner. I went after the first one, and I got it out but it wouldn’t stay out. Wally got the second one out pretty easy, but it wanted back to the herd, too. We were fighting them both. The second calf went back to the herd, and I went back and got it. Tom was holding the cattle and spotted the third calf. he went after it and took it to the wall and got it out.
Tom: I didn’t have any help because there weren’t any herd holders – David and Wally were busy holding off the calves they were fighting. We were lucky we didn’t have problems there because they had to fight those two calves from the time they got them out until we started to pen.
Wally: We both had to stay there and work at keeping both our cows out. Tom was in the herd getting the third calf out. He goes across the arena, then back across the arena and we finally went to pen at 72 seconds.
David: They didn’t want to go to the pen –they wanted to go to the other corner of the arena. That took us an extra five seconds. If we could have had any more bad luck, we did!
Long-time teammates Tom Sparks, David Hall and Wally Hays came out on top after a class full of hard luck and tough maneuvering.
Tom: But we pulled it out.
Q. You really worked hard for the trophy. Were you surprised to win?
Wally: After we ran and had a time of 76, we figured we might finish in the top-10. but we had a fast time our first go, so it worked out pretty good. We were fortunate we got ours to the pen, because they did not want to go to the pen at all.
Q. Tell us about the cattle.
Wally: The cattle were really good and fresh like they should be. This has really been a good show. I’ve really enjoyed myself. I love the friendship, the facilities, the town, everything. I’ll be back!
Q. How long have the three of you been riding together?
David: We’ve rode together on and off about 10-15 years.
Wally: We always have a gameplan. David’s always gone first, I go second and Tom always turns. We’ve been friends for probably 12 years.
Q. What makes you three a good team?
Tom: We all know what each other can do and what each other’s job is. We all do our jobs. We pen a lot together.
David: It’s a team sport. One person can’t do it all.
Q. Have you been to the Select World before?
Tom: This is my first time and David’s first time. Wally was here last year.
Wally: Last year, I came back first and second after the prelims and I blew both runs in the finals. So this year is a better outcome!
Q. What do you think of the Select World?
Tom: I think it’s wonderful, and I’ll be back. My favorite part is winning and getting a belt buckle!
Q. Tell us about your horses.
David: I ride a (2000) yellow mare, Ima Freckle Lena.
Tom: My (1992) palomino gelding’s name is IBA Spook.
Wally: My horse is PS Ima Little Jerry (2000 sorrel mare).
Q. What other events do you participate in?
Tom: We all do ranch sorting. Wally made it back to the finals in sorting, but David and I didn’t make it back. I was OK with that because I lucky to get first and second in this class.
WINNER STATS
Horse name: IBA Spook Pedigree: 1992 palomino gelding by Lucky Bottom Bailey x Shanna Doc by Doc's Tom Thumb Exhibitor: Tom Sparks, Marlow, Oklahoma Owner: Sylvia Sparks, Marlow, Oklahoma Horse name: Ima Freckle Lena Pedigree: 2000 palomino mare by Tamulena x Freckles Poco Lou by I'm A Freckles Too Exhibitor/Owner: David Hall, Ripley, Oklahoma
Horse name: PS Ima Little Jerry Pedigree: 2000 sorrel mare by Smart Little Jerry x Gray Bar Tivio by Kellys Gaybar King Exhibitor: Wally Hays, Fort Smith, Arkansas Owner: Dr. Wally/Lynn Hays, Fort Smith, Arkansas
Total class entries: 111 entries/37 teams
World Champion Prizes: Custom-designed gold-tone trophy, Montana Silversmiths buckle, neck wreath, gold medallion, Cripple Creek-logo jacket, world champion patch, Tex Tan product
