RODEO NEWS

Champions Crowned at Governor’s Cup 

By Ann Bleiker

A whole year of blood, sweat and tears came down to the final weekend in professional rodeo and showdown Sunday at the 2025 Governor’s Cup presented by Texas Precious Metals at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, SD. It was an electric performance from start to finish.

The afternoon kicked off with the semifinal round featuring the top 8 in each event in a clean slate round, with the top 4 then advancing to the Final round for a shot at the $32,000 paycheck for the winner.

WPRA Breakaway Roper Bailey Bates was outside the top 15 when she arrived in Sioux Falls, but she leaves town having punched her ticket to her first National Finals Breakaway Roping. Bates of Tohatchi, N.M., stopped the clock in 2.1 seconds in the final round to win the round and the $32,000 that came with the win.

“That was the most pressured run I have ever had,” said Bates after her winning run. “This win gives me more confidence that I can back in the box with that much pressure. There was a lot on the line with that run as I knew I had to be first or second to have a chance. It was awesome.”

Unofficially she moved to No. 12 in the world after collecting $34,977 in South Dakota. World Champion Martha Angelone was hoping to punch her ticket to her sixth National Finals Breakaway Roping but a broken barrier in the finals left her third which was good for $16,000. Unofficially Angelone is $988 shy of the top 15, so all eyes will be on the standings on Tuesday, September 30 to see how the final numbers shake out.

“This is something we have been looking forward to for the past few years that they have had it (NFBR) to say this is one of the goals I have checked off it is unbelievable,” stated Bates about qualifying for her first NFBR.

Barrel racer Halyn Lide was also outside the Top 15 upon arrival in Sioux Falls but thanks to a $32,000 payday on Sunday she is heading back to her second NFR in Las Vegas. Lide and Keeper stopped the clock in the finals in a time of 14.38 seconds and held off Tricia Aldridge and Megan McLeod-Sprague for the title. The final check was the only won she cashed while in Sioux Falls but that was the one to have.

“I can’t believe we won,” said Lide after taking the title at the Governor’s Cup. “I was just hoping to get enough money to get us through and Keeper did Keeper things.

“Amazing to come out on top as didn’t see that coming as we squeaked through each piece. We didn’t pick up any checks in the rounds and wasn’t sure if he was feeling it but knew I better ask him anyway and he said ok.”

That is what the Governor’s Cup is all about to make dreams come true especially for those outside the Top 15 on the final weekend of the regular season.

“I am so excited,” said Lide when asked about going back to the NFR. “I honestly haven’t done anything to plan because I didn’t think we are close enough, so it is kind of amazing.”

Full Results

Breakaway roping: Finals: 1. Bailey Bates, 2.1 seconds, $32,000; 2. Josie Conner, 2.5, $24,000; 3. Martha Angelone, 12.1, $16,000; 4. Rylee George, NT, $8,000. Semifinals: 1.Rylee George, Oakdale, CA, 2.2; 2. (tie) Bailey Bates, Tohatchi, NM, and Josie Conner, Iowa, LA, 2.6; 4. Martha Angelone, Stephenville, TX, 12.4; 5. (tie) Maddy Deerman, Hope, NM, Aspen Miller, Santa Fe, TX, Cheyanne McCartney, Kingston, OK, and Taylor Munsell, Alva, OK, NT, $4,000 each

Round 1: 1. (tie) Taylor Munsell, Alva, OK and Rylee George, Oakdale, CA, 2.7 seconds, $10,422 each; 3. Beau Peterson, Council Grove, KS, 2.8, $5,955; 4. (tie) Maddy Deerman, Hope, NM and Cheyanne McCartney, Kingston, OK, 2.9, $1,488 each. Round 2: 1. (tie) Martha Angelone, Stephenville, TX and Aspen Miller, Santa Fe, TX, 2.4 seconds, $10,422 each; 3. Cheyanne McCartney, Kingston, OK, 2.5, $5,955; 4. Bailey Bates, Tohatchi, NM, 2.7, $2,977; Average (qualifiers for semifinals): 1. Cheyanne McCartney, 5.4 seconds on two head; 2. Taylor Munsell, 5.5; 3. Aspen Miller, 5.7; 4. Maddy Deerman, 15.0; 5. Josie Conner, 15.3; 6. Martha Angelone, 2.4 on one head; 7. (tie) Bailey Bates and Rylee George, 2.7.

