Progressive Round Field Taking Shape in Denver
Denver, Colorado—With 14 performances in the books at the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver, Colorado, the field of 24 ladies who will move on to the rodeo’s progressive round on January 26 is close to being finalized. The rodeo, which began on January 16, runs through January 26 when the short round will be held and NWSS titles will be awarded. The event features 20 rodeo performances.
New for 2020 is the incorporation of a tournament-style format. The initial field of 80 Women’s Professional Rodeo Association barrel racers make two back-to-back runs in an attempt to qualify for the rodeo’s progressive round of the fastest 24 on two runs. From the top 24 round held in the three performances taking place on Saturday, January 25, competitors hope to rank among the top 12 finalists who will ultimately vie for the rodeo championship on Sunday. Those 12 contestants will once again start at zero. Whoever has the fastest time will be crowned Denver’s champion.
The current unofficial cutoff to make the progressive go-round is Amy Jo Reisdorfer, Cheyenne, Wyoming, and her horse “Blue Duck” with a total on two of 31.24.
A highlight from Denver this week was the accomplishments of husband and wife rodeo team Taylor and Alishea Broussard, Estherwood, Louisiana. Taylor, a bareback rider, had the high-marked ride on Wednesday evening at 87 points aboard Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Baby Face. Alishea, who sadly hit two barrels on Monday night, came back with a vengeance on Tuesday night riding her horse “Dexter” to a 14.94-second run, which is the fast time of the rodeo thus far.
Running the fast time of the 13th perf was reigning WPRA World Champion Hailey Kinsel Lockwood riding her palomino speedster DM Sissy Hayday, aka “Sister,” to a 15.19 followed up with a respectable 15.75 in the 14th perf aboard Thunder Stones “TJ” to currently rank 13th overall with a 30.94. Fellow NFR qualifier Cheyenne Wimberley topped the 14th perf aboard Streakin Images with a 15.15 and is currently tied for 5th to qualify for the progressive round on Saturday.
Still in command of the aggregate standings is Fort Worth, Texas cowgirl Tillar Murray. The 2017 Wrangler NFR qualifier competed in the third and fourth perfs riding Royal Star Commander to a 14.97 and 15.00, respectively, for a total on two runs of 29.97. By AR Star and out of Go Royal Scarlett by Royal Go Go, “Commander” was purchased from Jim Haislip and his late wife and three-time NFR qualifier Ruth.
Holding down the No. 2 spot in the aggregate is 2018 WPRA Rookie of the Year Jimmie Smith who rode her palomino mare Lena On The Rocks (“Lena”) to identical times of 15.10 during the first and second performances for a 30.20 on two runs.
Springer, Oklahoma’s Ivy Hurst rounds out the top three with her 30.34 aboard Top Of The Roc (“Diddy”). By Sticks An Stones and out of the Cash Not Credit daughter Top Bug Cash, Top Of The Roc helped Hurst finish among the top 30 in the 2019 WPRA world standings and won the Reno Rodeo, among others.
A nationally recognized Western heritage and entertainment event, the NWSS hosts one of the world’s richest regular season professional rodeos making the event a season opening pacesetter for WPRA athletes in pursuit top ranking in the 2020 world standings. The NWSS attracts over 650,000 annual visitors, many of whom are on hand to witness the fast horses and hard riding ladies of professional rodeo.
The stock show was established in 1906 to promote agricultural endeavors and provide scholarships for students interested in the field. The NWSS will drive a projected $120 million in economic impact to the Denver Metro area this January and raise more than $500,000 for the National Western Scholarship Trust, which distributes more than 100 scholarships to students in the fields of agricultural sciences, rural medicine and veterinary medicine.
9th Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Taylor Langdon, Aubrey, Texas, 15.60 seconds. 2, Lois Ferguson, West, Texas, 15.64. 3, Amy Jo Reisdorfer, Cheyenne, Wyo., 15.75. 4, Carley Cervi, Roggen, Colo., 15.77.
10th Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Alishea Broussard, Estherwood, La., 14.94 seconds. 2, Kim Schulze, Larkspur, Colo., 15.26. 3, Carley Cervi, Roggen, Colo., 15.32. 4, Amy Jo Reisdorfer, Cheyenne, Wyo., 15.49.
11th Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Christine Laughlin, Reddick, Fla., 15.33 seconds. 2, Jessica Routier, Buffalo, S.D., 15.36. 3, Sissy Winn, Chapman Ranch, Texas, 15.44. 4, Nicole Waggoner, Pueblo West, Colo., 15.66.
12th Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Cindy Smith, Lovington, N.M., 15.03 seconds. 2, Christine Laughlin, Reddick, Fla., 15.14. 3, Nicole Waggoner, Pueblo West, Colo., 15.46. 4, Victoria Williams, Kiln, Miss., 15.49.
13th Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Hailey Lockwood, Cotulla, Texas, 15.19 seconds. 2, Cheyenne Wimberley, Stephenville, Texas, 15.50. 2, Stevi Hillman, Weatherford, Texas, 15.56. 4, Sidney Forrest, Lipan, Texas, 15.74.
14th Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Cheyenne Wimberley, Stephenville, Texas, 15.15 seconds. 2, Sara Cheeney, Pinedale, Wyo.,15.32. 3, Mary Jo Camera, Stevinson, Calif., 15.43. 4, Lisa Anderson, Bozeman, Mont., 15.58.
Women’s Barrel Race: (first round) 1, Tillar Murray, Fort Worth, Texas, 14.97 seconds. 2, Ivy Hurst, Springer, Okla., 15.03. 3, Jimmie Smith, McDade, Texas, 15.10. 4, Hailey Lockwood, Cotulla, Texas, 15.13. (second round) 1, Alishea Broussard, Estherwood, La., 14.94. 2, Tillar Murray, 15.00. 3, Cindy Smith, Lovington, N.M., 15.03. 4, Jimmie Smith, 15.10. (total on two) 1, Murray, 29.97. 2, Jimmie Smith, 30.20. 3, Hurst, 30.34. 4, Christine Laughlin, Reddick, Fla., 30.47.
Top 24:
1 Tillar Murray 29.97
2 Jimmie Raelyn Smith 30.20
3 Ivy Hurst 30.34
4 Christine Laughlin 30.47
5 Sissy Winn 30.65
5 Cheyenne Wimberley 30.65
7 Jill Cooper Tanner 30.73
7 Tiany Schuster 30.73
9 Karson Bradley 30.74
10 Ryann Pedone 30.82
11 Kellie Collier 30.91
12 Ashley Castleberry 30.92
13 Hailey Lockwood 30.94
14 Kathy Grimes 30.98
15 Jessica Routier 31.03
16 Carly Taylor 31.05
17 Carley Cervi 31.09
18 Abby Phillips 31.12
19 Nicole Waggoner 31.12
20 Lois Moltich Ferguson 31.15
21 Kelsey Cadwell 31.17
22 Victoria Williams 31.18
23 Taryn Boxleitner 31.19
24 Amy Jo Reisdorfer 31.24
Stay tuned to wpra.com and our Facebook page for updates from Denver and other major rodeo events.
For more information on the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo, visit nationalwestern.com.
Courtesy of WPRA