For Immediate Release
Wildfire Arena - Salado, Texas
February 24, 2003

Matt Tyler and Kory Koontz hit $50,000 jackpot at fifth annual Wildfire Open to the World Roping

Salado, Texas - If you love to rope, the Wildfire Ranch in Salado, Texas is paradise. It's where the best in the business come to play, and is home to not only the world-class, state-of-the-art Wildfire Arena, but the spacious new Bloomer Trailers manufacturing plant and Wildfire Saddlery and Western Wear, as well. The saddlery is where master craftsman Dale Martin, maker of the 2002 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo average saddles, works his leather magic.

Kory Koontz pulled off a little magic of his own February 22, completing a team roping triple play at the fifth annual Wildfire Open to the World Roping. Koontz came back one-two with Matt Tyler and Daniel Green, respectively, in the short round. He missed the second high-call steer for Green, but came back and capitalized on the last steer of the roping with Tyler. They roped six steers in 41.43 seconds to drag down the $50,000 first-place cash prize. Each was awarded a hand-tooled leather briefcase stocked with $25,000 in $100 bills.

Koontz and Tyler also won the roping in 2002, and Koontz won the 2000 Wildfire Open to the World Roping with Green.

"I roped almost perfect today - heavy on the almost," grinned Koontz, in reference to missing that last steer for Green. "This is a great roping, my horse worked awesome and I roped as great as I could possibly rope today - except for one steer."

Koontz was his usual humble self when it came to dishing out the credit for the windfall win.

"The key to winning a roping like this is having great partners," said Koontz, who's an 11-year NFR veteran. "Matt's my second partner, we've roped together for a long time and we know each other's roping really well. Aggressive jackpot runs are our strength."

They made six of those, and without a bobble.

"I praise God for being in the situation I was in today, where I had two chances," continued Koontz, who lives in Sudan, Texas, with his wife, Katherine, and kids, Jae Rube, Harlee Jo and Ashlee Beth. "Because I needed both of them."

Every roper in attendance at the Wildfire's premier Open to the World weekend was in awe of Wildfire owner Billy Pipes' generous hospitality. From free beer and barbecue dinners for all the ropers up in the Turnout Tavern, which overlooks the arena, to a complimentary Daryle Singletary concert and virtually no stock charge, Pipes cuts everyone in on the wealth but himself.

"Billy Pipes has made this roping what it is, because of the money he puts up as bonus money for the winners," said Koontz, who endorses Wrangler, Classic Ropes and Equine Products, Necessity Liquid Feed Supplement, Bloomer Trailers and Martin Saddles. "This is an awesome facility, and we always rope good, strong, fresh steers that run. This is a setup where you have to come and rope sharp to win, and if you don't you aren't going to have a chance to win. If you make a living with your rope there aren't many opportunities to win $25,000 in one day. So if you rope for a living you're not going to miss this roping. (The guys who had rodeo conflicts in San Angelo and Tucson were sick they couldn't be here this year.) I love this roping. It's one of the great ones."

Koontz rode his 11-year-old dun horse Jackyl. Tyler rode his 18-year-old sorrel horse Big Daddy, who was subbing in for first-stringer Eddie, who was temporarily on the injured reserves list.

"Big Daddy's as out of shape as he can be, but he shined pretty good today," said Tyler, who hangs his hat in Weatherford, Texas, along with his wife, Staci, and daughters, Mattye and Torrye. "It just shows what kind of horse he is."

Big Daddy's a workhorse, which is a trait he shares with the Wildfire host. "I'd like to thank Billy Pipes for having this great roping," said Tyler, who's a 17-time NFR qualifier. "This is as great a team roping facility as there is anywhere, and this is a professionally run event. It's an awesome deal."

And Koontz is an awesome partner.

"Kory's great," said Tyler, whose sponsor partners include Wrangler, Whataburger, Conoco, Rattler Ropes, Longhorn Saddles and Alltel Communications. "Our two styles fit together real well. He ropes fast, and seems to rope really well behind my horses. We've roped together for years now, so we know what's going to happen. The way our styles fit, our conservative runs are fast."