Barrel racing: Finals: 1. Halyn Lide, 14.38 seconds, $32,000; 2. Tricia Aldridge, 14.45, $24,000; 3. Megan McLeod-Sprague, 14.46, $16,000; 4. Carlee Otero, 19.63, $8,000. Semifinals: 1.Tricia Aldridge, Sanger, TX, 14.38; 2. Carlee Otero, Lipan, TX, 14.41; 3. Megan McLeod-Sprague, Marsing, ID, 14.54; 4. Halyn Lide, China Spring, TX, 14.64; 5. Wenda Johnson, Pawhuska, OK, 14.74, $4,000; 6. Emily Beisel, Weatherford, OK, 14.76, $4,000; 7. Tayla Moeykens, Three Forks, MT, 14.77, $4,0008. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, SD, 19.17, $4,000

Round 1: 1. Megan McLeod-Sprague, Marsing, ID, 14.43 seconds, $11,911; 2. Carlee Otero, Lipan, TX, 14.54, $8,933; 3. Wenda Johnson, Pawhuska, OK, 14.68, $5,955; 4. Tayla Moeykens, Three Forks, MT, 14.74, $2,977. Round 2: 1. Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, TX, 14.20 seconds, $11,911; 2. Megan McLeod-Sprague, Marsing, ID, 14.32, $8.933; 3. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, SD, 14.35, $5,955; 4. Emily Beisel, Weatherford, OK, 14.38, $2,977; Average (qualifiers for semifinals): 1. Megan McLeod-Sprague, 28.75 points on two runs; 2. Carlee Otero, 29.06; 3. Emily Beisel, 29.21; 4. Wenda Johnson, 29.26; 5. Tricia Aldridge, 29.31; 6. Tayla Moeykens, 29.39; 7. Lisa Lockhart, 29.42; 8. Halyn Lide, 29.44.

RODEO NEWS

Semifinal Field Set at Governor’s Cup 

By Ann Bleiker

SIOUX FALLS, SD (Sept 27, 2025) – Second round action concluded on Saturday night at the 2025 Governor’s Cup presented by Texas Precious Metals at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, SD and now the semifinal field is set for Showdown Sunday.

WPRA Barrel Racer Megan McLeod-Sprague is a lady on a mission having already punched her ticket to her first National Finals Rodeo, she is now wanting to climb as close to No. 1 as she can before getting to Las Vegas.

“I got into this event by the skin of my teeth and sure glad we kept after them,” stated McLeod-Sprague. “He (Jag) felt the same as last night and I was just focused on keeping my run clean tonight as he can get a little tighter as it goes. He is feeling so good and so honest that he made my job easy.”

She and her horse Seis Corona, better known as Jag, have dominated the barrel racing in Sioux Falls winning opening night in a time of 14.43 seconds on top of the ground and took second in the second round with a 14.32 on the bottom of the ground.

“It was amazingly fast,” noted McLeod-Sprague of the ground on the second night. “I think I drew pretty fortunate being at the top yesterday and bottom today.”

The Marsing, Idaho cowgirl has won $20,844 so far and is hoping to add another $32,000 on Sunday as that is what the winner will take home.

The track in the barrel racing definitely got faster with Hailey Kinsel taking the round win in a time of 14.20 seconds. Unfortunately, the four-time world champ had a downed barrel the first night and will not advance to the semifinals. She did add $11,911 to her 2025 standings with the winning run on Saturday night.

This is the culminating event of the CINCH Playoffs boasting $1.4 million in prize money. A total of 12 contestants in each discipline earned their way to Sioux Falls and now the top 8 in the aggregate have advanced to the semifinals where they will start with a clean slate in hopes of being top 4 to advance to the finals where the winner will take home $32,000.

WPRA Breakaway roper Martha Angelone took a no time on opening night and was needing a quick run tonight to give her a chance to advance. The world champion did just that stopping the clock in 2.4 seconds to tie for the top spot with Aspen Miller. When the dust had settled on the second round, Angelone finished sixth in the aggregate to advance. The great thing for Angelone is that it will be a clean slate semifinals on Sunday so two more quick runs could land her inside the top 15 by the end of the Governor’s Cup.

