In steer roping, Allen’s ‘The Legend’

Thursday, Dec. 5, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

SPECIAL TO THE SUN

World champion steer roper Guy Allen keeps outdoing himself.

And he's just getting started.

On his way last year to winning a record 10th world steer roping championship, Allen also happened to break some existing marks he already owned.

Back in 1994, Allen earned $57,338 -- a steer roping record -- with $3,360 from the season-ending National Finals Steer Roping at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla.

Last year he broke that record, hauling in $60,218 before the Nov. 24-25 NFSR. During the 1995 regular season, Allen earned twice as much as his nearest competitor. He tied down 61 of the 91 steers he ran in '95, then earned $7,392 at the NFSR by winning two rounds and placing in another.

"I'm proud to be a 10-time champion at what I love to do -- at what I chose to do," Allen said.

He also is the only person to qualify for 19 consecutive NFSRs and is the only cowboy to win five consecutive steer roping world championships.

Allen was only 18 years old when he entered his first rodeo, and he finished second and filled his PRCA permit that day. In 1977, he became steer roping's youngest world champ when he claimed the title at just 19.

In 1991, Allen set an 8.4-second world record in Garden City, Kan., and he's matched that mark twice since. In 1995 in Dodge City, Kan., he clocked an 8.8-second run -- the fastest PRCA steer roping that year.

But Allen, 38, of Lovington, N.M., is modest about his achievements.

After bagging his 10th world championship, he was quick to point out that barrel racer Charmayne Rodman of the Women's Professional Rodeo Association also won 10 world championships.

"Maybe what she did was more amazing, because she did it 10 times in a row," Allen said. "I've only won half that many titles in a row."

Allen, nicknamed "The Legend," is known not only as the greatest steer roper in the history of professional rodeo, but also as a nice guy.

"The reason he's as good a roper as he is, is because of certain qualities that have nothing to do with roping," said seven-time world champion team roper Clay O'Brien Cooper.

"Guy Allen has integrity, humility and perseverance. With those three qualities, you can't help but be successful. He's a better person than he is a steer roper, and he's undoubtedly the greatest steer roper that will ever live."

Even guys from the other end of the arena stop to watch Allen rope.

"Calling him 'The Legend' is very appropriate," said six-time, all-around world champion Ty Murray.

"He's one of the all-time greatest cowboys who ever lived," Murray said. "He's setting the kind of records now that make you wonder if they'll ever be broken."