RODEO NEWS

September Shuffle: Ellensburg Rodeo Pivotal Win for Angelone and Kosel

By Ann Bleiker

The Ellensburg Rodeo was a front runner in bringing breakaway roping to rodeo fans, adding it to their rodeo in 2017 as part of the WPRA pilot program in the Columbia River Circuit, making it one of the first major rodeos to feature this second women’s only event. In fact, it wasn’t until 2019 when the event was added as an event at The American Rodeo.

Now in 2025 the event was featured on the cover of their rodeo program and two ladies seeking a return trip to the Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping presented by Tito’s Handmade Vodka in Las Vegas, Dec. 2-3, landed in the winner’s circle sharing the coveted title and paycheck.

Since the creation of the Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping in 2020, Martha Angelone has earned the opportunity to back in the box every year, winning the world title in 2022. However, as she entered the 2025 Ellensburg Rodeo, she was ranked 25^th and over $25,000 out of the top 15 so every dollar amount counts with less than a month left in the regular season.

Angelone tied with Beau Peterson for the title in Ellensburg with a three-run total of 8.3 seconds and won a total of $7,536. Angelone finished just out of the money in the first round, tied for 10^th in the second round and won the final round in a time of 2.5 seconds to land atop the leaderboard.

“Ellensburg Rodeo is one of my favorites every year,” wrote Angelone on her Facebook page. “Chick and I were the co-breakaway champions this year. I placed in the second round, won the short, and split the average. We made a great run on our first at Walla Walla too. Especially proud of how my mare has stepped up for me this summer.”

Angelone is now ranked 20th and is $22,264 out of the top 15.

Peterson tied for fifth in the first and second rounds with times of 2.8 and 2.6 respectively and finished second in the finals, stopping the clock in 2.9 seconds adding a total of $8,903 to her earnings. Peterson missed the last two NFBRs but has positioned herself to make a return trip in 2025 ranked 10^th prior to her win in Ellensburg. Since July Peterson has rattled off some big wins including a second-place finish at California Rodeo Salinas, then captured the title in Dodge City, Kansas and Caldwell, Idaho. Following this past weekend Peterson is ranked sixth with $109,955.

Another WPRA member chasing another NFR qualification is barrel racer Summer Kosel, who was ranked 18th before the Ellensburg Rodeo nearly $15,000 out of the top 15. She narrowed that gap with a big win in the pacific northwest collecting $10,499 at Ellensburg.

Kosel finished fourth in the first round in a time of 17.18, improved on that time to place second in the second round in a time of 17.15 seconds, qualifying for the Finals on Labor Day. She and Apollo saved the best for last laying down a 16.99 second run to win the finals and land atop the leaderboard with a three-run total of 51.32 seconds.

The 2025 regular season will come to an end on Sept. 30 and Kosel is currently ranked 16th with $97,249, just $4,194 out of the top 15.

Buckle up as these next few weeks will be worth the ride.

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