Schuster Moves into Contention For Title in Fort Worth

By Jolee Jordan

Fort Worth, Texas — The pace at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo (FWSSR) slows a bit after a busy first week of slacks, Xtreme Bull Riding and six performances across the opening three days of the PRCA/WPRA rodeo. After just one performance a day from Monday, January 28 to Thursday, January 31, the leisurely schedule will soon be replaced with a frantic one as the rodeo ends its second week and runs into the third.

One thing that didn’t get much of a break during the week was the leaderboard for the WPRA barrel race here inside Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum. With a huge $40,000 added committee purse, and 210 entries, the ladies certainly have brought their A games. Each cowgirl entered here will compete one time in the first 21 performances. Following that perf, Tuesday, February 5, the field will be narrowed based on the fastest times from the opening round and just 70 will be invited back to take another spin in the progressive round.

Once that round concludes on February 9 during the matinee performance, the top 12 on two runs will advance to the finals and compete for the championship during the February 9 evening perf.

Thirty cowgirls took their shot at the next round during the week. Historically, any sub-17 second runs in the first round here have been good enough to move a competitor into the progressive round.

The Stock Show went pink for breast cancer on Tuesday night but the runs inside Will Rogers were red hot. It began with Wrangler National Finalist Kelly Bruner who would have tied for second with her run of 16.49 seconds but for a downed second barrel.

Fellow Wrangler NFR cowgirl Tiany Schuster smoked the field aboard Show Mance for 16.53 seconds, good enough for third. Alex Lang and Nicole Love both broke into the top twenty with sub-seventeen second runs.

Wednesday night started off right with Christine Laughlin galloping into the next round with a smooth run of 16.74 seconds aboard her mare Jesse. Although two gals came close to surpassing her—Leia Pluemer’s 16.84 and Tammy Fischer’s 16.77—it wasn’t until the final run of the night that her time was beaten.

Former FWSSR Champion Ivy Conrado was flawless through the pattern aboard JLo to stop the clock at 16.58 seconds, good enough for a tie of fourth right now. Conrado is seeking to become just the second WPRA cowgirl to earn more than one title here at the Stock Show and would be the first to do so aboard different horses. Her title in 2016 came aboard the AQHA/WPRA Horse of the Year CF Tibbie Stinson.

The final day of one-a-day performances was Thursday and it’s a special night. Texas Christian University (TCU)—which is just miles down the road from Will Rogers—is honored on Thursday with TCU Day at the Stock Show. Along with discounts for students and alumni, the rodeo features performances by the TCU band and an appearance by SuperFrog, TCU’s mascot. The TCU Frog Choir Ensemble presents the National Anthem for every performance.

The perf winner on Thursday was the reigning WPRA World Champ Hailey Kinsel. Riding the reigning AQHA/WPRA Horse of the Year Sister, Kinsel ran out to a 16.68 second run that was two one-hundredths better than 2018 Prairie Circuit Champ Dona Kay Rule. Kinsel was second here a year ago and will be back for the progressive round.

The middle weekend of the FWSSR will be busy with seven performances in three days. Among the scheduled competitors are Wrangler NFR qualifiers Sydni Blanchard, Kellie Collier, Jackie Jatzlau, Kathy Grimes, Cassidy Kruse, Taci Bettis, Stevi Hillman, Jana Bean, Jolee Lautaret-Jordan and hometown cowgirl Tillar Murray. Two WPRA World Champions will also be in Cowtown over the weekend, Mary Walker and Kappy Allen as well as the reigning Fort Worth Champion Amberleigh Moore.

For more information on the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, visit them on-line at www.fwssr.com. Stay tuned to www.wpra.com for continuing updates from the 2019 edition.

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Results (In Progress)

1st Go

1. Jennifer Sharp, Six French Smooches, 16.48
2. Jill Wilson, Lean Mean Blue Dean, 16.49
3. Tiany Schuster, Show Mance, 16.53
4. Ilyssa Glass, Championofthehouse, 16.58
5. Ivy Conrado, KN Fabs Gift of Fame, 16.58
6. Stephanie Fryar, The Red Maserati, 16.62
7. Dena Kirkpatrick, Kates Always First, 16.64
8. Hailey Kinsel, DM Sissy Hayday, 16.68
9. Alex Lang, Angels on the Moon, 16.69
10. Jennifer Driver, Famous ThreeBugs, 16.70
11. Dona Kay Rule, High Valor, 16.70
12. Lesley Casper, Streakin ta Blues, 16.74
13. Christine Laughlin, Jess Undeniable, 16.74
14. Tammy Fischer, LK Sheza Hayday, 16.77
15. Carolyn Uhler, Lil Pep of Gold, 16.78
16. Carlee Otero, RC Dashin ta Game, 16.79
17. Sherri Barnes, Famous Little Jet, 16.81
18. Nicole Love, JL Josie Bar, 16.83
19. Leia Pluemer, Famous French Bug, 16.84
20. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, 16.85

Courtesy of WPRA