Northcott set for his eighth NFR ride

Thursday, Dec. 4, 1997 | 12:41 p.m.

The eyes of the Lone Star state watched intently as the Steves of Texas -- Steve Purcella and Steve Northcott -- put together 10 team roping runs that were good enough to win the average title and their first world championship at the $3.2 million National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.

After the final round of the 38th NFR, heeler Steve Northcott, 27, of Odessa, Texas, was still in disbelief about winning the heeler's gold buckle denoting his world title.

"I don't even know yet," Northcott said about his feelings. "It's only been about an hour, hour and a half and it's not sunk in yet."

But the Odessa roper soon found the words he wanted.

"It's a wonderful feeling," he said. "I almost want to lay down and cry."

Northcott and Purcella, 30, of Hereford, Texas, who have roped together since July 1995, took control of their destiny when they roped their way to the lead in the average race in the third round.

In the first two rounds the team had a rather uneventful showing with an 8.1-second run in round one that finished out of the money, and a 5.2-second run in round two that was good for a fourth-place finish. The duo earned $2,097 each.

In the third round, however, the pair posted a 5.3-second run -- good for second place and $6,268 apiece. More importantly, the run pushed them to the lead in the average race -- a spot they never relinquished.

The pair added to their average lead by putting it all together again in the fourth round by winning in 4.9 seconds. Each earned a paycheck worth $8,365.

The two ropers placed in four of the remaining six rounds--not spectacularly but consistently enough to hold onto their top spot in the lucrative average competition. They caught their 10 steers in 70.9 seconds, and each roper earned $18,209 in the average payoff.

"It came down to who made the fewest mistakes," Northcott said. "Their (the other teams') misfortunes made my fortunes."

The Steves entered the NFR ranked third in their respective events with $50,781 apiece. Northcott trailed leader Rich Skelton of Llano, Texas, by about $8,100 in the Crown Royal World Standings.

Northcott made his first NFR appearance when he was invited in 1989. There he teamed with Bret Boatright to win the NFR's average title.

He has qualified for the PRCA's prestigious championship event every year since then, and two of those years, 1991-92, he led the world standings before the start of the NFR's first round. But he and partner Charles Pogue lost the lead both years. At the 1995 NFR, Northcott earned $9,579, good enough for sixth place in the average standings. He finished seventh that year in the world standings.

In the Thomas & Mack Center press room following the 1996 Finals, Northcott knew exactly what he was going to do after having won his first world title.

"I'm gonna let this little ol' championship soak in, then head over to Caesars Palace for the (World Champion Awards) banquet, I guess," he laughed.

* World Titles: 1996 World Champion Team Roper (Heeling).

* Hometown: Odessa, Texas.

* Date of Birth: November 13, 1969.

* Height/Weight: 6-0/150.

* 1996 Earnings: $91,069.

* 1996 NFR Earnings: $40,289.

* Year Joined PRCA: 1989.

* NFR Qualifications: 8 (1990-97).