Miller Aiming For Back-to-Back Titles in Cheyenne

By Jolee Jordan

Cheyenne, Wyoming — It’s been more than two decades since a WPRA barrel racer repeated as champion of Cheyenne Frontier Days, annually one of pro rodeo’s most lucrative events and a stop on the ProRodeo Tour. Colorado cowgirl Kristie Peterson wrapped up her third straight—and fourth overall—title at the Daddy of ‘Em of All in 1998. The ProRodeo Hall of Fame cowgirl still holds the arena record here, a 17.03 run during a thunderstorm in 1996 aboard her equally famous gelding Bozo.

2017 WPRA World Champ Nellie Miller has already accomplished some difficult repeats during her career, including last year when she became the first to repeat at the Reno Rodeo since Peterson’s last title in 1999. As the 2019 edition of the Daddy kicked off, all eyes were on Miller and her great mare Sister with the question: could they do it again?

The path to the repeat is a bit longer this season thanks to a new format for Frontier Days. Employing a tournament-style format for the first time, Cheyenne has marched through a progressive round of more than 240 cowgirls and subsequent quarter final rounds of 72 cowgirls to land in the semi-finals as the final weekend approaches.

This means one more run than in previous years for anyone hoping to earn the championship on Sunday and gather up the prizes, big payday and bragging rights.

The quarter finals wrapped up with the final two performances on Wednesday and Thursday with familiar names advancing to the next round.

Wednesday, July 24

Clearly, Miller and Sister are more than up to the task in the new format which requires an emphasis on making fast runs every time instead of worrying about any averages—each new round is sudden death so the last run only matters in that it gave a competitor the chance to run again.

Miller and her amazing, homegrown mare were certainly up to the challenge in the quarter finals, running the fastest time of the rodeo at 17.28 seconds—after brushing the first barrel precariously—to win her performance on Wednesday in what was the fastest round of the rodeo to that point.

“This weather thing seems to be a pattern in Cheyenne but it worked out for us yesterday,” Miller noted ironically on social media, alluding to the rainstorm that began with the barrels on Wednesday, reminiscent of the hail storm in which she claimed the title in Cheyenne in 2018. “Won the round, and getting ready for the semi finals on Friday.”

The reigning Cheyenne champ has won more than $10,000 already here this year.

Lacinda Rose continued her pursuit of a first ever Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) by moving on in Cheyenne with her run of 17.54, which just edged out Cheyenne Wimberley. Kellie Collier filled the final qualifying spot to the semi-finals.

Thursday, July 25

California cowgirl Destri Devenport continued the West Coast dominance of the Quarter Finals in Cheyenne by claiming victory on the final day of this round of competition. Along with Miller and Megan Champion, the California girls won three of six performances.

Devenport was aboard her quick gelding Buddy Rose for the win, stopping the clock in a speedy 17.33 seconds to move on to the next round.

Hallie Hanssen won second, riding Tres Movidas, whose dam Sheza Blazin Move won this rodeo with Christy (Loflin) Hefley in 2013. The final two positions in the semi-finals went to Stevi Hillman, the 2017 Cheyenne Champ, and Ericka Nelson. Nelson’s time of 17.60 was the fastest cutoff time for the semi-finals through the six performances of quarter finals action.

Up Next

The first of two semi-finals performances begin on Friday afternoon; Miller and Lisa Lockhart highlight the Friday competitors. Both are past Cheyenne champions.

Hillman and Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi are the only other former Cheyenne winners in the semi-finals and both will compete on Saturday.

Seven of the 24 cowgirls still standing are already ranked among the top 15 in the WPRA World standings while another four are within the top 30. With more than $10,000 still available should one cowgirl win the two remaining go rounds, the next three days could be huge for the standings race for those ladies striving to earn a position at the Wrangler NFR in December.

The fastest six barrel racers from each semi-final performance will move on to the Finals on Sunday where one more sudden death round will determine the 2019 Cheyenne Frontier Days Champion.

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

5th Perf

1. Nellie Miller, Rafter W Minnie Reba, 17.28, $2,611
2. Lacinda Rose, RR Meradas Real Deal, 17.54, $1,958
3. Cheyenne Wimberley, KN Fabs Mist of Fame, 17.57, $1,305
4. Kellie Collier, Koolspeed ta Fame, 17.64, $653

6th Perf

1. Destri Devenport, Buddy Rose (grade), 17.33, $2,611
2. Hallie Hanssen, Tres Movidas, 17.42, $1,958
3. Stevi Hillman, Guys R A Mystery, 17.50, $1,305
4. Ericka Nelson, PC Cash, 17.60, $653

Semi-Finals Draw

Friday, July 26

1. Kelly Kennedy-Joseph
2. Carla Beckett
3. Megan Champion
4. Karson Bradley
5. Nellie Miller
6. Cheyenne Wimberley
7. Lisa Lockhart
8. Nikki Hansen
9. Ali Anton
10. Dena Milner
11. Hallie Hanssen
12. Ericka Nelson

Saturday, July 27

1. Meka Farr
2. Kari Boxleitner
3. Shali Lord
4. Mimi Argyle
5. Lacinda Rose
6. Kellie Collier
7. Michelle Darling
8. Kathy Grimes
9. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi
10. Christine Laughlin
11. Destri Devenport
12. Stevi Hillman

Courtesy of WPRA