Last-minute partner swaps and the last hurrah for Wade/Thorp

Spring is for new beginnings – and a shakeup in Sunday’s BFI roster. After three years
on and off together, two-time World Champion Header Clay Smith, 34, and two-time
NFR heeler Coleby Payne, 27, will get back together for the world’s toughest jackpot.
That means defending Resistol Rookie of the Year Nicky Northcott, 19, will heel for
former NFR average champion Tanner Tomlinson, 25. So, your calcutta will now feature
Smith/Payne and Tomlinson/Northcott!
But that’s not all. Starting in April, Tomlinson will spin at the rodeos for three-time world
champ Wesley Thorp, 30, who is splitting in his fourth season from 33-year-old Tyler
Wade – they enjoyed back-to-back gold-buckle seasons but are currently not ranked in
the Top 50.
Wade broke his ankle early this season, went back and forth on whether to have
surgery, competed a few times with intense pain and finally had to get off the ankle.
Doctors released him to rope about San Antonio time, Thorp said.
“Tanner’s team and my team have buddied together ever since 2021, including last
year,” said Thorp. “It seems like we were always in the same circle, and his talent level
has always been there. When Tyler told us this winter that he was starting a building
project and thinking of staying home, we both thought he was joking. But a week ago,
he said he was serious and that Tanner and I needed to visit.”
TWade may partner around Texas with fellow two-time world champ Paul Eaves, 36. In
the meantime, Thorp expects he and Wade will continue producing their annual World
Youth Team Roping Championships, teaching schools together and even jackpotting as
second partners together. But they’ve got one HECK of a jackpot left – on Sunday. At
the BFI, they’ll be riding SBD Sugar Me Sweet (“Shimmy”) and Juiced Up Cat (“Juice”) –
the two phenomenal horses they rode to win the Spicer Gripp over a long score.
“For the BFI, I think it might even take the pressure off, in a way,” said Thorp, who won
the BFI back in 2016. “There’s literally nothing to lose. I’m excited.”