“I kind of dropped the ball last night as I had a really good calf and didn’t use him, so I knew I had to make my run happen tonight to get back,” noted Angelone. “I still have to do a dang good job tomorrow to make it to my sixth NFBR and I am going to try like heck.”

As she stated she is trying to keep her streak alive of qualifying for every National Finals Breakaway Roping since its inception in 2020. Only she and Shelby Boisjoli-Meged have qualified for all of them through 2024. Boisjoli-Meged is already guaranteed but Sunday in Sioux Falls will determine if Angelone will punch her ticket in 2025.

Semifinal round action gets underway on Sunday, September 28 at 2:00 pm CT. All action from the richest South Dakota rodeo will be televised on The Cowboy Channel.

Results

Breakaway roping: Round 1: 1. (tie) Taylor Munsell, Alva, OK and Rylee George, Oakdale, CA, 2.7 seconds, $10,422 each; 3. Beau Peterson, Council Grove, KS, 2.8, $5,955; 4. (tie) Maddy Deerman, Hope, NM and Cheyanne McCartney, Kingston, OK, 2.9, $1,488 each. Round 2: 1. (tie) Martha Angelone, Stephenville, TX and Aspen Miller, Santa Fe, TX, 2.5 seconds, $10,422 each; 3. Cheyanne McCartney, Kingston, OK, 2.5, $5,944; 4. Bailey Bates, Tohatchi, NM, 2.7, $2,977; Average (qualifiers for semifinals): 1. Cheyanne McCartney, 5.4 seconds on two head; 2. Taylor Munsell, 5.5; 3. Aspen Miller, 5.7; 4. Maddy Deerman, 15.0; 5. Josie Conner, 15.3; 6. Martha Angelone, 2.4 on one head; 7. (tie) Bailey Bates and Rylee George, 2.7.

Barrel racing: Round 1: 1. Megan McLeod-Sprague, Marsing, ID, 14.43 seconds, $11,911; 2. Carlee Otero, Lipan, TX, 14.54, $8,933; 3. Wenda Johnson, Pawhuska, OK, 14.68, $5,955; 4. Tayla Moeykens, Three Forks, MT, 14.74, $2,977. Round 2: 1. Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, TX, 14.20 seconds, $11,911; 2. Megan McLeod-Sprague, Marsing, ID, 14.32, $8.933; 3. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, SD, 14.35, $5,944; 4. Emily Beisel, Weatherford, OK, 14.38; Average (qualifiers for semifinals): 1. Megan McLeod-Sprague, 28.75 points on two runs; 2. Carlee Otero, 29.06; 3. Emily Beisel, 29.21; 4. Wenda Johnson, 29.26; 5. Tricia Aldridge, 29.31; 6. Tayla Moeykens, 29.39; 7. Lisa Lockhart, 29.42; 8. Halyn Lide, 29.44.

RODEO NEWS

Munsell Retakes No. 1 Spot in Standings with Opening Night Win at Governor’s Cup 

By Ann Bleiker

SIOUX FALLS, SD (Sept 26, 2025) – Breakaway roper Taylor Munsell has been in a battle with 2023 WPRA World Champion Breakaway Roper and two-time Governor’s Cup champion Shelby Boisjoli-Meged for the No. 1 spot in the world the last couple of months. Unfortunately for Boisjoli-Meged she missed the cut to qualify this year to go for a three-peat in Sioux Falls opening the door for Munsell to retake the top spot. Munsell of Alva, Oklahoma, wasted no time finishing in a tie for first on opening night with Rylee George after stopping the clock in 2.7 seconds. They both added $10,422 to their standings. Munsell was only $1,784 behind Boisjoli-Meged coming in and she will be looking to extend that lead over the next two days in Sioux Falls.

“It doesn’t give me a lead by much so you always want that lead to be as big as it can be,” stated Munsell about moving back into No. 1. “Josie (Conner) got one down tonight giving her a chance to still win this thing and catch me. I have no doubt that Shelby will be coming back with vengeance at the finals and I don’t plan on letting off the gas. This kind of money is definitely what you want to end the season with.”

Munsell knows a thing or two about big rodeos having won RodeoHouston earlier this year.

