Barnett and Rule Top Finishers in Bracket 3 in San Antonio
SAN ANTONIO — The love was definitely spread around during the third bracket at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo with three different barrel racers taking the victory laps during the three rounds of competition.
During the first round of bracket 3, WNFR qualifier and veterinarian Kathy Grimes took the early lead in a time of 14.00 seconds to pocket $2,500. Grimes did so aboard her great mount known as Issy.
“So fun to win on Issy again,” posted Grimes on Facebook following her round win. “She loves the San Antonio rodeo and we were fortunate enough to get the win tonight.”
The following night Brittney Barnett, who is currently residing in Stephenville, Texas, but a former RAM NCFR qualifier for California took the victory lap after stopping the clock in a time of 13.91 seconds. Her time was just one-one hundredth off the fastest time turned in thus far in San Antonio. Emily Miller turned in a 13.90-second run during the final round of Bracket 1 competition. Barnett called upon the services of her paint mare, Chicks Keen O Pocopoo, who she simply calls Paint.
Dona Kay Rule, who qualified for her first Wrangler NFR last year, brought the heat in the third round winning the round in a time of 13.98 seconds. She did so with the help of the 2019 Horse of the Year winner High Valor.
The top four in total money won during each bracket advances to the semifinals. Barnett led the way with $4,500 in Bracket 3, with Rule and Grimes advancing with $3,750 and $3,500 in earnings, respectively. Cindy Smith of Lovington, N.M. grabbed the final qualifying spot with a second and fourth place finish during the three rounds of competition.
Bracket 4 will begin on Friday night at 7 p.m. in the AT&T Center.
Stay tuned to www.wpra.com and our Facebook page for updates from San Antonio and other major rodeo events.
For more information on the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, visit www.sarodeo.com.
Results as of Feb. 13, 2020
Bracket 1: First round: 1. Taylor Langdon, Aubrey, Texas, 14.03 seconds, $2,500; 2. Emily Miller, Weatherford, Okla., 14.15, $2,000; 3. Tillar Murray, Fort Worth, Texas, 14.16, $1,250; 4. Destri Devenport, Escondido, Calif., 14.24, $750. Second round: 1. Tillar Murray, Fort Worth, Texas, 13.91 seconds, $2,500; 2. Hallie Hanssen, Hermosa, S.D., 14.15, $2,000; 3. Lisa Thornton, Plum, Texas, 14.20, $1,250; 4. Destri Devenport, Escondido, Calif., $750. Third round: 1. Emily Miller, Weatherford, Texas, 13.90 seconds, $2,500; 2. Taylor Langdon, Aubrey, Texas, 14.03, $2,000; 3. Tillar Murray, Fort Worth, Texas, 14.06, $1,250; 4. Lisa Thornton, Plum, Texas, 14.37, $750.
Bracket 2: First round: 1. Ryann Pedone, Sunset, Texas, 14.22 seconds, $2,500; 2. Stevi Hillman, Weatherford, Texas, 14.25, $2,000; 3. (tie) Maggie Poloncic, Gillette, Wyo., and Jessie Telford, Caldwell, Idaho, 14.30, $1,000 each. Second round: 1. Ryann Pedone, Sunset, Texas, 14.21 seconds, $2,500; 2. Stevi Hillman, Weatherford, Texas, 14.34, $2,000; 3. Jessie Telford, Caldwell, Idaho, 14.35, $1,200; 4. Mary Walker, Ennis, Texas, 14.36, $750. Third round: 1. Ryann Pedone, Sunset, Texas, 13.98, $2,500; 2. Jessica Routier, Buffalo, S.D., 14.10, $2,000; 3. Jana Bean, Fort Hancock, Texas, 14.19, $1,200; 4. Teri Bangart, Olympia, Wash., 14.25, $750.
Bracket 3: First round: 1. Kathy Grimes, Medical Lake, Wash., 14.00 seconds, $2,500; 2. Cindy Smith, Lovington, N.M., 14.30, $2,000; 3. Dona Kay Rule, Minco, Okla., 14.33, $1,250; 4. Shelley Morgan, Canton, Texas, 14.40, $750. Second round: 1. Brittney Barnett, Stephenville, Texas, 13.91 seconds, $2,500; 2. Christine Laughlin, Reddick, Fla., 14.30, $2,000; 3. (tie) Leia Pluemer, Bosque Farms, N.M. and Kathy Grimes, Medical Lake, Wash., 14.36, $1,000 each. Third round: 1. Dona Kay Rule, Minco, Okla., 13.99, $2,500; 2. Brittney Barnett, Stephenville, Texas, 14.13, $2,000; 3. Shelley Morgan, Canton, Texas, 14.34, $1,250; 4. Cindy Smith, Lovington, N.M., 14.47, $750.
Advancing to Semifinals:
Tillar Murray, Fort Worth, Texas, $5,000 – Bracket 1
Emily Miller, Weatherford, Okla., $4,500 – Bracket 1
Taylor Langdon, Aubrey, Texas, $4,500 – Bracket 1
Hallie Hanssen, Hermosa, S.D., $2,000 – Bracket 1
Ryann Pedone, Sunset, Texas, $7,500 – Bracket 2
Stevi Hillman, Weatherford, Texas, $4,000 – Bracket 2
Jessie Telford, Caldwell, Idaho, $2,250 – Bracket 2
Jessica Routier, Buffalo, S.D., $2,000 – Bracket 2
Brittney Barnett, Stephenville, Texas, $4,500 – Bracket 3
Dona Kay Rule, Minco, Okla., $3,750 – Bracket 3
Kathy Grimes, Medical Lake, Wash., $3,500 – Bracket 3
Cindy Smith, Lovington, N.M., $2,750 – Bracket 3
Courtesy of WPRA