After four days of intense competition at Tulsa's Expo Square, the Women's Professional Rodeo Association crowned most of its 2009 World Champions at the end of the WPRA World Finals Rodeo, presented by Wrangler.

Reigning World Champion All-Around Cowgirl Jackie Hobbs of Abilene, Texas, came from behind to win her second consecutive all-around title. Hobbs entered the week trailing standings leader Jolee Lautaret of Kingman, Ariz., by about $1,200, but had the advantage, since she would compete in three World Finals events while Lautaret only competed in team roping.

Winning another all-around title wasn't Hobbs' only achievement over the weekend. She held off a strong bid by Jackie Jo Adams of Copan, Okla., in the tie-down roping to successfully defend her title. Adams won the final round with 10.8-second run, but Hobbs' time of 11.1 earned her first in the average with 45.1 seconds on four head. It also assured Hobbs of a second world title.

Hobbs, heeling for partner Debbie Fabrizio of Fowler, Colo., won the short round in team roping with a 7.8-second run. The pair also finished second in the team roping average. Sevette Early, of Flat, Texas, heading for Tibba Smith of Stephenville, Texas, won third in the short round of the team roping which gave her the world championship in heading and earned her the heading rookie of the year honors to boot. Kasey Etbauer, of Goodwell, Okla., had a rough finals, but came into Tulsa with such a commanding lead that her first heeling world title was never in jeopardy. A pair of Walnut Grove, Mo., cowgirls - Lacie Cribbs and Danielle Richter - was the biggest winners at the finals in team roping. The pair won the average with a total time of 43.4 on four steers.
Tana Downare Fellhauer of Fowler, Colo., came into the finals leading for the world title in breakaway roping. Although she did not dominate her event, she won consistently enough to hold off all challengers. Fellhauer tied Jackie Jo Adams for first in the final round with a 2.0-second run, which assured her of the world title. The average winner was Sherman, Texas cowgirl Tina Grote with an incredible 9.8 total over four runs.

Emily Efurd of Pittsburg, Texas, won the short round of the Dodge Junior Division Barrel Race with a time of 16.31 seconds. Cheyenne Richard of Quitman, Texas, was second with a 16.32, which also gave her the average win. World Champion Junior Division Barrel Racer was Lake Mehalic of Oro Valley, Ariz.

The crowd's favorite competition of the evening was the WPRA's first pro-am event, the Cowgirls Rock Pro/Youth Team Challenge. The team from the Oklahoma High School Rodeo Association was the first to compete. J'Nae Mullen of Maysville, Okla., set the pace with a 16.42 seconds. Her pro barrel racing partner, Tana Poppino, clocked a 16.17, but knocked over the first barrel, giving a pair a total of 37.59 after the five second penalty was accessed.

The second team to compete was the Oklahoma Kansas Youth Rodeo Association. There was a scary moment when youth barrel racer Simone Dockers of Rose Hill, Kan., and her horse fell broadside at the first barrel. The ground, which had held up well all week, failed to hold them up. Her no-time gave the team a 60-second penalty. Pro Lisa Novak of Laona, Wis., clocked a 16.85 in the barrels.

After a break to work the ground, Kelly Jo Weger of Mead, Okla., represented the Oklahoma Youth Rodeo Association in barrel racing. She and her grey horse made a smoking run of 15.93, the fastest time in the Ford Truck Arena all week. Her pro partner, former NFR average winner Liz Pinkston ran a 16.07, giving the team a total of 32.00 for barrels.

The fourth team to compete was the Oklahoma Junior Rodeo Association. Kasidy Raspberry, of Skiatook, Okla., which clocked a 16.79. Her pro partner, Stephenville, Texas cowgirl Whitney Baker ran a 16.23 to give the team a 33.02 total on barrels.

Then it was time for the breakaway portion of the team challenge. Again the OHSRA was first with Renee Hays of Bristow, Okla., clocking a 2.9. Her pro partner Lari Dee Guy clocked a 3.6, giving the team a 6.5 total in the roping and a grand total time of 44.09.

The OKYRA team seemed to be snakebit. Shelby Carpenter of Ponca City, Okla., missed her calf, as did her pro partner Kim Williamson of Queen Creek, Ariz. Their team total rose to 196.85 with the two 60-second penalties.

After the great start by their barrel racers, the OYRA team also ran into tough luck as both Holly Sullivan of Pittsburg, Okla., and Tammy Lewis, of Queen Creek, Ariz., missed their calves, giving the team a total of 152 seconds.

The OJRA team had a chance to win the challenge, if their breakaway ropers could be less than 11.0 combined. But breakaway roper Jacie Hudspeth of Afton, Okla., missed her calf and pro partner Ronda Merrifield, Tonkawa, Okla., was a 3.0, giving the team a grand total of 96.02 and second place.

Earlier in the week World Champions were also crowned in the WPRA Pro-Futurity. While Jolene Stewart won the futurity average on JL Dash Ta Heaven with a 31.292, the world title went to Jan DuQuette and Magico Fire Water. The 2D year-end champ was Kim Thomas of Ardmore, Okla., and Nicky Nick Bar. Lita Scott and Jettin' On Jewels won the futurity's intermediate side pot and the limited side pot. While Jan Duquette and Magico Fire Water won the senior side pot.

Kassie Mowry won the average in the World Finals Barrel Race with a total time of 48.83 on three runs.

The 2009 WPRA World Finals Rodeo paid out more than $350,000 in cash and awards to barrel racers and ropers during the week in Tulsa.