“These big rodeos get me pumped up and they are ones I excel at,” noted Munsell. “I don’t know why but the buildings seem to be my niche.”

This is the culminating event of the CINCH Playoffs boasting $1.4 million in prize money as the regular season comes to a close. The field is comprised of the top four competitors in each event from the CINCH Playoffs in Puyallup, WA, and the top eight athletes in each event from the Playoffs Series Standings. All 12 will compete in two rounds (Sept. 26 and 27) with the top 8 scores/times in the average advancing to a clean slate semifinal round on September 28. The top four will then advance to the sudden death final round with the winner taking home $32,000.

Megan McLeod-Sprague is heading to her first Wrangler NFR, and she is trying to gather as much cash as she can before she heads down the alleyway at the Thomas and Mack. She was the first gunner out tonight in the barrel racing and set the bar high enough that no one could touch it. She stopped the clock in 14.43 seconds, with Carlee Otero taking second in a time of 14.54 seconds. Both took advantage of top of the ground as Otero was first out after the drag at six.

Second round action gets underway on Saturday, September 27 at 7:30 pm CT. All action from the richest South Dakota rodeo will be televised on The Cowboy Channel.

Round 1 Results
Breakaway roping: 1. (tie) Taylor Munsell, Alva, OK and Rylee George, Oakdale, CA, 2.7 seconds, $10,422 each; 3. Beau Peterson, Council Grove, KS, 2.8, $5,955; 4. (tie) Maddy Deerman, Hope, NM and Cheyanne McCartney, Kingston, OK, 2.9, $1,488 each; 6. Aspen Miller, Sante Fe, TX, 3.3; 7. Josie Connor, Iowa, LA, 3.5; no other qualified times

Barrel racing: 1. Megan McLeod-Sprague, Marsing, ID, 14.43 seconds, $11,911; 2. Carlee Otero, Lipan, TX, 14.54, $8,933; 3. Wenda Johnson, Pawhuska, OK, 14.68, $5,955; 4. Tayla Moeykens, Three Forks, MT, 14.74, $2,977; 5. Julie Plourde, Krum, TX, 14.78; 6. Emily Beisel, Weatherford, OK, 14.83; 7. Tricia Aldridge, Sanger, TX, 14.85; 8. Halyn Lide, China Springs, TX, 14.91.

RODEO NEWS

The Field Has Been Set for the 2025 Cinch Playoffs Governor’s Cup

By Ann Bleiker

SIOUX FALLS, SD (Sept 24, 2025) – The field is now set for the 2025 Governor’s Cup presented by Texas Precious Metals this weekend at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, SD. This is the culminating event of the CINCH Playoffs boasting $1.4 million in prize money.

All eyes will be on this event as this is the final full weekend of the 2025 rodeo regular season and there is a mix of contestants looking to make their way into the top 15 to earn a spot in Las Vegas at the National Finals Rodeo in December, while others will be looking to add more money on their quest for a world title.

There will be a total of 12 contestants in each discipline. The field is comprised of the top four competitors in each event from the CINCH Playoffs in Puyallup, WA, and the leading eight athletes in each event from the Playoffs Series Standings. All 12 will compete in two rounds (Sept. 26 and 27) with the top 8 scores/times in the average advancing to a clean slate semifinal round on September 28. The top four will then advance to the sudden death final round with the winner taking home $32,000. If a contestant was able to clean sweep the event (win every round) they would add $55,822 to their 2025 earnings.

All action from the richest South Dakota rodeo will be televised on The Cowboy Channel.

WPRA qualifiers for the 2025 Governor’s Cup

Breakaway roping:

1. Rylee George
2. Zoie Bedke
3. Hali Williams
4. Martha Angelone
5. Josie Conner
6. Taylor Munsell
7. Cheyanne McCartney
8. Beau Peterson
9. Aspen Miller
10. Macy Young
11. Bailey Bates
12. Maddy Deerman

Barrel racing:

1. Halyn Lide
2. Lisa Lockhart
3. Emily Beisel
4. Michelle Alley
5. Hailey Kinsel
6. Carlee Otero
7. Tricia Aldridge
8. Andrea Busby
9. Tayla Moeykens
10. Wenda Johnson
11. Julie Plourde
12. Megan McLeod-Sprague

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