After the news dropped last Thursday of the 2022 plan for the National Finals of Breakaway Roping, the breakaway ropers came out with a vengance at ProRodeos across the country.
Whitney Thurmond cashed the biggest check of the week at the Old Fort Days rodeo in Fort Smith, Arkansas, with a blazing 1.6-second run, worth $3,986. Oh, but the sub-2-second runs don’t stop there.
Cowgirls across the South and Midwest took advantage of the equal added money offered for breakway ropers at multiple rodeos. Hali Williams cashed in for $2,997 in Durant, Oklahoma. Down the road, Addie Weil looked to make a big move in the Prairie Circuit after her 1.4-second run in Hugo, Oklahoma, which was worth $2,487. 18-year-old Weil’s philosophy on being under 2 seconds in the breakaway is inspired by another roping event.
“My inspiration for getting my rope up and reaching comes from watching ProRodeo headers in the team roping,” Weil said. “As this next generation of ropers comes along, I think we’ll see more runs in the 1-second range. It’s transitioning to that header mentality of neck rope off, team rope (or breakaway rope) on.”
Thurmond and Weil may have turned in the fastest times of the week, but in Mount Pleasant, Texas, there was a log-jam of 1-second runs. Four cowgirls—2022 Windy Ryon Champion Maddy Deerman, BreakawayRoping.com coach and World Champion JJ Hampton, NFBR Qualifier Taylor Munsell, and Brooke Rogers turned in 1.8-second runs and each earned $2,110 for their loops.
The win meant something different to each of the cowgirls who tied. For Munsell, it meant her practice pen work has been paying off.
“I’ve been telling myself to make sure I ride my horse first,” Munsell said. ”Even when you’re trying to be fast you can’t beat yourself out of the box, so I’ve been working on slowing down and letting my horse’s drop bring both me and my swing up.”
Veteran Hampton—one of the most successful ropers who holds the saddle horn in the corner— was just excited to be included in the equal-added money in Mt Pleasant, but had other reasons to celebrate.
“I roped on June 1, and it was also my 51st birthday,” Hampton said. ”Mt Pleasant has always been a good rodeo. I’m so thankful for the opportunities to rope, and having equal added money at these rodeos is great.”
Rogers was celebrating a career milestone aboard her newest equine partner, after a career-ending injury ended her time on her previous mare.
“This was a huge accomplishment for my mare and me. I haven’t been able to be faster than 2.0 on her, due to no fault of hers,” Rogers said. “She’s so athletic that it’s hard for me to get to the front quickly. At this rodeo, I just focused on my target and told myself I’d take my first shot no matter what. That confidence was the key!”
Another tie in New Mexico put Shawnee Sherwood and Justine Doka at the top. In Clovis, the two ladies were 1.9-seconds and took home $2,071.
My kind of default is ‘catch mode,’ and I’ve had to work hard at developing the mindset that it’s okay to miss a couple while trying to be fast, because nobody can catch those kinds of shots all the time, but if you don’t try them, you’ll never win anything. I just try to score, ride my horse acorss the box and take the first shot I see. Simplified—score, ride, rope—that’s something I picked up from Kelsie Domer.
Shawnee Sherwood, Clovis Rodeo Co-Champion
ProRodeo results coverage is brought to you all season long by our friends at Cactus Ropes.
Want to know more tips on how to throw fast? We’ve got you covered.
- JJ Hampton Throws FAST: Here’s How She Keeps Her Horses Working Anyway.
- Keeping ‘Em Honest: Angelone Talks Horsemanship and Throwing FAST.
