It was a fun event, but Pancho Davis was working hard.
One of the few skilled cowboys on site, Davis was trying to give crash courses in roping to polo players who were participating in the annual SMR Cup.
The SMR Cup matches cowboys against polo players in a friendly competition that allows each group, according to Davis, to experience a little of the other group's world.
Because several of the cowboys who compete each year had commitments to rodeo and other events, the cowboy team was fairly short. So when the steer roping competition was held on Feb. 25 in the arena at the Sarasota Polo Club, most of the competitors needed guidance.
"This is one of my favorite times of year," Davis said. "We get to meet the polo players, and we get to laugh at each other."
The competition began with a barbecue dinner and meet-and-greet on Feb. 24, then matched the teams in fishing, shooting, roping and penning competitions on Feb. 25. At halftime of the Observer Cup on Feb. 26, a race was held to complete the competition.
Steve John, the citrus production manager for Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, shows the competitors how roping a steer is done.
Sally Miller, representing the polo players, tries to figure out the lariat.
While the competitors were out in the hot sun on Saturday, many of the spectators brought umbrellas.
The stars of the show, yearling roping steers, move around the arena.
Steve John tries to give Dixon Stroud, representing the polo players, some tips about roping.
Kit Reid, representing the polo players, tries his hand at roping a steer.
Levi Jaglie has one of the easier jobs, pulling the handle which released the steers.
A roping steer is next in line at the SMR Cup.
A roping steer has the eye of the tiger before being let go into the arena.
Lucio Amerigo Gomez, representing the polo players, releases his lariat as Dixon Stroud watches.
Polo player Ann Oniskey practices with a lariat before her attempt at roping.
David Manuel, who does the announcing on polo Sundays, got into the act with the polo players.
Gwendolyn John, 1, was harder to round up than the steers.
It wasn' t hard to have a front-row seat to the SMR Cup.
Polo player Ann Oniskey gets ready to toss a lariat at a steer.
The roping steers are moving to one end of the arena for the competition.
Lucio Amerigo Gomez has the head roped, and it' s Dixon Stroud' s turn to rope the heels.
Pancho Davis, a skilled cowboy, gives some tips to polo player Holly Chamberlain.
Lucio Amerigo Gomez awaits his turn at roping a steer.
