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Sharp Holds Early Lead in Denver

By Jolee Jordan

Jennifer Sharp | Photo by Greg Westfall

Denver, Colorado — Professional rodeo doesn’t have much of an off-season—the two weeks following the end of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in mid-December through the holidays is about as much of a break as you’ll find during the year. And once the calendar rolls over into the new year, the pace begins to pick up quickly as stock show season hits in full force.

The National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver was established in 1906 after a few attempts to organize something in the late 1800’s. Like most stock shows, the NWSS was established to promote agricultural endeavors and provide scholarships for students interested in the field. The first event was held at the Denver Stockyards on the South Platte River. The next two years were held under tents before first moving to the National Amphitheater (1909) and later the Denver Coliseum (1952) built just for the event.

From humble beginnings, the NWSS has grown into a major event hosting more than 700,000 fans in 2018 while providing an economic impact of $115 million per year to the Denver community. Ten major livestock associations hold their national shows in conjunction with the NWSS.

The pro rodeo was added to the line-up in 1931 during the Stock Show’s 25th anniversary and is now a major stop for pro rodeo athletes seeking their piece of the nearly quarter of a million dollar purse. Its position on the calendar in January often makes it the major jumping off point for Wrangler NFR and World Championship seasons.

The National Western actually kicked off nearly a week ago on January 12, beginning with its tournament style Colorado vs. the World rodeo, which is not sanctioned by the WPRA for championship points. The event features the three rough stock events along with steer wrestling and barrel racing.

That event is followed by the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Denver Chute-Out Velocity Tour event, held January 14-16. The entire rodeo family was shocked and saddened by the passing of bull rider Mason Lowe, who suffered a fatal injury after bucking off his bull during Tuesday night’s competition. The WPRA and all its members offer their most sincere condolences to the family of Lowe as well as to the broader western community who is reeling from this loss.

In the WPRA barrel racing, 110 ladies will compete during the course of the 2019 National Western which began on Thursday, January 17. Each cowgirl will get two preliminary rounds held in back-to-back performances or slacks. At the conclusion of the long rounds on Saturday, January 26, the top twelve in the two-head average will advance to the short go to be held on Sunday.

On opening night Thursday, it was red hot Texas cowgirl Jennifer Sharp who galloped to the early lead. Sharp is ranked 11th in the early going WPRA standings after winning third at the Ram Texas Circuit Finals two weeks ago and then second at the Sandhills Stock Show in Odessa.

Riding the eight year old palomino mare she calls Smooch, Sharp took the first round lead with a blistering fast 15.26 second run. The time would have been the third fastest a year ago so Sharp is looking good to earn some money in the round.

She paired that run with a 15.37 on Friday afternoon to take the lead in the average.

“Headed home from Denver with so much excitement!” she posted to social media. “It’s far from over but we made two exceptional runs! Hopefully we will be back in a week for the short go!”

She added thanks to Terri Lamp, Smooch’s owner, for the “sweet ride.”

On Friday night, 2018 WPRA World Champion Hailey Kinsel tied for the best run of the night with fellow Texan and Wrangler NFR qualifier Shelly Morgan. Both ladies stopped the clock in 15.30 seconds. Kinsel was aboard her World Champion mare Sister while Morgan relied on the youngster Kiss, just five years old.

Ram National Circuit Finals (RNCFR) champ Emily Miller rose to the top of the heap on Saturday morning. Aboard her grey gelding Chongo, Miller took over the second go lead with a smoking run of 15.23 seconds. Her combined time of 30.76 slotted into second behind Sharp.

Meanwhile, Kinsel posted the fastest run of the rodeo at 15.02 seconds but brought the first barrel down on the departure, leaving her with a penalty of five seconds, which eliminated her from a return for the short round.

Saturday was busy for the National Western rodeo crew with three performances. The third set of barrel racers to compete took two runs in one day, competing in the matinee and evening performances. The best runs in the matinee were turned in by Oklahoman Ivy Hurst and Washington cowgirl Teri Bangart. Each lady turned in a run of 15.63 seconds.

Chris Gibson didn’t have far to travel to the National Western to compete on Saturday. The cowgirl hails from Windsor, Colorado, just about an hour north of the Mile High City. She gave the home state fans a lot to cheer for with her perf-best run of 15.35 seconds. Gibson is currently second in the round and fifth in the average. Gibson relied upon her mare Jess, a former race horse that Gibson trained and campaigned in futurity competition for young horses before moving into rodeo competition.

On Sunday afternoon, Texas cowgirl Sadye Simpson made a big splash during the matinee with a pretty run that stopped the clock at 15.41 seconds. WPRA’s $2 million cowgirl Lisa Lockhart rode Louie to second, right on her heels at 15.44.

Returning in the evening perf, Lockhart and Louie proved as consistent as ever, putting a 15.38 on the board to move into third in the average so far. The duo looks solid to return to the Denver Championship Round exactly one week from now.

The National Western continues on Monday with Wrangler NFR cowgirls Kelly Yates, Shali Lord and Carley (Richardson) Cervi among a group that also features top Mountain States cowgirls CJ Vondette and KL Spratt. Andrea Busby, a former Mountain States Circuit Finals champion, will also compete on Monday.

The cowgirls scheduled to compete during the week include Wrangler NFR qualifiers Kathy Grimes, Nikki Hansen, Shelly Anzick, Carman Pozzobon, Sydni Blanchard, Tracy Nowlin, Terri Kaye Kirkland and Sabrina Ketcham. Former National Western Champions—and WPRA World Champions—Mary Walker and Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi will also be back in the Mile High City.

For more information on the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo, visit them on-line at www.nationalwestern.com; those interested in making a donation to Mason Lowe’s family can also do so through the NWSS’s website. Please stay tuned to www.wpra.com for continuing updates from the 2019 edition of the National Western.


Current Results (Unofficial)

1st Go

1. Jennifer Sharp, Six French Smooches, 15.26
2. Hailey Kinsel, DM Sissy Hayday, 15.30
3. Shelly Morgan, HR Fameskissandtell, 15.30
4. Tiany Schuster, Show Mance, 15.39
5. Sadye Simpson, 15.41
6. Lisa Lockhart, An Okie with Cash, 15.44
7. Emily Miller, Namgis D 33, 15.53
8. Jana Bean, UR One Famous Rebel, 15.54
9. Tamara Reinhardt, Yessir Imaareddie, 15.60
10. Jill Wilson, 15.62

2nd Go

1. Miller, 15.23
2. Chris Gibson, Jess Dashin Together, 15.35
3. Sharp, 15.37
4. Lockhart, 15.38
5. Suzanne Brooks, Fortune N Fame, 15.42
6. Molly Childers, 15.49
7. Teri Bangart, RCA Three Bugs Honor, 15.51
8. Sarah McCormick, Down Town Streakin, 15.52
9. Schuster, 15.53
10. Haley Wolfe, Iron Eyes Rio, 15.60

Average

1. Sharp, 30.63
2. Miller, 30.76
3. Lockhart, 30.82
4. Schuster, 30.92
5. Gibson, 31.00
6. Morgan, 31.03
7. Bangart, 31.14
8. McCormick, 31.17
9. Ivy Hurst, BW LilSistaDontcha, 31.25
10. Tamara Reinhardt, 31.30
11. Wilson, 31.31
12. Ari-Anna Flynn, 31.37

Courtesy of WPRA

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