Kelce ropes in top prize

By Chris Megginson (Contact) | Shelby County Reporter

Published Monday, July 21, 2008

CALERA — Sometimes you have to go back to where it all began. Calera cowboy Philip Kelce’s return to a familiar team roping venue paid off Saturday, beating the best ropers in the Southeast to win a 10–head match team roping event at Ellison Ranch.

Contributed Photo

Calera cowboy Philip Kelce (Left) and Bay Minette cowboy Kaston Peavy (Right) won the third-annual Ellison Ranch Team Roping Invitational. They were presented bronze team roping statues by ranch owner Kenny Ellison (Center).

“This is as tough as anything we go to,” said Kelce, who began roping in 1995. “It makes it a little more special, because I’ve known (ranch owner Kenny Ellison) for a long time. He actually helped get me started (in roping).

Kelce, 28, was one of the first cowboys to compete in Ellison’s roping event in 2006 – finishing third and then second last year. He has won $2,500 over the three years at the invitational event.

“He roped a real good roping. I’m proud of him,” Elllsion said. “Philip can rope with any of them. He just proved that.”

Kelce, a heeler, and his partner Kaston Peavy, of Bay Minette, roped 10 steer in a total time of 86.6 seconds. The time was good enough to beat two-time National Finals Rodeo winner Jimmy Tanner by three seconds to win the $2,500 top prize and bronze team roping statues. Kelce and Peavy divided the prize in half to take home $1,250 each.

The event featured seven Professional Cowboy Association champions - the title Kelce currently seeks. He sits fifth in the PCA heeler standings after a win last weekend in Brookwood July 12. Peavy is second as a header. He finished third at the 2007 PCA finals in Philadelphia, Miss., in January.