Koontz and Green had a five-second lead on the 56-team field heading into the short round, and Koontz and Tyler were a second faster than that. So when Koontz and Tyler rode in to rope their last one, they had all but all day long to close the deal.

"The way the roping unfolded we had 13 seconds to catch our last steer and win the roping," Tyler said. "Our steer ran, and as I got to him he took a hard left. Then he ran up the rope. We came out of it real good, but it was a test. Kory pulled off a great shot."

Actually, they both did. And when they came tight on Koontz's pantyhose heel shot, they'd stopped the clock in 7.62 seconds for a six-second margin of victory over reserve champs Kermit Maass and Tyler Magnus. Two of the four places in the average were paid to teams with broken barriers. Maass broke the heading barrier on one steer, and fourth-place finishers Ryan Dunlap and Zane Bowers had a heeling barrier on one run.

Jean Poythress and Kelly Jones top $10,000 Wildfire Ladies Open

The Wildfire Ladies Open Roping was held the same day, and drew 184 teams from all over the map. Champs Jean Poythress and Kelly Jones picked up hand-tooled leather purses packed with $10,000 in cash for roping four steers in 43.67 seconds, daylighting the field by a full 15 seconds. The score was shortened from 17 feet in the open to 13' 6" for all the other ropings. The Wildfire box is 16 feet deep.

"This is the best all-girl roping ever," said Poythress, a USTRC #3 header from Hico, Texas. "Billy does more for the girls than anybody, and he has good girl ropings all year long."

Poythress, who makes her living raising Corriente roping steers, rode a 12-year-old sorrel head horse she calls Tag.

"This is the most money I've ever won at one roping," continued Poythress, who won the #7 Shoot-Out at the 2000 USTRC Finals with Johnny Osborne. "I don't usually ever win anything at all-girl ropings, so this is really exciting for me."

Jones, a USTRC #3 heeler, lives in nearby Stephenville, Texas. She rode her 15-year-old sorrel horse Shaum.

"He and I hold some arena records from back in the college days," Jones said of her years at Odessa (Texas) College. "That was back before I blew out my knee and converted him to team roping."

Shaum never travels alone in the trailer. He's got a "hauling buddy" in the form of a miniature paint named Razz.

"I don't have a dog; I have a pony," laughed Jones, who works in sales and marketing for Equibrand. "He does tricks, and has earned a reputation for drinking beer at the ropings."

Jones' greatest glory day to date before the Wildfire win came at the 2001 USTRC Finals, when she placed in two ropings.

"Winning this roping is perfect," she declared. "This is a big thrill. I had a cousin who was killed in January, and my sister and I have dedicated our season to Chance. So this is for him."

Jones dates USTRC announcer Ben Clements. Poythress is married to open roper Gary Poythress, who was there to rope in the open roping and cheer them on to victory.

"I go to a lot of ropings in a year, and the Wildfire ropings are by far my favorites," said Jones, who's sponsored by Waterhole Exotics, and Rocky and Janalyn Jones. "I don't miss a Wildfire roping. This is the funnest place in the whole world to rope. Mr. Pipes knows how to put on a roping."

Jones says she likes heeling behind experienced ropers like Poythress, who deliver smooth handles every steer, because they keep her "chilled out." Poythress, who won National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association breakaway roping titles in 1978 and '81, is as consistent as they come. The former junior high science teacher also keeps roping in perspective.

"Roping's great, but it's no way to make a living," Poythress said. "All you kids out there need to go to school and get a good education. Rope for fun."

That's what Pipes does. He makes his living in the construction business, so his roping enterprises don't have to pencil out.

"Billy Pipes goes all out and lets everybody have a piece of the pie without taking any of it for himself," said reigning Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association World Champion All-Around Cowboy Trevor Brazile. "There's a roping for everybody here this weekend, and there aren't many guys who step up to the plate to have a roping knowing they aren't going to make any money. There's obviously more in this for the rest of us than there is for him."

The self-satisfaction of giving back to the sport he loves is enough for Pipes, but the ropers say otherwise.

