By Neal Reid, PSN Editor

As the heeler for 2007 World Champion Chad Masters, Jade Corkill has been following Masters’ lead all season. Over the Labor Day weekend, he followed him right into the PRCA record book.

With $620 at the Colorado State Fair & Rodeo in Pueblo and $1,877 for finishing sixth in Filer, Idaho, Corkill broke the regular-season earnings record for team roping heelers of $110,626 set by eight-time World Champion Heeler Rich Skelton in 2000. Corkill’s season total is $112,246.

“It’s been the best year a guy could ever ask for,” Corkill said. “I didn’t think I’d ever have my name in the record books. It seems kind of weird to think that I’ve won more money before the Finals than ever before. It makes me feel honored to have gotten (the record).”

Masters, who won Winter rodeos in Odessa, Texas, and Denver with Michael Jones before pairing with Corkill, broke Speed Williams’ record for team roping headers (also $110,626) on Aug. 24 and has pushed that record to $121,717 through Sept. 8, and counting.

Corkill has the utmost respect for Williams and Skelton.

“I’ve gotten to hang out with Rich (Skelton) this year, and to beat a mark that he set makes me feel pretty good,” Corkill said. “It’s a record that two guys (Speed Williams and Rich Skelton) set that I didn’t think could ever be beaten. I don’t think people can really understand how good it is what those two guys did unless they rodeo, because it’s hard just to make the (Wrangler National) Finals, let alone win the world eight times in a row. So, to beat any record that they set is very good.”

Jade Corkill Cowboy Bio
Chad Masters Cowboy Bio