Emilee Charlesworth etched her name in the hallowed BFI Week history books, nabbing the 2025 Charlie 1 Horse All-Girl Breakaway Roping title March 27.
Charlesworth, 19-year-old from Marathon, Texas, pocketed $21,000 for the win after roping three calves in 9.92 seconds. Conquering the longer score and harder-running calves of the BFI took a veteran approach as the roping was a knife fight through and through.
“I just wanted to score sharp and then run them down and catch them,” Charlesworth said. “Don’t try to do anything fancy. Every year, usually, the most consistent person wins, but this year it was a little different. It was tougher this year, but I just tried to stay off the barrier and run them down.”
Charlesworth kicked off her day in the Lazy E Arena with the Round 1 win with a 2.78-second run for $1,250. After nailing the barrier in the first round, the freshman at Cisco College decided to make a businesswoman’s run in Round 2.
“I kind of nailed the barrier back, so then in the second round, I just felt off the barrier a little bit,” Charlesworth said. “I just wanted to go kind of slower, so I was 4.0. It was great. I mean, it wasn’t the best loop, but it was what I wanted to do.”
At third callback, Charlesworth kept with the same plan: Stay solid.
“It was the same thing: I just wanted to go knock him down,” Charlesworth said. “And I drew really good. Once again, the loop was not great, but it went on.”
Charlesworth rode her 10-year-old mare Hallelujah to the win.
“I’ve had her since she was a 4-year-old,” Charlesworth said. “She’s been absolutely outstanding. You can take her to the BFI, or you can take her wherever you want, and then turn around and go be quick on her. She’s just really solid, very versatile.”
Charlesworth may be young, but she knows the significance of good horsepower. In 2023, Charlesworth banked $110,000 at the Roping Futurities of America in Abilene, Texas, sweeping both rounds and the aggregate in the slot roping. As for Hallelujah, Charlesworth gives her all the credit for the prestigious BFI victory.
“I’m happy about it,” Charlesworth said of the win. “Really, I’m just proud of my horse. She’s amazing. And if it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have got any of it. So all the credit to her.”
Full BFI Charlie 1 Horse All-Girl Breakaway results
| Aggregate | |||
| 1st | 9.92 | Emilee Charlesworth | $21,000 |
| 2nd | 10.33 | Danielle Wray | $17,000 |
| 3rd | 11.04 | Jessi Everet | $13,500 |
| 4th | 11.53 | Macy Young | $10,000 |
| 5th | 11.86 | Kate Eiland | $7,000 |
| 6th | 11.94 | Audrey Kremer | $4,000 |
| 7th | 12.05 | Roany Clendenin | $3,000 |
| 8th | 12.09 | Jacelyn Frost | $2,600 |
| 9th | 12.36 | Braydee Bourdet | $2,200 |
| 10th | 12.56 | Quincy Sullivan | $1,500 |
| 11th | 12.63 | Jacey Milligan | $1,300 |
| 12th | 12.82 | Kelsie Domer | $1,100 |
| 13th | 21.31 | Madison Outhier | $1,100 |
| 14th | 21.57 | Payton Johnson | $1,000 |
| 15th | 6.74 / 2 | Braylee Shepherd | $1,000 |
| Incentive | |||
| 1st | 11.94 | Audrey Kremer | $1,400 |
| 2nd | 12.05 | Roany Clendenin | $1,000 |
| 3rd | 12.36 | Braydee Bourdet | $800 |
| 4th | 7.72 / 2 | Alee Andrews | $650 |
| 5th | 8.27 / 2 | Kerstin Freeman | $500 |
| Round 1 | |||
| 1st | 2.78 | Emilee Charlesworth | $1,250 |
| 2nd | 3.05 | Audrey Kremer | $825 |
| 3rd | 3.05 | Danielle Wray | $825 |
| 4th | 3.11 | Braylee Shepherd | $500 |
| Round 2 | |||
| 1st | 2.8 | Kiely Walz | $1,250 |
| 2nd | 2.96 | Brylee Smith | $900 |
| 3rd | 3.02 | Jenna Fulton | $750 |
| 4th | 3.12 | Kashlee Schumacher | $500 |
| Short Go | |||
| 1st | 3.06 | Jessi Everet | $700 |
