At just 17 years old, Marybeth Beam proved she belonged in the breakaway roping Pro pool at the 2022 Women’s Rodeo World Championship by topping the qualifying round with a 2.17-second run. Beam was awarded $2,500 for her efforts and is guaranteed a position in the semifinals round on Tuesday, May 17.
Her weapon of choice was Just Playn Spades, whom she calls “Spike.”
“I’ve owned Spike for about a year. I trained him myself in the breakaway. He was a cowboy’s horse before I got him. He’s 17 years old and not your average breakaway horse. He’s bigger and I don’t ride him with a tie-down,” Beam said. “He’s a really good breakaway horse. He scores great and comes across the line great—that’s how he got me the win today.”
Beam is a first-generation rodeo cowgirl, but she grew up roping cattle on her family’s ranch. She seemed to have a knack for roping necks at a young age.
“I caught my first yearling in the pasture at 5 years old. They told me I could do this in the arena, and I said, ‘Let’s try it!’ It all started there, and I’ve loved the sport since then,” Beam said.
Beam is no rookie to the WCRA. She just won her set in the preliminary rounds at the Corpus Christi event on May 11–15 and made it to the Showdown round. The 2022 WRWC marks her second consecutive qualification for the event.
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The second round of competition will take place at 12:00 p.m. CST on Tuesday, May 17, 2022. Beam and BreakawayRoping.com coach Hope Thompson, who finished in the second position in the round with her 2.71-second run, are already guaranteed a spot into the semifinals. The remaining semifinals positions will be filled by the top two cowgirls in the second qualifying round, and the top eight in the aggregate after the second round.
2022 WRWC Qualifying Round Results — Pro Breakaway
- Marybeth Beam, 2.17-second run, worth $2,500
- Hope Thompson, 2.71-second run, worth $1,000
- Cheyanne Guillory, 2.77-second run, worth $500
- Bailey Bates, 2.90-second run
- Lari Dee Guy, 2.92-second run
- Taylor Hanchey, 3.18-second run
- Kendal Pierson, 3.31-second run
- Mindy Elrod Wells, 3.37-second run
- Cadee Williams, 4.11-second run
- Britta Strain, 4.47-second run
