Bean Banks $4,500 to Advance to Semifinals in San Antonio

By Jolee Jordan

San Angelo, Texas — The San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo (SASSR) hit the midway point of preliminary competition during the Valentine’s Day week as the third of five preliminary brackets completed competition.

San Antonio is one of a series of incredibly lucrative stock shows during the winter for professional cowboys and cowgirls. A hot run through the stops—from Denver to San Angelo to Fort Worth then San Antonio, Houston and Austin—can easily launch a competitor into the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) at season’s end and even help them realize gold buckle dreams.

A multiple-time PRCA Large Indoor Rodeo of the Year winner, San Antonio is a favorite among competitors for its huge purse, lack of entry fees, and great hospitality. Limited to just 50 contestants in each event, San Antonio runs in tournament style, beginning with five brackets of ten contestants each in preliminary competition. Following three rounds of sudden death competition, the top four money earners from each bracket advance to a two round semi-finals.

Only money carries forward—no times or averages—and advancement to the final round is based on earnings from both bracket competition and the two semi-final rounds. The final round is comprised of the top five money winners from each semi-finals for a total of ten competitors.

The final round will be held on February 23 and is the most lucrative go round of the rodeo, paying $15,000 to the winner. Following the payoff from the final round, the championship is awarded to the cowgirl who has won the most money throughout the rodeo.

Eight cowgirls are already waiting for their semi-final runs and four more joined the elite group as Bracket 3 contested on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday came to a close.

Odessa, Texas cowgirl Katelyn Scott drew blood first, picking up the opening go round win aboard her horse Beans. Scott’s time of 14.29 seconds was one tenth better than WPRA sophomore KL Spratt.

A year ago, Idaho cowgirl Jessie Telford made a big splash in the Alamo City, finishing third for more than $15,000 in earnings. The money proved to be the springboard for her first trip to the Wrangler NFR.

While many other cowgirls have had a busy winter on the stock show circuit, Telford has been taking a break from rodeoing, doing family stuff and enjoying a well earned vacation. But with San Antonio coming up, it was time for Telford to hit the road once again.

“Feeling a little late to the party …. but finally loaded down and headed South!” Telford posted on her Facebook prior to her trip. “San Antonio, Tucson, The American and Houston….pretty crazy to realize I was able to run at the finals, before ever running at Houston. Thank you so much to all my amazing sponsors for getting us ready to take on 2019!”

After seemingly knocking the rust off in round one on Tuesday, Telford and her home grown gelding turned up the heat in round two. They were the first in Bracket 3 to break the fourteen second barrier, stopping the clock in 13.99 seconds for the round win.

“Cool Whip got it done last night in San Antonio!” Telford posted following the win.

Jana Bean and Chick bounced back from penalty blues in the first round to sprint to second with a run of 14.09. Teri Bangart and Cheyenne Wimberley—third and fourth respectively in round one—switched positions in the next go to be the only two gals in the money on the first two nights.

With advancement still very much up in the air, the ten cowgirls were hoping for a sweet surprise on Valentine’s Day in the form of a big win on the final night of Bracket 3.

Bean slammed the door shut with a strong performance, taking the victory lap with her run of 13.97 seconds. The win ran her bracket earnings to $4,500, best of the group to lead the way into the semi-finals.

“Chick making two nice runs to help us get back to the semi finals at San Antonio!” Bean went on social media following the win. “Thank you to everyone who has helped and encouraged me! And always to Breck Bean and Jim Breck Bean for your endless support! Thank you Jesus for your continued blessings!”

Spratt took another second place finish in round three, while Telford placed again, this time third in the round. The two cowgirls moved on to the semi-finals, Spratt second with $4,000 won and Telford third with $3,750.

Spratt secured her spot while wearing an outfit designed to honor friends and former Sam Houston State Rodeo teammates, Bailee and Will Byler, who tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash in the hours following their wedding last fall.

“O.K. and I ran in San Antonio tonight in red boots for Bailee and a Revamped Rodeo shirt that I made with steer wrestlers on it for Will!” Spratt noted on Facebook; a social media campaign spread around the SHSU campus for students to wear red shoes—a favorite of Bailee’s—on Valentine’s Day. “We won second tonight and advanced to the semi finals!” She included the hashtags #happyvalentinesday, #redforbaileebyler, and #Godisstillgood.

The fourth and final spot to the next round went to round one winner Scott. The $2,500 payday from the victory was just enough to hold off Bangart and Wimberley, who pocketed $2,000 apiece.

The final two brackets will contest over the weekend with Bracket 4 on Friday night and during two Saturday performances. Bracket 5 kicks off during a pair of perfs on Sunday and finishes out on Monday night.

Bracket 4 is led by reigning San Antonio Champ and WPRA World Champ Hailey Kinsel. Kinsel set the arena record here a year ago en route to her title, posting a lightning fast run of 13.60 seconds during the semi-finals. She is fresh off the win at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo.

The 2017 San Antonio Champ Amberleigh Moore—who also won the final round here in 2018—leads Bracket 5 along with 2018 Rookie of the Year Jimmie Smith and 2018 WPRA Reserve World Champ Jessica Routier.

For more information on the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, visit them on-line at www.sarodeo.com. Stay tuned to www.wpra.com for continuing updates from the 2019 edition.

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Current Results

Bracket 3

1st Go

1. Katelyn Scott, Shiney Gold Bid, 14.29, $2,500
2. KL Spratt, KK Cash Colours, 14.39, $2,000
3. Teri Bangart, RCA Three Bugs Honor, 14.40, $1,250
4. Cheyenne Wimberley, Streakin Images, 14.42, $750

2nd Go

1. Jesse Telford, Famous Cool Whip, 13.99, $2,500
2. Jana Bean, Dashing Klee, 14.09, $2,000
3. Wimberley, 14.10, $1,250
4. Bangart, 14.13, $750

3rd Go

1. Bean, 13.97, $2,500
2. Spratt, 14.02, $2,000
3. Telford, 14.06, $1,250
4. Tiany Schuster, 14.11, $750

Total Earnings

*Bean, $4,500
*Spratt, $4,000
*Telford, $3,750
*Scott, $2,500
Bangart, $2,000
Wimberley, $2,000
Schuster, $750

*Advance to Semi-Finals

Courtesy of WPRA