• Fast Back Videos
• Fast Back History
• Ask a Pro
• Testimonials
• News
  • Winners Circle
  • What's New
• Events
• Articles
  • Fast Back Focus
  • Speed Williams
• Ropes
  • Edge
  • Instinct
  • Pink Patron
  • Ultimate Four
  • Mach 4
  • Mach III
  • Mach III PLUS
  • Grabber
  • Grabber Lite
  • Ranch Rope
  • Iron Silk
  • Kid Ropes
• Endorsees
  • Pro's
    • Daniel, Keven
    • Funk, Matt
    • Jones, Coby
    • Jones, Marty
    • Levy, Jory
    • Linaweaver, Blaine
    • Motes, David
    • Motes, Ryan
    • Purcella, Steve
    • Smith, Patrick
    • Schneeberger, Jerome
    • Todd, Colter
    • Tryan, Clay
    • Watkins, Denny
    • Williams, Speed
  • Grassroots
• Partners / Links
• Catalog
  • Browse Catalog
  • Download Catalog
• Dealer Locator

Pushing the Barrier by Speed Williams - May 2009

It's True, I'm Retiring....

If you haven’t heard it elsewhere – I’m officially announcing my retirement. The original plan this year was to go to the bigger rodeos, do schools and then after Houston and the GSTRC re-evaluate and make a decision about what I was going to do with the rest of my life.

After Houston I called Clay and told him that since the age of fourteen every day of my life has been consumed with being a team roper and how to get better, where to enter, how to make my horses better, etc. Now for the last six months, I’ve been putting most of my thoughts and efforts into Speed’s Match Roping (SMR) and I don’t feel it’s fair to him or myself to not give or be 100%. I have competed all my life and now my heart is in something else and I want to put the same effort into it as I have my roping.

Though I’ve caught a lot of flack for not going to the BFI and the bigger rodeos like Cheyenne, SMR is something I believe in and am very passionate about. SMR has taken off and is going wide open and I truly believe it’s going to change the way we compete.

I feel good about my decision without doubt or regret. I have two great partners and a whole crew of people to work with. I go to the office, work, talk on the phone, have meetings with potential sponsors – the excitement is never ending and I enjoy it very much. Every day I deal with intelligent people who are fun to work with.

People often ask if I miss roping and competing. I could list a hundred things I won’t miss and two things I will miss. I will miss the thrill of victory and the friends you see on a daily basis. I will not miss traveling, being gone from home, missing my family, driving, flying, diesel prices, drawing bad, etc., etc.

Now I get to be with my family and play with my kids every day. There are so many people who don’t realize what a privilege it is to be with their children while they’re growing up. Now when I leave for work and tell my son I’ll be back, I’ll be back tonight – not in two weeks.

I’ll always be involved in team roping. I am working to change our sport so people can afford it and enjoy it more. If SMR continues to grow according to plan, in several years’ time ropers will have the opportunity to win a lot of money.

If you are interested in learning more about competing or producing Speed’s Match Ropings please visit www.matchroping.com.

Official Rope of