Often in barrel racing circles, people swear by certain bloodlines. Jennifer Romriell is not only a believer - she is proving its merits, year in and year out. Romriell is a four-time year-end champ in the WPRA's First Frontier Circuit. All of her titles have come aboard the same line, a foundation bred lineage that traces to Doc Bar.

It all began with Fire Bars Dana whom Romriell purchased in college. The black mare took Romriell to her first taste of professional victory when the duo claimed the circuit rookie of the year title along with a first trip to the pinnacle of the circuit system, the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo.

That was in 1991.

As the Dodge First Frontier Circuit Finals gets underway on January 14-16 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, Romriell finds herself in familiar territory, once again leading for a year-end championship in the circuit. She has won over $9,000 so far this year in the northeast.

But she does have a different dance partner now.

Eighteen years later, Dana is 29 and "still teaching little kids how to ride" while Romriell is in title contention aboard Hi Bars Victory, aka Vicki. Vicki is a granddaughter of Dana, and a half sister to Romriell's other great barrel racing partner, Wind O Hi. The latter took Romriell to two of her four circuit titles (1996 and 1998), a FFCFR average title (1997), and three DNCFR's (1997-1999).

"I raised her," Romriell says of Vicki, whose mother and two half sisters and half brother also stand in Romriell's barn. "I started her, and took her to Bob DeLorenzo, a local trainer and mentor, for some resistance-free work and to start her on the barrel pattern."

Vicki is certainly standing on her own achievements since becoming Romriell's number one after an injury to Wind O Hi. Vicki and Romriell captured the circuit title in 2006 and 2008. Vicki has also won the average at the FFCFR three times (2002-2003, 2007) and made the trip to Pocatello for the DNCFR five times (2003-2004, 2006-2007, 2009).

A teacher for 23 years, Romriell has also won a season championship at the Cowtown Rodeo in Woodstown, N.J., aboard each of her tough horses with Wind O Hi's coming in 1997 and Vicki's in 2006. Cowtown is a weekly rodeo held each Saturday during the summer - it is a 306 mile trip, one-way, from Romriell's Broadalbin, N.Y. home.

With a lead of just about $2,400 over McClure, Pennsylvania cowgirl Nickie Stoltzfus, Romriell and Vicki will have to be firing on all cylinders at the FFCFR to claim another title. Stoltzfus has been putting the pressure on the champion all season. She is the reigning champ at the finals, taking the title a year ago while putting over $4,000 in her Wranglers. Meanwhile, Romriell collected $2,500 for her reserve championship at the finals a year ago.

"The circuit finals is no different than any other rodeo," Romriell says of her strategy. "Be sure that Vicki is fit and ready, be aggressive to help her do her job, and let the 'chips' fall where they may."

Consistency has defined this season for the cowgirl from northern New York State. She entered and competed at 31 circuit rodeos, placing in 22 of them. She also collected the year end title for the Painted Pony Series held weekly during the summer in Lake Luzerne, N.Y. She won $2,337 in that arena alone.

She added a big win at Kelletville, Pa., - her favorite win of the season - along with a win at Shawnee-on-Delaware, Pa., and a second at Gerry, N.Y. The win at Kelletville came in a pouring rain.

"I just sent her and trusted her," she says of Vicki, "and she did her job."

With so many championships to her name, Romriell knows what it takes to be successful in the unique atmosphere of the First Frontier Circuit. There are two weekly rodeos, 300 miles apart, so contestants have to haul to both or place high at one to have a chance at a year-end championship. Another challenge is that three of the circuit's largest rodeos happen on the same weekend.

"Everyone is trying to get to 5 rodeos in 5 states in 6 days," Romriell says, including the two weekly rodeos. "It is a real drawing contest."

If anyone has figured out the challenges of the circuit, it's Romriell. On January 14, she will ride in her 21st FFCFR. In the stands will be her cheering squad; husband Cory, a PRCA team roper, son Jacob Rounds, and mom, Sandra Cirillo. Her dad, a tour bus driver, will have to keep tabs on his daughter's progress via phone updates. All are hoping for a fifth title as champ of the First Frontier Circuit and an amazing 10th DNCFR.