Officially, the regular season for competitors in the WPRA began three months ago on October 1. But in truth, things don't really get rolling until New Year's weekend. With 14 WPRA co-sanctioned barrel races, four WPRA Roping events, five WPRA junior events, two WPRA futurity/derby events, and one PRCA rodeo, there was reason to celebrate for just about every WPRA competitor.

The weekend kicked off with the return of the Cotton Bowl Rodeo. Held during the 1960's at the Fairgrounds in Dallas, the rodeo was held in conjunction with festivities for the Cotton Bowl college football game. The rodeo even hosted the WPRA National Finals barrel race from 1962-1965.

Mesquite Championship Rodeo decided to reincarnate the old Cotton Bowl Rodeo at Resistol Arena in 2009. Dubbed the Mesquite Winter Classic, the rodeo offered discounted tickets to fans in town for the Cotton Bowl, provided they came to the rodeo sporting their team colors.

Thanks to an open entry format without limits, the rodeo got close to 200 barrel racers. Former Wrangler NFR qualifier Kassie Mowry took her red hot streak into the rodeo, coming out with a victory with her time of 16.18, worth $1,417. The Winter Classic championship comes on the heels of an AQHA World Championship and the title at the WPRA World Finals Rodeo in Tulsa. The title in Tulsa, worth $4,420, along with the Winter Classic win has given Mowry the chance to enter the winter's limited entry rodeos. She is currently second in the WPRA world standings.

The Dube sisters cleaned house at the co-sanctioned WPRA race in Bryan, Texas. Sanctioned by the Xtreme Barrel Racing Plus (www.xtremebarrelracingplus.com), the race had over 300 runners. Younger sister Jackie Jatzlau piloted MP Wooden Girl and Hanks Sweet Label to first and second, respectively. Only the first place money counts towards Jatzlau's WPRA standings. Big sister Tammy Fischer won third on her Wrangler NFR mount, MP Quick Money. Pam Deaver, currently third in the WPRA world standings and the WPRA World Finals Reserve Champ, was fourth on her horse, Stage Cry.

Jatzlau and Fischer weren't done for the weekend as they headed back home to Giddings for the Riley Key Memorial Scholarship Race. Key, Fischer's son, passed away in June in a tragic automobile accident, just past his 18th birthday. All proceeds from the race, along with t-shirt, hoodie, and bracelet sales, went towards the scholarship fund in Riley's name. Visit www.tammykey.com to buy items or donate to the cause.

The race was the first of two events to raise money-the second is Sunday, Jan. 10 and will include a chili dinner and an end to the silent auction.

"I was speechless by the amount of support we have received," said Fischer, who noted there were 250 entries for the first barrel racing event. "People who don't even barrel race that knew Riley came and helped or set barrels. Riley's friends from school came and helped sell t-shirts and sweatshirts. We almost sold out."

California was in on the New Year's action with five sanctioned barrel races. C Bar T Productions (www.cbartproductions.com) hosted a BRN4D event in Tulare along with an NBHA CA 15 event (www.nbhaca15.com). Bailey Tuck dominated the first two days with a pair of victories aboard In the Sky Bar. However, Rowland Heights, California cowgirl Cammy Fetherston would claim the average win on Jackey. Fetherston won third, second, and first, respectively over the three days of competition. She collected $1,386 in WPRA points. In the NBHA, Katie McCaslan took the first race while Bethany Unruh won the second.

Just up Highway 99 in Hilmar, the New Year's Day Race was hosted by Lucky B Acres (www.luckybacres.com). The town of Ione, California held the Run 4 the Money Rancheria Style race and southern Californians were treated to the Riverside County Barrel Racers New Year's Race.

California Circuit Rookie of the Year Haley Jochims took the win in Riverside with a fourteen one-thousandths of a second edge. Jochims rides Regain Fame, a Dash Ta Fame (a stallion recently enrolled in the WPRA PESI program) bred horse she purchased from NFR qualifier Danyelle Campbell. Campbell was also on hand in Riverside, claiming fourth on Dat Czech. Two time California Circuit Junior Champ Caitlyn Loomis got a jump start on a third title, placing eighth in the open 1D.

WPRA Juniors lit up the board at the New Year's Barrel Bash in San Antonio, Texas. Hosted by Hills Prairie Livestock, the three day race was held at the famous Rose Palace. Stormi Crouch of Pleasanton took the win in Friday's open and youth races. The cowgirl, who is currently ranked fourth in the WPRA junior standings, also placed fifth in Saturday's open, taking second in that day's youth race.

Fellow WPRA junior Callie Duperier was right on Crouch's heels on Friday, finishing second in both the open and youth. Duperier stepped it up on Saturday, placing fourth in the open and winning the youth. On Sunday, the Bandera cowgirl won third and fourth in the open, taking the top two spots in the youth as well. Duperier was fourth in the 2009 WPRA junior world standings and has a great jump on the 2010 championship race.

The San Antonio event also hosted a WPRA Futurity. 2007 WPRA World Champion Kay Blandford took the win both days but on two different horses. On Saturday, Blandford piloted Nothingabout Me to the win just ahead of Andrea Herron in the 1D while Lisa Anderson took the 2D win on Sheza Dash ta Fame.

On Sunday, Blandford was back in the winner's circle aboard Born to be Famous while Amy Williams won the 2D on Hollywood Hitter.

Herron won the open on Saturday to add to her WPRA world standings total and two time WNFR average champ Liz Pinkston won the Sunday event. Pinkston won the average title for the event aboard her horse Tiny.

The New Year's Bustin' Out Barrel Race in Buckeye, Ariz., drew competitors from across the southwest. With four days of competition co-sanctioned by American West, Pac West, NW5D, and NBHA along with WPRA, nearly 1,000 runs were made in the open 5D races. Turquoise Circuit cowgirl Kyna Schrader claimed victory on the first day with her run of 17.043 on Cruzen for Cash worth $816. Two time world champion and reigning WNFR average champ Sherry Cervi piloted MP A Man with Roses smoked the field on day two with the fastest run of the week, a 16.847 on the WPRA standard pattern. The win paid $1,163.

Sub-seventeen was the order of the day on day three with Orla Mae Harvey of Wickenburg taking the victory worth $1,182 with a time of 16.964. On the final day Maxine McKenna was first with a 17.108 which paid $754. Harvey would claim the average title over three time WNFR qualifier Brenda Mays and reserve champ WPRA/AQHA Horse of the Year Judge Buy Cash.

Those willing to pay an additional entry fee could enter the WPRA side pots each day. Averaging 23 runners a day, the WPRA winners were: Schrader, Mays, and Danna Stovner on the final two days.

The race also hosted a WPRA approved Futurity. The first go was won by Courtney Dobson on Jr with April Denny taking the 2D aboard Flip Down Slow. In the second round, Stacey Buchanan took the 1D victory with Whipper Snapper Snorty while Jill Lufkin and Pepper won the 2D.

Not to be left out on the action, WPRA ropers had four sanctioned events in which to earn championship points over the weekend. At the S & S 2010 Super Bowl in Guthrie, Okla., Missouri cowgirls Laura Mitchell and Mandi Ramaeker claimed $225 each for the fast time of the roping at 7.85 seconds. Both cowgirls are ranked in the top 10 of their respective ends of the WPRA team roping world standings. Reigning world champion heeler Kasey Etbauer claimed third in the average of the event, worth $1,658.

From West Palm Beach, Fla. to Tulare, Calif. and from Denver, Colo. to Mountain View, Mo., producers gave WPRA members thousands of dollars to run for over New Year's weekend and get a jump start on a prosperous 2010!