Richardson, Taylor Close Out Super Series Action in Houston

By Jolee Jordan

Houston, Texas — More than two weeks ago, the 2018 edition of RodeoHouston began with forty cowgirls carrying big dreams of winning almost enough in one rodeo to punch their tickets to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR)—Houston is one of three WPRA-approved events on the calendar that offer a payday worth $50,000 towards WPRA World standings to the winner of the final round.

The first two weeks are devoted to preliminary competition in this tournament style rodeo with each of five Super Series sets giving the eight cowgirls three runs to earn enough to advance. Half the field is eliminated this way, with four moving into the semi-finals.

The final week is a flurry of activity as rounds become sudden death for those hoping to advance all the way to the end.

The final weekend before the Championship brought a close to the Super Series rodeos, allowing eight cowgirls to keep their dreams alive including three of the cowgirls who competed in the Championship Round here a year ago, Carley Richardson, Kelly Tovar and Nellie Miller.

Super Series IV

Fans may have become accustomed to seeing Prairie Circuit cowgirl Emily Miller aboard the super consistent Pipewrench, so nicknamed because of the marking on his face. Pipewrench carried Miller to the title at the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo in 2017, helping her land 17th in the final WPRA World standings.

But with Pipewrench on the injured reserve list until just recently, Miller has relied on his flashy palomino little sister Foxy for the 2018 winter run. The six year old mare has stepped up to the plate, helping Miller stay inside the WPRA’s top 30.

Inside NRG Stadium for the first time, Foxy delivered in a big way during the opening round of Bracket IV, winning the night by one one-hundredth of a second over the veterans Richardson and her grey horse Radio. Both cowgirls broke fifteen seconds at 14.95 and 14.96, respectively.

Richardson and Radio roared back the following night, running first on the ground. The finalist from a year ago captured the second round win with a run of 14.75 seconds, displaying the same form that won them nearly $15,000 here a year ago.

With one run remaining in the set, Richardson and Miller looked locked into the next round with $5,000 and $4,500 won, respectively. Cassidy Kruse had picked up a pair of checks worth $1,750 while Ivy Conrado was on the bubble at $1,500.

On Saturday afternoon, Texas cowgirl Tovar delivered the clutch performance of the set, winning the final round in 14.72 seconds. The $3,000 payday is just enough to inch her past Kruse, who placed for the third straight time, and into the fourth and final qualifying position into the semi-finals.

Richardson placed again to win the group with $6,000. She is the first cowgirl to run three fourteen second runs here so far this year. Miller was second with $4,500. Conrado nabbed the third spot after winning second for a second round.

In addition to winning the round, Richardson also experienced another big event at RodeoHouston with her engagement to Chase Cervi, who serves as a pickup man for Cervi Championship Rodeo and has been selected to work the NFR a total of five times.

Super Series V

The final set was filled with talent including a pair of WPRA World Champs and a $2 million cowgirl, and the ladies brought their A-games right from the start. 2014 WPRA World Champ Fallon Taylor got the jump in the first round, posting a smooth run of 14.90 seconds to win the opening round.

RodeoHouston is one of the very few big rodeos not listed on Lisa Lockhart’s resume of wins though she has often done very well here. Lockhart began her 2018 campaign aboard Louie and picked up second in the first round, just five one-hundredths behind Taylor.

Reigning WPRA World Champ Nellie Miller was in the money too, earning a check for fourth but round two belonged to the Californian and her mare Sister. They picked up the round win with a time of 14.88 seconds.

Lockhart was second and Taylor third, both finishing under fifteen seconds again. Going into the final night, the two ladies were tied up with $4,000 won each. Miller was right on their heels but the fourth and final qualifying spot was wide open.

As the final round got underway on Tuesday night, the cowgirls early in the draw were not finding the smooth rhythm needed to break into the 14’s. Even Miller had some trouble, stopping the clock at 15.01 seconds, a time that was holding first position for much of the competition.

That is until Taylor let Babyflo roll down the alley as the second to last to run. The pair went flawless for a third night, earning a second round win with a time of 14.78, the fastest run of the Super Series.

Taylor won the Super Series with $7,000 won and described her strategy to the in-arena announcer after the win.

“I’ve done well here but I haven’t done this well,” laughed an excited Taylor. “I spent the last month focusing just on this rodeo . . . I didn’t enter anything else so I could focus on RodeoHouston.”

“It looks like it’s paying off so far!” Taylor said after becoming just the second cowgirl to post three runs under fifteen seconds here.

Miller finished second with $5,750 won while Lockhart’s $4,000 allowed her to move on to the semi-finals as she gave Louie the final night of the Super Series off.

The mother-daughter duo of Jane Melby and Cayla Small picked up their first checks of the set in the final round with Small taking third. The $1,000 check was enough to move the cowgirl into the next round here as she won the tiebreaker with Sidney Forrest by having the fastest aggregate time.

