Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Shad Mayfield holds up his championship buckle after clinching the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo tie-down roping title. Mayfield finished in the money in just two of the 10 rounds, but built enough of a money lead earlier in the season to hold off a late challenge from Marty Yates.
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Shad Mayfield, in a season compacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, won big early and gave himself quite a cushion in the tie-down money lead entering his second Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
He needed every bit of it.
The Clovis native had to sweat it out after posting a no time in the 10th and final round of the Wrangler NFR, but held just enough of a lead to claim the tie-down championship Saturday night at Globe Life Field.
For the season, Mayfield earned $198,399.13, beating out Marty Yates of Stephenville, Texas, by $230.66.
Mayfield finished in the money in just two rounds in Arlington -- $20,731 for a second-place run on opening night Dec. 3 (7.5 seconds), and $11,000 for a fourth-place run in the seventh round (7.8 seconds). He had narrow misses in his last three rounds, including Saturday's finale when he seemingly posted a run of 7.5 seconds that surely would have clinched the title. However, the calf managed to escape and Mayfield was forced to take a no time and keep his fingers crossed.
The world title came in Mayfield's second Wrangler NFR. His father, Sylvester, was a two-time NFR finalist himself, competing in 1985 and 1987.
