Elite Hardware

Tryan and Corkill Get Elite Rodeo Athletes World Championship Titles

- Chelsea Toy

Tryan and Corkill, who were not eligible to compete at Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeos because of their ownership shares in the Elite Rodeo Athletes, didn’t take it easy despite their abbreviated rodeo schedule. They spent more time in the practice pen than ever before, and that resulted in wins nearly everywhere they entered—including RodeoHouston, the HorkDog, the Chris Cox Lifeline

Challenge, the Pikes Peak or Bust Cinch Shootout and the USTRC National Finals of Team Roping Open Preliminary, plus winning second at the George Strait Team Roping Championship and the USTRC National Finals of Team Roping Open. The year culminated with wins in the first two rounds of the ERA World Championships followed by the ERA World Championships’ average title after battling it out all season with Derrick Begay and Clay O'Brien Cooper.

"I've been ready every time I've been anywhere," Corkill said. "It was weird—it isn't like I'm trying harder thinking I have less chances, but I'm pretty bared down. If I went somewhere, I want to rope more... I haven't been practicing thinking of all the stuff coming up. There's no timeline on my practice, and if it doesn't go how I want it to, I haven't been crammed for time."

Coming into the ERA World Championships in Dallas’ American Airlines Center, Tryan and Corkill sat second in the World Standings with 2,350 points to Begay’s and Cooper’s 2,400, with the last ERA rodeo being Sheridan, Wyo., over Labor Day Weekend. Begay hadn’t missed a steer at any of the 11 ERA performances, forcing Tryan to elevate his game.