New Mexico cowgirl Sydni Blanchard had been scheduled to compete in the final set but her horse Jesse suffered a shattered coffin bone during the morning practice at RodeoHouston and the decision was made that the gelding had to be humanely euthanized. Blanchard understandably chose not to compete and former Mountain States Circuit Champion Kim Schulze took her place.

Semi-Finals

The field has now been cut in half, with just 20 ladies still in the running for the huge payday awaiting after the Championship Shoot-out on Saturday night, March 17. Before they can get there, they must advance through two more rounds, the semi-finals and the Championship or three, if they are not among the top four from the semi-finals. Those 12 cowgirls will have a chance to make the final round through the Wild Card round on Friday, March 16. The top two from that round get into the Championship.

The final night consists of two runs—the Championship features 10 ladies and the Championship Shootout follows immediately after that round with the four fastest cowgirls.

Semi-Final 1 will contest on Wednesday night. The headliner has to be the WPRA World No. 1 right now, Amberleigh Moore. She’ll battle with the reigning WPRA World Champ Nellie Miller as well as Lisa Lockhart, Ram National Circuit Finals Champ Carmel Wright, Southeastern Circuit Champ Sabra O’Quinn, two-time World Champ Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, former Texas Circuit Champ Kelly Bruner, 2017 RodeoHouston finalist Kelly Tovar and WNFR cowgirls Carley Richardson and Tiany Schuster.

Semi-Final 2 on March 15 could be a shootout between Fallon Taylor, Taci Bettis and Hailey Kinsel. All three ladies dominated within their respective Super Series to get this far. They will face a field that includes four-time RodeoHouston champion Sherry Cervi, Prairie Circuit champion cowgirls Tracy Nowlin and Emily Miller, Florida cowgirl Ericka Nelson, and WNFR cowgirls Ivy Conrado, Kellie Collier and Cayla Small.

For more information on Rodeo Houston, visit them on-line at www.rodeohouston.com and stay tuned to www.wpra.com for continuing updates.

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Results

Super Series IV

Round One

1. Emily Miller, Namgis D56, 14.95, $3,000

2. Carley Richardson, Doda Flit, 14.96, $2,000

3. Cassidy Kruse, Guys Dashing Girl, 15.00, $1,000

4. Christine Laughlin, Jess Undeniable, 15.20, $750

Round Two

1. Richardson, 14.75, $3,000

2. Miller/Ivy Conrado, KN Fabs Gift of Fame, 14.93, $1,500

3. Kruse, 14.97, $750

Round Three

1. Kelly Tovar, A Dash ta Glamour, 14.72, $3,000

2. Conrado, 14.76, $2,000

3. Richardson, 14.95, $1,000

4. Kruse, 15.08, $750

Total Money Won

Richardson, $6,000*

Miller, $4,500*

Conrado, $3,500*

Tovar, $3,000*

Kruse, $2,500

Laughlin, $750

*Advance to Semi-Finals

Results

Super Series V

Round One

1. Fallon Taylor, Flos Heiress, 14.90, $3,000

2. Lisa Lockhart, An Okie with Cash, 14.91, $2,000

3. Sidney Forrest, Promises to French, 15.04, $1,000

4. Nellie Miller, Rafter W Minnie Reba, 15.12, $750

Round Two

1. Miller, 14.88, $3,000

2. Lockhart, 14.95, $2,000

3. Taylor, 14.98, $1,000

4. Alex Lang, Angels on the Moon, 15.01, $750

Round Three

1. Taylor, 14.78, $3,000

2. Miller, 15.01, $2,000

3. Cayla Small, Shameon U, 15.22, $1,000

4. Jane Melby, Perks Pazazz, 15.27, $750

Total Money Won

Taylor, $7,000*

Miller, $5,750*

Lockhart, $4,000*

Small, $1,000*

Forrest, $1,000

Lang, $750

Melby, $750

*Advances to Semi-Finals

Semi-Final 1, March 14

Name, Super Series Competed In, Money Won

Carley Richardson, SSIV, $6,000

Nellie Miller, SSV, $5,750

Amber Moore, SSII, $5,000

Carmel Wright, SSIII, $4,500

Sabra O’Quinn, SSI, $4,000

Lisa Lockhart, SSV, $4,000

Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, SSII, $4,000

Kelly Tovar, SSIV, $3,000

Tiany Schuster, SSIII, $3,000

Kelly Bruner, SSI, $3,000

Semi-Final, March 15

Name, Super Series Competed In, Money Won

Taci Bettis, SSI, $7,000

Fallon Taylor, SSV, $7,000

Hailey Kinsel, SSII, $6,000

Sherry Cervi, SSIII, $5,000

Tracy Nowlin, SSIII, $5,000

Emily Miller, SSIV, $4,500

Ivy Conrado, SSIV, $3,500

Ericka Nelson, SSI, $2,375

Kellie Collier, SSII, $2,000

Cayla Small, SSV, $1,000

Courtesy of WPRA