Texas roper moves ahead of Clovis' Mayfield
Dec. 7—LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Three-time world champion Caleb Smidt has taken the lead in tie-down roping competition at the National Finals Rodeo.
Smidt, from Bellville, Texas, came into the NFR in fourth place, almost $54,000 in prize money behind leader Shad Mayfield of Clovis. But Smidt has recorded five straight top-4 finishes to open the series, while Mayfield had placed in the money only once going into Tuesday night's competition.
Through Monday, Smidt was in first place with $259,081 prize money for the season. Mayfield was second with $236,359.
The competition's 10 rounds will continue through Saturday night at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
Smidt, a nine-time NFR qualifier, won the first and second rounds last week before finishing third, fourth and third in rounds three through five, respectively.
Mayfield, a four-time NFR qualifier who won the tie-down title in 2020, finished second to Smidt on Friday night. None of his other runs had been better than 10th place going into Tuesday.
Mayfield joined the Pro Rodeo Cowboys association in 2019, soon after high school graduation. He came into this year's NFR with a $36,779 lead over John Douch.
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