Hope Thompson, who finished 16th in the PRCA/WPRA Breakaway Roping World Standings, etched her name on the list of breakaway ropers who will be advancing to the Showdown Round of the WCRA Cowtown Christmas Championship Rodeo after winning Perf. 1 with a 2.69-second run, worth $1,600.
“I felt like I had an advantage with being the last roper,” Thompson said. “The calves were a tick fresher leaving, and no one had figured out the start until about the last four ropers. Getting to see that and really pay attention to [the start] was a huge advantage. I knew backing in that I needed to stay behind the barrier and get the calf roped as fast as I could to secure my spot.”
Though poised to get it done quick, Thompson and her go-to mount, Ink, had to handle a split-second adjustment to accommodate her calf.
“The start in that arena is: When the gates open, the calf goes, you go,” Thompson explained. “I saw the calf go, so Ink and I started out of there, but when the calf went, I saw that it wasn’t going any faster. I pulled. I held her until I heard Lari Dee (Guy) holler, ‘You’re out!’ I felt so close to the calf that I still had to turn around and get the nod from Lari Dee to make sure.”
What made the round win sweeter was when Guy, Thompson’s longtime training and travel partner—laid down a 2.99-second run, worth $1,200, which advanced both Abilene, Texas, breakaway ropers to the Cowtown Christmas Showdown round.
Guy originally drew up in the third performance on Friday, Dec. 17, but decided that it would make more sense for both of them to rope on Wednesday night to eliminate hauling back and forth from the Stockyards.
“I was like, ‘Lari Dee, they only take two back from the perfs. Why are you going to enter the same night as me?’” Thompson said. “I was strategically thinking for both of us to get in, it would be better for different nights. She said, ‘No, let’s just go win first and second.’ I told her that was fine, ‘We can win first and second, but I’m going to win first,’ and she agreed.”
As fun as winning with your best friend is, this win was even more special as Thompson showed her support for those battling breast cancer—including her mother, Paula—by sporting a pink shirt, saddle pad and even pink splint boots.
“My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer back in April,” Thompson said. “It was all kind of a whirlwind. I wore pink for my mom and some friends that I know who have battled or are battling cancer. 5 Star Saddle Pads surprised me and sent me a custom pink saddle pad with motivational words tooled all in the leather and my pink boots. I have a pink ribbon embroidered on all of my shirts.
“For me, it put everything in perspective,” Thompson continued. “I am healthy and I’m out here getting to do what I love. That is the least that I can do—wear that and put a smile on anybody’s face, knowing that they have support out there. Especially watching your mom fight and go through something like that. You want to do all you can to make someone know that they’re not in that alone and to keep fighting.”
