Daddy of ‘Em All Narrowing Field for Semifinals-266×150

By Jolee Jordan

Cheyenne, Wyoming — Since 1897 Cheyenne has hosted its rodeo and western celebration, leading to the appropriate nickname, the Daddy of ‘Em All. Winning this rodeo is more than a bucket list win for cowboys and cowgirls, it’s a career maker and often leads to a trip to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) thanks to its huge purse.

A year ago, Nellie Miller sprinted to the early lead by winning the opening go round then clinched the title in dramatic fashion during a hail storm on the final day. Miller is back again in 2019 but she’ll have to navigate a little differently through the rounds at the Daddy to win back-to-back titles.

The format in Cheyenne has changed to a tournament style for the first time in 2019. More than 240 cowgirls started the journey here and 72 made the first cut, advancing to the performances from the slack preliminaries. No times carry forward from one round to the next so advancement is solely dependent on how fast you run on each day that you compete. No longer is consistency going to win a title, it’s go-for-broke on every turn.

The quarter final rounds run through the first six performances. Twelve ladies compete each day and the four fastest advance to the semi-final rounds which begins Friday, July 26 and concludes on Saturday, July 27.

Saturday, July 20

Berthoud, Colorado barrel racer Kelly Kennedy-Joseph galloped out to a big win in the first perf, running the fastest time of the rodeo to this point at 17.35 seconds.

“I was a little shocked when I looked up to see the scoreboard,” she laughs, noting she thought her mare, Jammer, stumbled a bit during the run. A competitor many times in Cheyenne, Kennedy-Joseph’s run was a great comeback run—she was involved in a horse accident that left her with a serious brain injury just a couple years ago.

“I’m blessed to be back running,” she says. Jammer has been with her since the 13-year old horse was just two; Kennedy-Joseph’s husband Drew broke her and she trained her.

Wilderness Circuit champ Meka Farr took second on Saturday with Mountain States Circuit Director Carla Beckett and Kari Boxleiter rounding out the qualifiers to the next round.

Sunday, July 21

Oklahoma cowgirl Michelle Darling rode her great mare Martini to the victory in the second perf on Sunday. Her time of 17.64 was two tenths ahead of former Cheyenne champion Lisa Lockhart and the great Louie.

Darling is having a great week, sitting good at the Spanish Fork rodeo as well.

Two former Wrangler NFR cowgirls, Kathy Grimes and Nikki Hansen, filled out the qualifiers for the day.

Monday, July 22

Megan Champion hustled from the short round at Salinas on Sunday to compete on Monday in Cheyenne. She switched mounts, riding the super gritty Katy to first with the rodeo’s second best time at 17.39 seconds.

“This really happened!” she posted to social media. “I’m beyond words with how much heart and try this little mare has (my mama always said dynamite comes in small packages). Katy won the performance in Cheyenne at the big Daddy!” She added thanks to Rachel Dice, Katy’s owner.

Shali Lord, Karson Bradley and Mimi Argyle also moved on from the perf.

Tuesday, July 23

Tuesday saw two-time WPRA World Champions Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi scamper to the top of the leaderboard. Riding her catty mare Mona, Pozzi Tonozzi advanced easily with a quick run of 17.48 seconds.

Pozzi Tonozzi was in the top 10 in Cheyenne a year ago and is looking to add a second Frontier Days championship to her illustrious resume. She previously won here in 2007.

Californian Ali Anton took second while Christine Laughlin and Dena Milner also punched their tickets to the semi-finals with top four times on the day.

Up Next

Just two more performances remain until the conclusion of the quarter final rounds; among the competitors still left in the draw are round one winner, 2017 WPRA World Champ Miller, and top five cowgirls from the progressive round Jessi Fish and Halyn Lide along with Great Lakes Circuit Champion Lacinda Rose and 2017 Cheyenne Champion Stevi Hillman.

Once the final eight cowgirls are moved from the Wednesday and Thursday rodeos, the semi-finals will be set. The top six from each semi-final perf will advance to the Finals on Sunday, July 28 to compete for the title of Champion of the Daddy of ‘Em All.

For more information on the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo, visit them on-line at www.cfdrodeo.com and stay tuned to www.wpra.com for continuing updates from the 2019 edition of the rodeo.

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Results

Quarter Finals

1st Perf

1. Kelly Kennedy-Joseph, Dashers Hot Panajet, 17.35, $2,610
2. Meka Farr, DD Dee Cee, 17.64, $1,958
3. Carla Beckett, Willie Hillbillie, 17.98, $1,305
4. Kari Boxleiter, Crickets Kas, 18.00, $653

2nd Perf

1. Michelle Darling, Morning Traffic, 17.64, $2,611
2. Lisa Lockhart, An Okie with Cash, 17.87, $1,958
3. Kathy Grimes, KG Justiceweexpected, 17.88, $1,305
4. Nikki Hansen, Sky High Guy, 17.92, $653

3rd Perf

1. Megan Champion, Tivitosatthegogobar, 17.39, $2,611
2. Shali Lord, Freckles ta Fame, 17.65, $1,958
3. Karson Bradley, Sunfrost Cat, 17.71, $1,305
4. Mimi Argyle, 17.83, $653

4th Perf

1. Brittany Pozzi-Tonozzi, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, 17.48, $2,611
2. Ali Anton, Hopedersgininheaven, 17.71, $1,958
3. Christine Laughlin, Jess Undeniable, 17.80, $$1,305
4. Dena Milner, Garry Owen Sir, 17.87, $653

Progressive Go Complete results

1. Nellie Miller, Rafter W Minnie Reba, 17.44, $8,224
2. Kristy Maxwell, Fletchs Sally Cat, 17.49, $6,462
3. Jessi Fish, Guys Night in Vegas, 17.49, $6,462
4. Halyn Lide, 17.55, $4,504
5. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, 17.55, $4,504
6. Ryann Pedone, Dash ta Jones, 17.56, $3,133
7. Meka Farr, DD Dee Cee, 17.60, $2,350
8. Kortney Kizer, Cerveza De Mulan, 17.63, $1,567
9. Lacinda Rose, RR Meradas Real Deal, 17.66, $1,175
10. Lisa Lockhart, An Okie with Cash, 17.69, $392
11. Kelly Yates, Fiestanozshezfamous, 17.69, $392

Courtesy of WPRA