"This is unbelievable," said 20-year NFR veteran Mike Beers. "Billy Pipes is the best friend a team roper could ever have. We can't thank him enough. He's the best thing that ever happened to the open ropers. He showcases us. I called Billy three months ago to get the dates on this roping, and scheduled my winter around it. I can't say enough about what this guy does for us."

"Billy's made this one of the premier open ropings of the year," added six-time and defending World Champion Header Speed Williams, who won the inaugural Wildfire Open to the World Roping with Brad Culpepper in 1999. "This roping, the BFI, George Strait and USTRC Finals are the four best ropings we go to all year."

All the living legends agree on this one.

"This roping is awesome," said seven-time World Champion Heeler Clay O'Brien Cooper. "This is a great arena and facility, and Billy adds a lot of money. I've been one of the lucky ones who's benefitted a lot over the years, and I sure appreciate it. We all do."

"I can't brag on Billy enough," chimed in 17-time NFR heeler and 2003 NFR Champion Heeler Bobby Harris, who finished third in the open average with Paul Griemsman. "He stepped up and did something nobody else has ever done for the open ropers, and really put his money where his mouth is. This is the premier roping facility in the United States, and this whole event is just amazing."

The Wildfire Sponsor Roping also was held February 22. Pipes and Wildfire Marketing Director Bill Hall welcomed 59 sponsor partners, who pitched in $61,000 in added money to the main event in 2003. Major sponsors included Bud Light, Bloomer Trailers, Wrangler, Justin Boots, Cactus Ropes, Heel-O-Matic, Classic Ropes, Montana Silversmiths, Connell Chevrolet and Benny Boyd Dodge.

"To show our major sponsors just how much we appreciate them, we had a special 'Tribute to America' this year, in which the Sweethearts of Texas drill team performed carrying those sponsors' flags," Hall said. "We can't thank those folks enough for all they do."

Thirty-eight teams representing some of those sponsors had a four-steer average all their own, with a Martin-made saddle up for grabs. "This is one terrific roping," Wrangler's Director of Special Events Karl Stressman said of the entire Wildfire event. "I'd like to see more ropings like this for the premier ropers in the country. This is an opportunity for the best guys in the world to rope for big dollars and really showcase their sport.

"It's also a great spectator event. In the past, only those of us who rope were interested in watching these guys. Great ropings like this not only fire us up, but increase the interest of non-participants, too." The Wildfire Sponsor Roping is Wildfire's way of saying "Thanks again" for the support. Gary and Keith Stermer of McLane Co. Inc. came out kings with 41.48 seconds on four steers.

"We all come watch the big boys and get pumped up about our own roping," added Justin Boots Brand Manager Louis Russo. "Team roping is unique in that it's one of the very few sports where entry-level participants can get out there with the pros and get to know them.

"This is all about relationship and lifestyle marketing at the grassroots level. There's a lot more to it than hanging banners in the arena."

The Wildfire Invitational No. 7 Roping, which featured a 100-percent payback and 22 ways to win, was held February 23. Mark Smith and Darrin Kirkes took the victory lap with 39.95 seconds on four steers for $7,500 a man. A Major League team roping enthusiast, Mark's the man with kids named Clay, Jake and Britt. Manuel Gonzales and Mike Reilly topped the bonus average with 27.59 seconds on three steers for $700 apiece.

The Wildfire Arena paid out more than $1,000,000 in 2002, and will no doubt top that before season's end this year. Why do they do it, you ask? "This facility will never break even, but because I make my living in the construction business I don't need to make money off the ropers," said Pipes, who also awarded gorgeous gold-and-silver buckles to the champions in each roping. "We want to put on quality ropings, and we especially want to give something back to the open ropers because we love watching them rope. They're the greatest, and what all ropers aspire to be."

The Wildfire Arena is also annually home to six USTRC affiliate ropings, including the Wildfire Shoot-Outs, Lariat Bowl, Texas Rodeo Association events, high school and youth rodeos, and various barrel races.

2003 Wildfire Open to the World Weekend Results:

Wildfire Open to the World: (56 teams)

Wildfire Sponsor Roping: (38 teams)

Wildfire Invitational #7 Roping: (78 teams)