One Nation, Under God

Masserly, BIshop win matching trailers at Yost National Team Roping Tour

Seeing someone else around town with the same exact vehicle you drive can be off-putting. Unless of course you won that vehicle.

While Kolby Messerly and Jace Bishop didn't necessarily win matching pickup trucks, they did win matching horse trailers at the 2014 Ty Yost National Team Roping Tour in Billings On July 19.

It just goes to show that Malta's Crossfire series features championship caliber riders.

The Bishop/ Messerly duo picked each other as teammates for the event.

"We could pick or draw from all these people but we chose to pick partners," Jace Bishop said. "Once you rope the first round with your partner you stay with them if you catch," Kolby Messerly added.

The team had three rounds to place times, not only did they land all three times, their times were pretty impressive.

The team's first round time was just over eight seconds, while their second time was a 13, due to a one heel rope.

The third round was the most impressive as the ropers, caught a steer at 5.2.

How do you catch a steer that fast?

"It's like shooting a basketball, it's all muscle memory," said Jace, who was the header.

He prefers heading simply because he hasn't heeled in a while. He also likes the fact that he gets a chance to throw his rope every single time.

Jace, who is 15, is one of the few underage ropers at Crossfire.

"My dad (Shayne Bishop) and my grandpa (Eddie Bishop) both did it so I pretty much got sucked into it," said Bishop who started roping at a very young age.

Messerly has close to 15 years under his belt and enjoys heeling.

"It's more fun," Messerly told the PCN. "I used to head and switched over my sophomore year of high school.

A 2005 graduate of Dodson, Messerly also roped in Dillon, MT during his college career.

"My dad roped and right after he died I started roping," said Messerly, who started roping at the age of twelve. "I actually roped off of Shayne Bishop's horse, when I started. Then I got my own and went on from there."

The horse he uses today is his buckskin he purchased from Ty Yost, named Peso.

Jace Bishop, rides his nine year-old horse, he simply calls "Buckskin."

Though Jace had to say goodbye to his long time horse, last spring, "Buckskin" seems to be serving him well.

"He's a really good horse. I like him," Bishop said.

The horse belonged to his grandfather.

After the team won trailers, the next day Jace placed fifth with Art Adame. The duo both won saddles and $700.

Messerly was right behind with Jeff Robinson. They placed sixth and won $600 and breast collars.

Both Bishop and Messerly rope all year around. Bishop hopes to eventually join the Indian National Finals.

 

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