Riley Webb's 6.5 at Houston was the fastest tie-down of the year

Riley Webb roped his calf and tied it in 6.5 seconds at RodeoHouston, and the run paid $65,000. It is the fastest tie-down time anyone has posted this season, and it came on the biggest stage the winter offered.

Nobody else has broken seven seconds on the year. The next group is bunched at 7.1, four ropers deep. John Douch went 7.1 at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, worth $16,512. Joel Harris matched the time at San Antonio for $5,504. Dylan Hancock did it at the National Western timed-event roping, and Riley Pruitt at Rodeo Austin.

The richest checks in the event came out of Houston. Webb's 6.5 led the way, and Shane Hanchey was right there with a 7.2 worth $30,000.

Tie-down roping is a sprint with a knot at the end, and the clock does not care how it looked. Webb's 6.5 is the number on the board. The summer run is where someone gets a calf and a barrier good enough to chase it.