The standings are getting tight.

One more round to go and the World Champions will be crowned! Last night in the barrel racing Cassie Mosely won her second round with Brittany Pozzi second behind her. Pozzi is closing in on the gap between her and Lindsay Sears. Sears leads the average, but Pozzi is in third. Pozzi had regained the lead in the world title with $8750 between them. We will see both girls riding for the win in the last round as it will come down to the last barrel racer to know who wins the 2009 Championship. In either case, both have given it a great go.


The team roping couldn't have been more exciting with two world records broke in one night! Team ropers JoJo LeMond and Randon Adams electrified the audience with a world record 3.4-second run. LeMond and Adams tied the previous world record of 3.5 seconds earlier in the year. Chad Masters and Jade Corkill won the round with a new world record of 3.3 seconds in a night that featured jaw-dropping team roping. Both teams received standing ovations.
Here is a clip of that record breaking run:

In the steer wrestling...
The two-man race for the steer wrestling world title got a considerable amount tighter in Round 9. Reigning and two-time World Champion Luke Branquinho finished second in the round with a 3.5-second run -- Casey McMillen won the round in 3.3 seconds -- to close the gap to less than $900 between himself and 2005 World Champion Lee Graves. Branquinho, of Los Alamos, Calif., earned $13,546 for second place, while Graves' 3.8-second time was good enough for a tie for third place and a $7,280 check.

Heading into the final round, Graves leads the PRCA World Standings with $196,849, and Branquinho is nipping at his heels with $196,039. That $810 difference will be resolved, one way or another, in Round 10, as Branquinho leads the Wrangler NFR average with a 37.5-second total time and Graves ranks third in 41.6 seconds. Branquinho has earned an event-best $83,486 at this year's Wrangler NFR, while Graves has added $76,275 to his season earnings in Las Vegas.
Curtis Cassidy is second in the average.

In the saddle bronc Dustin Flundra took home the second place cheque for riding Frontier Rodeo's Ace of Spades. He has drawn Little Iron from Flying 5 Rodeo for the last round.

Here are a couple interviews. One of Lindsay Sears and one of Brittany Pozzi. It is interesting to hear their take on things and their plans for the future rounds (they were taken after round 8).

Pozzi takes the Round 8 Victory Lap

Duke came back well rested and ready to run. Brittany was first out and her time stayed on top for the rest of the 14 runs behind her. They had a really awesome first barrel. Here is the video of the round 8 runs so you can watch it over and over :o) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IR09R6dhIxA (Pardon the Cat....!?)


I'm not feeling real creative here today so I'm not going to reinvent the wheel. Here are some quotes from a story on Prorodeo.com that should sum up what the scoop is:

Brittany Pozzi, the 2007 world champion barrel racer, won her second round of the 2009 Wrangler NFR by stopping the clock in 13.77 seconds. That was four-hundredths of a second better than Shelley Morgan and brought Pozzi a bit closer to reigning World Champion and world standings leader Lindsay Sears. Sears, of Nanton, Alberta, finished third in the round to earn $10,228 and holds a $4,796 lead over Pozzi in the world standings.

"Tonight was amazing," Pozzi said. "Duke ran great, and it all seemed perfect. Getting a barrel (knocked over in Round 7) did move me down one hole in the average, but it wasn't devastating. I just have to run hard at each round and win. This is really a horse race, and it will come down to the last run. This is what winning a world title is about. It makes it all exciting and fun."

Sears, who has placed in every round and won Rounds 2 and 7, leads the average standings with a total time of 111.0 seconds, while Pozzi is fourth with a 116.6-second total time.

In the Steer Wrestling....
Branquinho, the two-time and reigning world champion, continues to lead the Wrangler NFR average standings with a total time of 34.0 seconds, but finished out of the money in Round 8. That allowed 2005 World Champion Lee Graves to re-take the lead in the PRCA World Standings by taking third place and pocketing $10,228 on Canadian Night at the Wrangler NFR. Graves, who sits third in the average, has $189,569 heading into Round 9, while Branquinho is second with $182,493.

