|
The year-end
title may already be decided but the remaining seat
to the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo in Pocatello,
Idaho, for a Great Lakes Circuit barrel racer is still
up for grabs. When the 31st Dodge Great Lakes Circuit
Finals Rodeo kicks off in Louisville, Ky., November
11-14, a tough field of 12 ladies will vie for the championship
of the GLCFR and the remaining DNCFR berth.
The first slot was filled by Eau
Clare, Wis., cowgirl Tammy Whyte after experiencing
a fairy tale season. Whyte and her equine partner, Luckys
Tiny Bit aka "Cisco," won over $22K in the
massive Great Lakes circuit this season. With a lead
of over $13K over second place contender Sue Berg, Whyte's
lead is insurmountable making the year-end title hers.
"I had a good summer,"
Whyte says. "It was like a fairy tale season. He
goes in and does his job and the riding wasn't too difficult
for me. He has been there for me and I'm not working
so hard for everything."
This marks her fourth Great Lakes
Circuit championship, with three WPRA titles in 2006-07
and now 2009 and a PWBR circuit championship in 2007.
With one championship in hand already for 2009, Whyte
now sets her sights on a second title, that of circuit
finals rodeo average champion.
However, adversity is rearing its
head as Cisco recently suffered an abscess in the hip
and is questionable for the circuit finals run.
"I have been trying to rehab
him for the finals," says Whyte of the injury.
She and Cisco had just completed a clean sweep of the
Minnesota Rodeo Association Finals, winning both go
rounds and the average en route to the year-end title
for the MRA as well, at the beginning of October prior
to the injury.
Also standing in her way is a phenomenal
field of barrel racers, including three of the top four
barrel racers from last year's Great Lakes finals. Leading
the way is last year's circuit finals winner and DNCFR
qualifier Brianna Reynolds. Reynolds took the average
title over Whyte a year ago in this same arena. Bobbie
Jo Bohlman was third a year ago, and will also be making
a repeat trip to Louisville.
Second ranked Sue Berg has had a
terrific season as well, finishing 44th in the final
WPRA NFR standings. Berg won two circuit rodeos this
season, Buffalo and Albert Lea, Minn., and placed nationally
at big rodeos like Casper (Wyo.), Lawton (Okla.), and
Denver as well as splitting third at Sikeston, Mo.,
one of the Great Lakes circuit's most lucrative rodeos.
Also amongst the field are two time
circuit champion Sandi Brandli and 2007 WPRA Rookie
of the Year Julie Erkamaa. Notably, Brandli has battled
Whyte over the past two seasons for Great Lakes titles,
the only cowgirl to interrupt Whyte's streak of WPRA
circuit championships. Brandli came up just about $2,000
short a year ago but won the circuit by about the same
margin over Whyte back in 2007. In addition to the 2007
title, Brandli also won back in 1996.
A wild card in the field is Adriane
Kochie of Hokah, Minn. Though a first time GLCFR qualifier,
Kochie is no stranger to championships. The cowgirl
won the College National Finals Rodeo title in 2006.
Action for the GLCFR will be held
at Freedom Hall in Louisville. The rodeo is part of
the larger, North American International Livestock Exposition.
For more info, go to www.glcprorodeo.com.
|
