North Texas cowboy riding into Finals as No. 1

From Staff Reports

Trevor Brazile

November 27, 2003 -- Reigning world all-around champion Trevor Brazile of Decatur heads the list of world champions headed to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR), Dec. 5-14, in Las Vegas.

Brazile will wear the No. 1 back number and will compete in both team roping (heading) and tie-down roping, yet he is the first cowboy in Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) history to have qualified for the Wrangler NFR in four events.

The 5'-11", 170-pound cowboy graduated Vernon Regional Junior College with an associates degree. During his college days, he was the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Southwest Region tie-down roping champion (in 1997-98).

In 1998, Brazile was the Timed-Event Champion of the World; and held the runner-up post for the title in 1997.

He joined the PRCA in 1996, and to date, his career earnings are approaching $1.1 million.

Brazile's biographic information posted at PRCA's website shows numerous wins for the Amarillo-born cowboy since the mid-90s, including all-around titles from the Guymon, Okla., Pioneer Days Rodeo, and Cheyenne, Wyo., Frontier Days and Rodeo in 2002.

Brazile can attribute some of his most recent wins to his horses: tie-down roping horse "Rock" and team roping horse "Buddy" finished second in the AQHA Horse of the Year contest. Brazile also owns the 2002 AQHA Tie-down Roping Horse of the Year, Tinys Clipso Tweeter.

He and wife Shada reside in Decatur and he lists training horses as one of his hobbies.

At the upcoming NFR competition, 24 world champions, with a combined 77 world titles, will highlight the 118-member field of competition. The top 15 competitors at the end of the regular season advance to the Wrangler NFR event. As of Nov. 17, six Texas cowboys and one Texas cowgirl, out of the 10 fields of competition, are in the Number One spot on the world standings list. Texas cowboys and cowgirls listed in the top 15, as of Nov. 17, total 58.

Other interesting Texas-related stories coming to the event in Las Vegas include:

• Six-time reigning world champion team ropers Speed Williams of Amarillo and Rich Skelton of Llano are looking for their seventh world title in a row, which would tie Jake Barnes of Arizona and Clay O'Brien Cooper of Glen Rose - also in the Wrangler NFR field - for the most team roping titles in PRCA history.

• Reigning and six-time world tie-down roping champion Fred Whitfield of Hockley leads Cody Ohl of Stephenville, the 2001 world tie-down champion, by $12,000. With another gold buckle, Whitfield would be just one away from the record of eight held by Dean Oliver.

• Rooking barrel racer Brittany Pozzi of Victoria enters her first Wrangler NFR on top after earning $79,076 during the regular season.