Gainesville —
When the dust cleared at the 2012 Cinch United States Team Roping Championship in Oklahoma City, two Texans rode into the winners circle.
Riding and roping, team work, practice and then more practice paid off for Gainesville native Colt Baldwin and his team partner Andy Mahard of Prosper.
Paired with Mahard and riding a horse named Dinero, Baldwin came from behind to win the event and captured the $93,200 cash prize. Besides splitting the cash prize, each cowboy received Martin championship trophy saddles, GIST championship gold buckles, Tony Lama ostrich boots and Western Horseman collector’s prints.
The final round was intense.
As the header — the one who ropes the head of the steer — Mahard broke the barrier perfectly, made a great throw and properly turned off to let Baldwin wrap things up.
As the heeler — the one who ropes the rear hooves of the steer — Baldwin did just that and the pair were initially in third place with a time of 7.35 with two final teams left with remaining runs in the short go round.
In the fast paced closing minutes of the event, the two remaining teams did their best but fell short in the average and team Baldwin-Mahard found themselves in first place.
Baldwin is a tall young man with a quiet, appealing shyness and movie matinee good looks. He spoke humbly about his recent win.
“I didn’t think there was a chance we could ever win,” he said. “We were just happy to be in third place then the next thing we knew we won the thing. I guess those hours of practice finally paid off.”
Roping has been a Baldwin family tradition for generations. His grandfather and father were both successful ropers in their day.
The family’s roping history has also included some physical sacrifices. The day before Colt was born, his grandfather lost a finger in a roping accident.
Colt began roping in his early teens and according to his dad, Chris Baldwin, had “a natural ability.”
“He was so good so young that I was afraid he would burn himself out,” Chris Baldwin said. “ He wanted to rope from an early age and did a little bull riding. I am glad the bull riding phase was short lived. He even made his own saddle and still uses it today”
Being a cowboy in today’s world involves more than wearing the hat, putting on the boots and riding for glory. Weekends are spent on the road traveling to roping events all over the United States. Besides the cost of gasoline and entry fees, wear and tear on equipment, horses and body runs high. It leaves little free time to relax and get a lot of sleep.
Both Baldwins, father and son, work at the Peterbuilt plant in Denton County. Team roping consists of hours of practice after a full day on the job building trucks.
Despite their busy work schedules, they approach team roping as another job.
When asked about his winnings, Colt said, “I invest my money back into my roping. I’m looking to buy a new horse and some other equipment. Being single, I don’t have many family responsibilities. I’m gone just about every weekend so it doesn’t leave much time for a social life outside of the arena.”
In 24-year-old Colt Baldwin, the cowboy spirit is alive and well as he hones his craft with hard work, a little prayer, a little luck, a well trained horse and a good rope.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Colt Baldwin, one half of the 2012 Cinch Team Roping Champions, shows off his winnings including a gold buckle and custom saddle. Faithful companion Dinero is ready for the next challenge. Staff photo by Cathy Mounce
Guest Book
Cooke County resident is Cinch roping champion
- Local News
-
-
Land deal could bring corporations to city
Today’s Gainesville City Council meeting includes a public hearing on a Gainesville Economic Development Corporation (GEDC) petition to annex 143 acres of land into city limits.
-
Donation drive set to help storm victims
Donations for survivors in need following severe tornado damage in Cleburne and Granbury are currently being accepted at Bealls Department Store in the Gainesville Shopping Center.
-
Devastation slows recovery effort in Moore, Okla.
A tornado that was described as “absolutely horrific” blazed a path of destruction across this Oklahoma southeast community that now has felt Mother’s Nature’s most powerful punch several times in the past 20 years.
-
Mud Run fun
Both children and adults had a blast at this year’s “M-o-o-ving Thru’ the Mud with Landon.”
-
Texas adds more than 33K new jobs in April
Texas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment expanded by 33,100 jobs in April. Texas added 326,100 jobs from April 2012 to April 2013. The state’s annual growth rate in April stood at 3.0 percent, and has been above 2.5 percent since the beginning of 2012. Texas’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged in April at 6.4 percent. It remains well below the nation’s April unemployment rate of 7.5 percent.
-
Fire support and rehab team donates to Callisburg VFD
Cooke County Fire Support and Rehab Team recently purchased some items for Callisburg Volunteer Fire Department.
-
VFW plans Memorial Day ceremony
This year’s Memorial Day ceremony is set to combine rigorous tribute and storytelling with a notable twist.
-
The Big One: Preparing for mid-America earthquake
Part 5 of a five-part series
It’s a bleak scenario. A massive earthquake along the New Madrid fault kills or injures 60,000 people in Tennessee. A quarter of a million people are homeless. The Memphis airport – the country’s biggest air terminal for packages – goes off-line. Major oil and gas pipelines across Tennessee rupture, causing shortages in the Northeast. In Missouri, another 15,000 people are hurt or dead. Cities and towns throughout the central U.S. lose power and water for months. Losses stack up to hundreds of billions of dollars. -
National Transportation Safety Board considers lowering blood alcohol levels for drivers
Members of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) have announced new recommendations in their continued quest to end drunk driving.
During the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, alcohol is a common theme in many celebratory activities throughout the nation and state, and, therefore, many Texans unnecessarily die in vehicular accidents involving alcohol-impaired drivers.
This past week, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) officials announced several new recommendations relating to drunk driving, including lowering the national blood alcohol content (BAC) standard from .08 to .05. -
Valley View officials sworn in
Valley View city officials were sworn in during a recent city council meeting.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Land deal could bring corporations to city
Looking for Love? Take the Prague Metro
Crews Race to Find Survivors of Okla. Twister
First Person: Baby Falcons on a New York Bridge
Oklahoma: Images of Devastation, Reunion
Reunited Dad, Son: 'We Just Praise God'
Slow Pokes: Acupuncture Helps Sick Turtles
Moore, Okla. City of Reunions, Tears After Storm
Former IRS Chief: Can't Say How List Happened
Gov. Fallin: Okla. Facing Horrific Disaster
Tim Cook Defends Apple's Tax Accounting
AP Photograher: 'It Was a Miracle' They Got Out
Raw: Crews Search for Survivors of Okla. Tornado
Raw: Tearful Reunion After Okla. Tornado
OKC Hospital Describes Treating Tornado Wounded
Obama Pledges Urgent Aid for Tornado Victims
Raw: Massive Funnel Clouds in Oklahoma
