Riata Round Up: Area trio competes in team roping Posted On: Saturday, Jun. 20 2009 06:28 AM By Jason Chlapek
Killeen Daily Herald

LOMETA – Rodeos are more than just seeing who is going to get horned by an angry bull that has just thrown its rider.

There is still teamwork involved in rodeo.

And nothing defines that more than team roping.

A trio of area residents was involved in the team roping portion of the Eighth Annual Riata Round Up Rodeo Friday at the Bar 3 Arena. Billy Adamson of Killeen, Quint Andrews of Lampasas and Ryan Dunlap of Salado were the area residents participating in Friday night's team roping.

All three were part of a team with Cody Carter.

"Roping is something I've done since I was 10," Andrews, a 2000 graduate of Lampasas High School, said. "I grew up around it and the camaraderie of the event is what I love most."

Andrews and Dunlap rode first before Adamson and Carter took their turn. Dunlap and Adamson them teamed up to ride followed by Carter and Andrews.

Team roping consists of a pair of riders – a header and a heeler – who try to tie down a steer by the horns and the heels. Dunlap and Carter are headers, while Adamson and Andrews are heelers.

But the event is not just about getting the steer tied up, it requires precision as well. The header must get the steer by the horns before the heeler can get him around the legs.

The team that ropes its steer the fastest wins.

Like Andrews, Adamson had an early start in roping. Adamson, a 2000 graduate of Florence High School, began roping when he was 8 years old.

"My dad (Mike Adamson) got me involved in roping," Adamson said. "I love the anticipation of wondering what the steer is going to do."

Adamson has worked with Dunlap for six years, and while they have a good partnership, Adamson noted that every ride is unpredictable.

"Ryan and I know what each other is going to do, but we never know what the steer is going to do," he said. "Every steer is different, which makes every run different."

Dunlap, who graduated from Salado High School in 1993, didn't start roping until he reached high school, but he enjoys the event to its fullest.

"Roping is a hobby and it's a lot of fun," Dunlap said. "Some people like car racing for a hobby, but me, I like roping."

Although, that hobby seems like having an extra 40-hour-a-week job sometimes.

Following Friday's run in Lometa, Dunlap and Adamson traveled to San Saba to compete in another Friday rodeo and will travel to Stonewall near Fredericksburg to compete in another rodeo tonight.

The Riata Round Up concludes tonight. The festivities start at 8 p.m.

Contact Jason Chlapek at jchlapek@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7565.