Elizabeth, Colorado
June 4-5
1. Peggy Garman, 2.3-second run, worth $1,957
2. Karly Teller, 2.5-second run, worth $1,701
3. (tie) Kinlie Brennise, 2.6-second run, worth $1,319
4. (tie) Shawnee Sherwood, 2.6-second run, worth $1,319
5. (tie) Elisabeth Erickson-Noe, 2.7-second run, worth $808
6. Coralee Spratt, 2.7-second run, worth $808
7. Joey Williams, 2.9-second run, worth $425
8. Bailey Bates, 3.0-second run, worth $170.
Santa Maria, California
June 2-5
1. Jaden Cowan, 3.3-second run, worth $1,734
2. Allie Hoskins, 3.4-second run, worth $1,435
3. Macey Cox, 3.8-second run, worth $1,136
4. (tie) Cassidy Barnes, 4.1-second run, worth $688
5. (tie) Jillian Murray, 4.1-second run, worth $688
6. Nellie Miller, 4.2-second run, worth $299.
Fort Smith, Arkansas
May 30-June 4
1. Whitney Thurmond, 1.6-second run, worth $3,986
2. Lauren Hopkins, 2.2-second run, worth $3,188
3. (tie) Kendyl Hutton, 2.4-second run, worth $2,292
4. (tie) Beau Peterson, 2.4-second run, worth $2,292
5. (tie) Bailey Bates, 2.5-second run, worth $968
6. (tie) McKenna Hickson, 2.5-second run, worth $968
7. (tie) Lindsey Hughes, 2.5-second run, worth $968
8. (tie) Shelby Osceola, 2.5-second run, worth $968
9. (tie) Bethanie Shofner, 2.5-second run, worth $968
10. (tie) Tamara Smith, 2.5-second run, worth $968
11. (tie) Paige Stout, 2.5-second run, worth $968
12. (tie) Aubrie Ford, 2.7-second run, worth $399
13. (tie) Ashley Goforth, 2.7-second run, worth $399
14. (tie) Tibba Smith, 2.7-second run, worth $399
15. (tie) Elsie Rose Campbell, 2.8-second run, worth $100
16. (tie) Hope Thompson, 2.8-second run, worth $100
Durant, Oklahoma
June 3-4
1. Hali Williams, 2.1-second run, worth $2,997
2. McKenna Hickson, 2.2-second run, worth $2,547
3. (tie) Kirby Eppert, 2.3-second run, worth $1,611
4. (tie) Lari Dee Guy, 2.3-second run, worth $1,611
5. (tie) Jordan Jo Hollabaugh, 2.3-second run, worth $1,611
6. (tie) Tibba Smith, 2.3-second run, worth $1,611
7. (tie) Rheagan Cotton, 2.4-second run, worth $581
8. (tie)Bradi Good, 2.4-second run, worth $581
9. (tie)Tamara Smith, 2.4-second run, worth $581
10. (tie)Sammy Taylor, 2.4-second run, worth $581
11. (tie) Martha Angelone, 2.5-second run, worth $84
12. (tie) Karrigan Cagley, 2.5-second run, worth $84
13. (tie) Amanda Coleman, 2.5-second run, worth $84
14. (tie) Josie Conner, 2.5-second run, worth $84
15. (tie) Lindsey Hughes, 2.5-second run, worth $84
16. (tie) Baylee Lester, 2.5-second run, worth $84
17. (tie) Jayme Marcrum, 2.5-second run, worth $84
18. (tie) Jill Tanner, 2.5-second run, worth $84
Mt Pleasant, Texas
June 2-4
1. (tie) Maddy Deerman, 1.8-second run, worth $2,110
2. (tie) J J Hampton, 1.8-second run, worth $2,110
3. (tie) Taylor Munsell, 1.8-second run, worth $2,110
4. (tie) Brooke Rogers, 1.8-second run, worth $2,110
5. (tie) Sawyer Gilbert, 1.9-second run, worth $1,008
6. (tie) Josey Murphy, 1.9-second run, worth $1,008
7. (tie) Beau Peterson, 1.9-second run, worth $1,008
8. (tie) Fallon Hanson, 2.0-second run, worth $378
9. (tie) Sami McGuire, 2.0-second run, worth $378
10. (tie) Hali Williams, 2.0-second run, worth $378
Hugo, Oklahoma
June 3-4
1. Addie Weil, 1.4-second run, worth $2,487
2. Beau Peterson, 1.6-second run, worth $2,132
3. Jackie Crawford, 1.8-second run, worth $1,777
4. Danielle Lowman, 2.0-second run, worth $1,540
5. (tie) Martha Angelone, 2.1-second run, worth $948
6. (tie)J J Hampton, 2.1-second run, worth $948
7. (tie) Ashlyn Marie Moeder, 2.1-second run, worth $948
8. (tie) Jenna Lee Adams, 2.3-second run, worth $415
9. (tie) Taylor Hanchey, 2.3-second run, worth $415
10. Karen Little, 2.4-second run, worth $237
Clovis, New Mexico
June 2-4
1. (tie) Justine Doka, 1.9-second run, worth $2,071
2. (tie) Shawnee Sherwood, 1.9-second run, worth $2,071
3. Nicole Baggarley, 2.0-second run, worth $1,593
4. Tiada Gray, 2.1-second run, worth $1,381
5. (tie) Bradi Good, 2.3-second run, worth $956
6. (tie) Lari Dee Guy, 2.3-second run, worth $956
7. Faith Holyan, 2.4-second run, worth $637
8. (tie) Abigail Shofner, 2.5-second run, worth $372
9. (tie) Lynn Smith, 2.5-second run, worth $372
10. McKenna Hickson, 2.6-second run, worth $212
Herriman, Utah
June 3-4
1. Delaney Kunau, 2.9-second run, worth $2,127
2. Bailey Kieckbusch, 3.0-second run, worth $1,850
3. Brooke Winward, 3.1-second run, worth $1,572
4. Paige Portenier, 3.3-second run, worth $1,295
5. Lexi Simper, 3.4-second run, worth $1,017
6. Maddison Rogers, 3.5-second run, worth $740
7. Zoie Bedke, 3.6-second run, worth $462
8. Aubryn Bedke, 3.7-second run, worth $185
Mesquite, Texas
June 4
Results not available at this time.
Atlantic, Iowa
June 3-4
1. (tie) Stannis Hoffmann, 2.9-second run, worth $1,295
2. (tie) Sierra Smith, 2.9-second run, worth $1,295
3. (tie) Lindsey Kraus, 3.1-second run, worth $807
4. (tie) Rylee Rich, 3.1-second run, worth $807
5. Austee VonAhn, 3.2-second run, worth $440
6. Halle Tatham, 3.8-second run, worth $244
Woodstown Pilesgrove, New Jersey
June 4
1. (tie) Megan Cameron, 3.9-second run, worth $559
2. (tie) DeNiess Kilgus, 3.9-second run, worth $559
3. Tara Gale, 4.0-second run, worth $320
4. Kasey Kostraba, 6.5-second run, worth $160
Kissimmee, Florida
June 3-4
1. Makayla Mack, 2.8-second run, worth $429
2. Taylor A Smith, 3.4-second run, worth $321
3. Lacey Nail, 4.1-second run, worth $214
Bonnyville, Alberta
June 3-4
Results not available at this time.
Waconia, Minnesota
June 3-4
Results not available at this time.
