NFR NEWS

Dreams Do Come True at Wrangler NFR for Gibson-Stillwell

By Ann Bleiker

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – The seventh round of the barrel racing at the 2025 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge had a little bit of everything. From downed barrels to a horse completing the pattern without his rider, it was an action-packed round. In the end, it was Hayle Gibson-Stillwell making her first victory lap inside the Thomas and Mack after stopping the clock in 13.45 seconds.

“Oh gosh, I am full of excitement. I can’t even contain it,” said Gibson-Stillwell moments after her victory lap. “The key was my confidence in my horse. I finally rode and just let her work. We had fun tonight and we danced.”

Gibson-Stillwell has dreamt of this day since she was five years old when she watched the NFR with her dad. The young cowgirl would ride a stick horse and have her dad announce her as Lisa Lockhart.

“I would get on my stick horse and use my piggin string from goat tying as my over and under,” recalled Gibson-Stillwell. “Lisa signed the stick horse my dad brought with him for this year’s NFR and she wrote Dreams Do Come True. I am honored and humbled to be here competing alongside her. I can’t believe it.”

The Redcrest, California cowgirl was jockeying Buncha Dinero (Piper) and that is what she collected for the round win. The win aboard Piper was worth $36,668. Ironically enough, her neighbor, Cameron Moore competed at the 1985 NFR in Las Vegas in the team roping, the first year it moved to Sin City.

“I tried to imagine what this would be like my whole life, and this is so much better than anything I could have imagined,” stated Gibson-Stillwell about her first NFR and first round win. “This is so special.”

The seventh round of the NFR is Military Night where the men and women who serve our country and protect our freedom are honored. Tonight, in connection with the Honor Tags for Heroes Program, the WPRA cowgirls recognized and honored two women who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the United States Armed Forces by wearing specially made Military Tags for these two soldiers. They honored U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, a 20-year-old member of the West Virginia National Guard, who died from injuries sustained in a targeted shooting in Washington, D.C. on November 26, 2025, and Sgt. Jadalyn “Jada” Good, 23, of Mount Vernon, Washington, who served with the elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne)-the legendary Night Stalkers. On September 17, 2025, she lost her life in a training accident near Joint Base Lewis-McChord, serving her country with distinction.

“It means everything especially since they sacrificed their life for us,” noted Gibson-Stillwell about the Honor Tags for Heroes program. “I have some friends in the military, so I know what they go through and this makes it that much more special.”

Reigning world champion Kassie Mowry continued her consistent runs stopping the clock in a time of 13.62 seconds aboard Cornbread. She leads the average with a seven-run time of 95.73 seconds. Julie Plourde moved to second in the average in a time of 97.63 seconds, with Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi third in 98.38 Mowry continues to lead the world standings with $338,824 to Hailey Kinsel’s $308,096.

All the top 15 are not only competing for cash in the arena but a chance to be named the 2025 Jerry Ann Taylor Best Dressed Award winner presented by The Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. Fans can vote nightly for the best dressed at www.wpra.com. The winner will be announced prior to the start of the 10th round. The winner is determined by a combination of fan and committee votes. The Best Dressed will receive a $5,000 check.Eighth round action gets underway, Thursday, December 11 at 5:45 p.m. PT LIVE on the Cowboy Channel.

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Rd 7 results: 1. Hayle Gibson-Stillwell, Redcrest, Calif., 13.45 seconds, $36,668; 2. Tricia Aldridge, Sanger, Texas, 13.52, $28,980; 3. Kassie Mowry, Dublin, Texas, 13.62, $21,882; 4. Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, Texas, 13.64, $15,377; 5. Julie Plourde, Krum, Texas, 13.65, $9,463; 6. Andrea Busby, Brock, Texas, 13.76, $5,914

Average leaders: 1. Kassie Mowry, Dublin, Texas, 95.73 seconds on seven runs; 2. Julie Plourde, Krum, Texas, 97.63; 3. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, Lampasas, Texas, 98.38; 4. Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, Texas, 100.63; 5. Tricia Aldridge, Sanger, Texas, 100.64; 6. Andrea Busby, Brock, Texas, 102.40; 7. Hayle Gibson-Stillwell, Redcrest, Calif., 105.37; 8. Emily Beisel, Weatherford, Okla., 106.08

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