BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN @PRORODEOBRETT
Hunter Herrin has lived life on the bubble before and this year, it came down to the very last weekend for him. The veteran tie-down roper looked like one down the stretch, never flinching in his NFR fight and finishing No. 12 in the World Standings despite sitting No. 16 on Sept. 27.
It will be the 40-year-old’s 14th trip to the big show.
Rodeo Rapid City, $3,466
After winning just $1,500 on his first five runs of the season, Herrin more than doubled it in Rapid City with an 8.8-second run that got him third place money.
San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, $6,500
Herrin got his first taste of Texas Swing success at the second stop in San Antone, where he advanced second out of Bracket 2 with $4,500 and then added $2,000 for a second place finish in the Second Semifinal. He also made the Finals in Austin in the Texas Swing.
Rodeo Austin, $4,916
Despite 9.0 seconds being his fastest run in Austin, things still broke his way for a fourth place finish in the Average. He was helped mightily when a 16.6-second run got him third in the Finals. Only five tie-down ropers caught all three in Austin.
Reno Rodeo, $7,214
Herrin was consistent to kickoff the Summer Run and it paid well. He didn’t place in either of the first two rounds, but still made solid runs to stay in the Average race. After his best run of the rodeo, an 8.5, in the Finals, he was 27.7 seconds on three for fourth place. That made up over $6,000 of his earnings in Reno.
Gooding Pro Rodeo, $5,076
Herrin turned in a 7.5-second run to get his Playoff Series win on Aug. 17. It was his fastest run of the season to that point and his first win in Idaho since 2021.
Ellensburg Rodeo, $6,788
Herrin won Ellensburg for the third time in his career. His three runs were between 8.5 and 9.1 seconds and he won the Finals with an 8.8 to seal the deal. He was 26.4 seconds on three, three tenths clear of the rest of the field.
The win moved Herrin from No. 17 to No. 14.
Cinch Playoffs Governor’s Cup, $28,000
Herrin entered the Governor’s Cup No. 16 in the World Standings and things got off to a rocky start when he made a 34.6-second run to in Round 1. It turned out to be a massively important run, however, because the very next one was a 7.6 and with two qualified times, he advanced to the Semifinals.
Things got even better from there. He was 7.3 in the Eight-Man and then 7.1 in the Four-Man, his two fastest runs of the season back-to-back. He ended up second and made the NFR with room to spare.
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