For the rest of this great summary go here

Sears takes over lead

Lindsay Sears took over the World and Average lead last night at the WNFR. Brittany got on Stitch and unfortunately tipped third barrel. She just brushed it on the way in and it went down. She dropped to second in the world (only 1 win away from getting back on top), but still sits 4th in the average. Lindsay has been mighty tight to those barrels herself the last few nights but she just had better luck keeping them up.

Here are the runs:


In the Steer Wrestling Lee Graves had a bad draw and ended up with a steer that dog fell on him. I still got a time of 11.6. Luke Branquino won the round and took over the average. Lee dropped to 4th in the Average. He is now 3000ish behind Luke but will need to have some fast times now to make up the the lost time from this run. Curtis Cassidy placed 4th and is 2nd in the average.

6 Rounds Down, 4 to Go

Jordan Peterson made her first victory lap last night and Sherry Cervi took over the barrel racing average lead by 0.01 of a second. Looks like the top spot could waiver back and forth nightly between Sherry and Lindsay. Brittany is still holding on to 3rd spot. Here is how the average pays out:
First: $43,954 (per man in team roping)
Second: $35,661 (per man in team roping, etc.)
Third: $28,197
Fourth: $20,733
Fifth: $14,928
Sixth: $10,781
Seventh: $7,464
Eighth: $4,147

Here is the video of Tuesday nights barrel racing:

or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94sw0e0JoB4

Lee Graves stayed hot in the steer wrestling. He placed second behind Luke Branquino. Graves is leading the average, Curtis Cassidy second and Branquino third. Graves has a $13,900+ lead on Branquino who is hot on his heels winning last nights round.

Looks like Trevor Brazile has got his game back placing second last night (and first on Monday). He holds on to 8th place in the average having had some long times. Tuf Cooper leads the average but will need a couple of tough times to place high enough in the rounds to take over the world lead (he's currently a $60K behind with Cody Ohl also ahead and placing well in the average).

In the team roping there are only 2 teams that have all 6 steers down. Luke Brown/Martin Lucero and Nick Sartain/Kollin VonAhn there are 1 and 2 in the average respectively. Luke Brown is 2 in the World standings, Sartain #3 both behind Chad Masters who is 12th in the average with 3 NT's. On the heeling end of things Kollin VanAhn is 2nd and Martin Lucero 4th. Jade Korhill (12 in Ave) and Rich Skelton (4th in Ave) in 1 and 3 respectively in the World Standings. Wow - that's confusing....I think that could play out a lot of different ways especially since they don't get a third loop anymore.

Cervi takes another Victory lap

Sherry Cervi and Stingray, won another round last night. The runs keep getting quicker and they keep getting closer to that world record. With 5 rounds to go, I wouldn't be surprised if the record set by Brandie Halls and Slim of 13.52 is broken this year.

Here are the barrel runs from round 5:


Lee Graves also took a back to back victory lap winning another round, keeping on top of both the world and average standings. Curtis Cassidy remains in contention for a big average check sitting 6th in the average (but 47K behind the world leader). Luke Branquino continues to breath down Graves neck, only 17,580 behind in the standings and 4th in the average. Here's a quick audio where Graves refers to the back injury he sustained in round 2 and his plans for moving forward.

Dustin Flundra rode last night but placed 9th on Burch Rodeo's Lunatic Fringe
Calgary Stampede's Lynx Mountain and Fearless Warrior put Isaac Diaz and Taos Muncy in the dirt before the 8 second whistle.

Nine-time World Champion Trevor Brazile and six-time World Champion Cody Ohl split first place in the tie-down roping in Round Five The Texas duo finished with identical marks of 7.1 seconds and won $15,343 apiece.

