NFBR 2025

Williams Dominates on First Night of 2025 Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping in Ft. Worth

By Ann Bleiker

FORT WORTH, TEXAS – The 2025 Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping presented by Tito’s Handmade Vodka finally got underway on Monday, December 22 at Cowtown Coliseum in Ft. Worth after having to be rescheduled from Las Vegas.

Hali Williams got things rolling taking the first round victory lap after stopping the clock in a time of 2.1 seconds. Williams is making her third consecutive appearance at the NFBR.

​“This was the first time I have caught in the first round at the NFR, so this is kind of cool to start out with a win,” said Williams when talking to Katy Lucas with the Cowboy Channel in the winner’s circle. “I knew these calves were going to be stronger than the ones we roped last week so had my dad (Speed Williams – 8-time PRCA World Champion) got on Red Light and freed him up for me this morning.”

The only competitor that has qualified for every single NFBR is Shelby Boisjoli-Meged, who finished second in the first round in a time of 2.6 seconds. Boisjoli-Meged tasted gold in 2023 and would love to do that again in 2025.

Sticking with the 2.1 second run theme, Beau Peterson landed atop the leaderboard in the second round with that time. After a no time in the first round, Peterson was just excited to get a time in the second round.

“Yeah, that horse is really good at knocking their tracks out and making that calf easier than he probably should have been,” noted Peterson after her victory lap. “This is a lot. We’re kind of trapped in here and the crowd is all cheering, which we love, but it’s a lot of pressure on us and our horses. You just have to take a deep breath and nod your head.”

It was a repeat winner to the victory circle in the third round with Williams turning in the first sub-2.0 second run stopping the clock in 1.9 seconds.

“Thanks to Red Light, I can trust him that no matter what, he’ll run,” noted Williams. “He did read the play a little bit and definitely stopped faster than I was expecting, so that was good. He’s a blessing from God. Our story is something that wouldn’t normally happen, and it was just God’s hand in all of it. So, all I can do is thank him every day for letting me be his shepherd.”

Finishing in a tie for second in the third round with times of 2.1 seconds were two first timers to the NFBR — Bailey Bates and Suzanne Williams.

Williams repeated her 1.9 second time in the fourth round to collect her third round victory on the night and is still in the driver’s seat to win the Betty Gayle Cooper Fast Time Award presented by the Cowgirl Museum heading into the second day of competition on Tuesday, December 23.

Over the course of five rounds, Williams either won them or had a no time. She moved from fifth in the world to fourth with $150,589 heading into the last five rounds.

Closing out the night winning the fifth round was Josie Conner and Kinlie Brennise with a pair of 2.1 second times.

Rylee George leads the average in a time of 14.6 seconds on five head. Aspen Miller at her first NFBR is second in the average in a time of 15.4 and Josie Conner sits third with 22.2.

Despite a tough day at the office, Taylor Munsell still holds the No. 1 spot in the world standings with $195,743 to Conner’s $192,743.

The final five rounds will take place on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Cowtown Coliseum and can be seen LIVE on The Cowboy Channel.

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Rd 1 results: 1. Hali Williams, 2.1 seconds, $6,197; 2. Shelby Boisjoli-Meged, 2.6, $5,128; 3. Joey Williams, 2.9, $4,060; 4. Aspen Miller, 3.0, $2,991; 5. (tie) Josie Conner, Rylee George, and Maddy Deerman, 3.3, $997

Rd 2 results: 1. Beau Peterson, 2.1 seconds, $6,197; 2. Josie Conner, 2.3, $5,128; 3. Shelby Boisjoli-Meged, 2.9, $4,060; 4. Macy Young, 3.2, $2,991; 5. (tie) Kinlie Brennise and Rylee George, 3.4, $1,496 each

Rd 3 results: 1. Hali Williams, 1.9 seconds, $6,197; 2. (tie) Bailey Bates and Suzanne Williams, 2.1, $4,594 each; 4. Rylee George, 2.6, $2,991; 5. (tie) Kinlie Brennise, Bradi Good and Macy Young, 2.8, $997 each.

Rd 4 results: 1. Hali Williams, 1.9 seconds, $6,197; 2. (tie) Beau Peterson and Joey Williams, 2.0, $4,594 each; 4. Taylor Munsell, 2.1, $2,991; 5. Aspen Miller, 2.5, $19,23; 6. (tie) Rylee George, Josie Conner and Macy Young, 2.6, $356 each.

Rd 5 results: 1. (tie) Josie Conner and Kinlie Brennise, 2.1 seconds, $5,662 each; 3. Bradi Good, 2.3, $4,060; 4. (tie) Joey Williams and Rylee George, 2.7, $2,457; 6. Shelby Boisjoli-Meged, 3.1, $1,068.

Current Average results: 1. Rylee George, 14.6 seconds on five rounds; 2. Aspen Miller, 15.4; 3. Josie Conner, 22.2; 4. Kinlie Brennise, 24.3; 5. Bailey Bates, 32.7.

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