In a round as stacked as the fourth performance of the WCRA Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo semi-finals, the pressure was on for Hope Thompson, who came out on top of the leaderboard, riding her black mare, Super Chrome Ink.

Thompson made the fastest run of the week at 2.07 seconds, worth $1,600, and advanced to the Gold Medal Round. And she knows that she couldn’t have done it without the help of Ink.

“It always feels good to make a good run, but it’s extra special whenever you’re off of your horse due to a little injury and she’s not 100%, but she gives 100%, so that’s pretty special,” Thompson said.

Thompson questioned whether Ink was going to get the call to help her in the performance because of a shoeing mishap that had Ink sore days prior to the rodeo.

“It’s been about three or four days that I’ve been off of her,” Thompson said. “Shout out to Outlaw Equine in Cheyenne (Wyoming) for making some changes and getting her back ready. I sent them a video of her today and they said, ‘It’s go-time.’ And it was go-time.”

Being second to last to rope in the go-round gave Thompson the advantage of knowing what she needed to be as she watched Amanda Coleman rope one in 2.74 seconds, Jackie Crawford stop the clock in 2.40 seconds and Kelsie Chace move to the lead with a 2.26-second run.

Thompson broke wide as the calf made the crossover to the right coming out of the chute and stopped the clock fast.

“We got to watch the performances before us; got to watch the start; got to watch the calves; got to get a feel of the go,” Thompson said. “I feel like that is an advantage, getting to do that. They say iron sharpens iron. I knew that performance was stacked with great ropers, so it was time to bring your A-game.”

Before backing in the box, Thompson made a phone call to the stock contractor when she saw which calf she drew to give her an idea on what she needed to be prepared for before she nodded her head.

“They said that that calf would leave sharp and be strong out there,” Thompson said. “I knew that my job was to score good and hit the barrier and get as close as I could.”

Thompson is as pumped as could be to be heading to the Gold Medal Round to have a shot at big money.

“I think (Tyler) Waguespack said it Friday night, ‘Friday night is good, but Saturday night will be even better,’” she said. “I’m pumped to get a chance to rope in the Gold Medal Round. I just want to go in there and do my job.”