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Action has been tough during the
early days of the 2009 WPRA World Finals Rodeo presented
by Wrangler at Expo Square in Tulsa, Okla.
In the Ford Arena reigning World Champion All-Around
Cowgirl Jackie Hobbs of Abilene, Texas, made a strong
bid to retain the title. In the team roping, Hobbs took
care of the horns while reigning breakaway world champion
Lari Dee Guy, also of Abilene, took care of the heels
stopping the clock in 7.3 seconds. Hobbs also turned
in a 9.2, the second fastest time of the opening round,
heeling for Debbie Fabrizio of Pueblo, Colo.
Hobbs, who is also defending her world championship
in tie-down roping, won the opening round of that event
with a time of 10.3 seconds, nearly four seconds faster
than Toni Tyree of Chino Valley, Ariz., who tied her
calf in 14.1 seconds.
The competition was double-tough in the first round
of breakaway roping. Three cowgirls - Zoe Swain of New
South Wales, Australia, Jayme Ramsey of Stafford, Kan.,
and Tina Hamilton of McAlester, Okla., tied for first
with times of 2.2 seconds. Four other cowgirls were
hot on their heels with times of 2.4 and eighth place
in the round was a 2.5.
Both preliminary rounds of the World Finals Barrel Race
are in the books. Kassie Mowry won the opening round
with a 16.13-second run, followed by Caren Lamb with
a 16.31, Lita Scott and Tiffany Fox rounded out the
top four with times of 16.38. The first round winners
of the 2D were Jeanne Anderson and Kay Young, both with
times of 16.63.
Liz Pinkston's time of 16.05 won the second round, followed
by Jeanne Anderson and Tiffany Fox, both with runs of
16.10 seconds. Kelly Allen and Mattie Little tied for
first in the 2D with times of 16.56.
Over in the Mustang Arena, Cheyenne Richards of Quitman,
Texas, won the first go of the WPRA Junior Barrel Race,
presented by Dodge. Her time was 15.78 seconds, edging
Emily Efurd of Pittsburg, Texas, by four-hundredths
of a second. Cassidy Wahlert of Wellington, Colo., was
the 2D winner with a 16.85, edging Jessie May of Lakeland,
Fla., by two-hundredths.
Jolene Stewart rode JL Dash Ta Heaven, a four-year-old
sorrel stud owned by Jud Little, out of Dash Ta Fame
by Dynas Plain Special, to win the Pro Futurity average
with a total time of 31.292. They won the first round
with a 15.459 and placed third in the second round with
a 15.833.
Second in the average, with a total time of 31.662 was
Jettin' On Jewels, a five-year-old gelding out of Honor
Thy Marc, owned and ridden by Lita Scott. The pair placed
ninth in the first round with a 15.877, but came back
to snare second in round two with a 15.785.
Lil Luck Never Hurts, a four-year-old Dash Ta Fame gelding
ridden by P.J. Burger and owned by Felicia Taylor won
the second round with a 15.753, bettering his first
go-round time by a full second.
The first round 2D winner was Leader Board, a four-year-old
bay gelding out of Special Leader by Roll Penny Roll,
owned and ridden by J.J. Baldwin, with a time of 16.494.
The 2D winner of round two with a 16.859 was No Perks
for Brady, a five-year-old sorrel gelding out of Dash
For Perks by Alices Lady Bug, owned and ridden by Rhonda
Syler.
Dash To The Flame, a 7-year-old gelding out of Special
Elan out of My Easter Flame, ridden by Kenna Squires
and owned by Boltinghouse and Squires, won the Pro Derby
average with a total time of 31.419 seconds. The duo
placed second in round one with a time of 15.915 and
won the second round with a 15.504.
Second in the derby average with a total of 31.632 was
Zanes Wonder Bug, a six-year-old mare out of Candybar
Wonder Bug by Zing Zang Wonder, ridden and owned by
Collette Flaharty.
The WPRA World Finals Rodeo continues Friday with the
second round of the junior barrel race at 10 a.m., followed
by the second round of the roping events at noon and
the third round roping slack in the Ford Arena. A $1,500
added women's open 4D barrel race begins at 8 a.m. in
the Mustang Arena.
At 7 p.m. the rodeo performance begins in the Ford Arena,
which includes the top 15 in the roping events and the
short go of the World Finals Barrel Race.
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