Press Release by PRCA Pro Rodeo
HOUSTON (Sept. 7, 2021) — Today, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo announced that women’s breakaway roping will debut at the RODEOHOUSTON Super Series in 2022.
Breakaway roping, sanctioned by the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA), is an all-women’s event that has recently been added to professional rodeos across the country. At the National Finals Breakaway Roping in Arlington, Texas, the 2020 WPRA World Champion was crowned.
“Breakaway roping is the fastest-growing event in rodeo, and we are thrilled to feature our second women’s rodeo event at RODEOHOUSTON in 2022,” said Chris Boleman, Rodeo president and CEO. “Like women’s barrel racing, breakaway roping is fast-paced and requires strong horsemanship skills, and it’s an event that promises to keep rodeo fans on the edge of their seats.”
Breakaway roping will be held seven nights during the 2022 RODEOHOUSTON Super Series, a tournament-style competition that crowns an event champion in bareback riding, bull riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, team roping, women’s barrel racing, and now, women’s breakaway roping. RODEOHOUSTON will offer equal pay in the breakaway roping event. Champions in all events earn $50,000 on top of their Super Series earnings.
“This is truly a monumental day for the women in breakaway roping,” said Jimmie Munroe, WPRA President. “Not only will they have the opportunity to compete and showcase their talent on one of rodeo’s largest stages, but they will do so with equal prize money. The WPRA has had a long-standing relationship with RODEOHOUSTON and we are excited to expand our partnership to feature a second all-women’s event at this historic rodeo.”
2022 Women’s Breakaway Roping Schedule:
• Breakaway roping will be included in one performance in each Super Series, with performance dates to be announced.
• The top two athletes from each performance will advance to the Semifinal round, for a total of 10 athletes.
• Top four athletes from the Semifinal round will advance directly to the Championship Shootout Round on Saturday, March 19.
“It’s been great to see breakaway roping have the success it is having at PRORODEO® events across North America,” said Tom Glause, PRCA Interim CEO. “RODEOHOUSTON welcoming the ladies of breakaway is yet another example of that.”
RODEOHOUSTON has been a WPRA sanctioned event for decades, with earnings from the RODEOHOUSTON Super Series counting toward qualification for the NFR and the WPRA World Standings.
“The WPRA is very pleased and excited that RODEOHOUSTON has decided to add breakaway roping to the line-up of their iconic rodeo for the 2022 edition,” said Jolee Jordan, WPRA Roping Director. “It is awesome that WPRA members will have the opportunity to compete at the largest rodeo in ProRodeo and we look forward to growing the ropers’ relationship with RODEOHOUSTON in the future.”
About The PRCA
The PRCA, headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., is recognized as the unsurpassed leader in sanctioning the sport of professional rodeo. The PRCA’s mission is to unify membership in providing an innovative fan experience, to grow the sport of professional rodeo and provide new expanded opportunities for our membership and sponsors. Since 1986, the PRCA has paid out more than $1 billion in prize money to its contestants. The PRCA offers the best cowboys and the best rodeos; delivering the best fan experience while positively impacting our communities and embracing the spirit of the West. A membership-based organization, the PRCA sanctioned 732 events in 2019, and there are more than 40 million rodeo fans in the U.S. The PRCA televises the sport’s premier events, with the world-renowned Wrangler National Finals Rodeo on The Cowboy Channel and RFD-TV and streaming on the PRCA on Cowboy Channel Plus App. The PRORODEO® Tour and RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo also air on The Cowboy Channel and RFD-TV, and the PRCA on Cowboy Channel Plus App. PRCA-sanctioned rodeos donate more than $40 million to local and national charities every year. For comprehensive coverage of the cowboy sport, read ProRodeo Sports News, the official publication of the PRCA, and make sure to check out the digital edition of PSN. The digital PSN and daily updates of news and results can be found on the PRCA’s official website, www.prorodeo.com.