The brother duo of Riley and Brady Minor recovered from a no-time in the fourth round with a vengeance, winning the fifth performance in 3.8 seconds. That time was eight-tenths of a second faster than Nick Sartain and Kollin VonAhn, who won a share of first place in Round 4.

Barrel Battle Continues in Round 3

Brittany and Lindsay are still battling it out after the 3rd round. Neither has weakened, and not a mistake has been made. They are so close in the average still as well.

Last night Sherry Cervi and Stingray took the win with Brittany second and Linz third. Here are last nights runs.



The Steer Wrestling remains open for several but the Canadian contingent of Cassidy and Graves are holding their own in both the World Standings and the average.

In the Saddle Bronc Flundra ended the night without a score.

In other news:
The team roping is still wide open as well, here are the headers:
Rank Name City State Earnings
1 Chad Masters Clarksville Tenn. $130,513.40
2 Luke Brown Rock Hill S.C. $128,663.30
3 David Key Caldwell Texas $107,803.75
4 JoJo LeMond Andrews Texas $103,031.76
5 Travis Tryan Billings Mont. $102,642.78
and heelers:
1 Jade Corkill Fallon Nev. $121,041.73
2 Martin Lucero Stephenville Texas $114,210.17
3 Richard Durham Morgan Mill Texas $111,598.25
4 Rich Skelton Llano Texas $107,639.58
5 Randon Adams Logandale Nev. $102,453.84
6 Michael Jones Stephenville Texas $102,023.67
7 Patrick Smith Midland Texas $100,849.98

So many just a few loops away from a win or a loss.

Really, by the looks of it the bull riding seems to be the only event that has a runaway J.W. Harris has $100,000 lead on second. The remaining events are still within reach for many contestants to take over the lead.

WNFR Barrel Racing Video Round 2

(or if you are reading this on the facebook feed go here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iafJDhnQ9Y)

Lots of great runs. I hope Danyelle's Repete is going to bounce back and getem Saturday night. Looks like Lindsay and Martha got the rust cleaned out and are and the path to many more wins. With Brittany adding a second to her earnings, Linz still trails. Both will be working for solid runs in the future to secure another world championship.

The steer wrestling had a change in the leader board last night with Luke taking over the #1 spot in the world standings. Although there is still a wad of money to be won, the standings currently look like this after last night:
2009 PRCA World Standings - Steer Wrestling
Rank Name City State Earnings
1 Luke Branquinho Los Alamos Calif. $136,327.43
2 Lee Graves Calgary Alberta $125,365.29
3 Jake Rinehart Highmore S.D. $124,472.95
4 Curtis Cassidy Donalda Alberta $114,089.13
5 Shawn Greenfield Lakeview Ore. $86,173.30
6 Trevor Knowles Mount Vernon Ore. $85,016.20
7 Todd Suhn Hermosa $84,387.61
8 Hunter Cure Holliday Texas $81,224.50
9 Dean Gorsuch Gering Neb. $74,075.13
10 Josh Peek Pueblo Colo. $70,052.10

Canadian Saddle Bronc rider Dustin Flundra cashed in last night with a 5th place ride of 80.5. Here's hoping he can keep climbing up the ranks.

In the Round Pen there was mention of the number of Canadian owned horses being bucked at the NFR. I'm not real familiar with the horses so I'm sure to look like a fool commenting on them. If anyone would like to contact me with information or could add to my report each night with a stock report I would be really happy to work with you. Email michelle@rodeoclassifieds.com if you would like to contribute.

Until next round,
Michelle

Awesome Vintage Jim Shoulders Video

Here is some great video of the legendary Jim Shoulders. His legend lives on.

From rodeoup.com: Jim Shoulders, World Champion bull rider dies at 79 (in 2007). The legendary bull rider's PRCA World Championships include five "World All-Around Rodeo Champion Cowboy" awards (1949, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959), seven Bull Rider awards (1951, 1954-1959), and four Bareback Rider awards (1950, 1956, 1957, 1958). He was the first competitor to win three events at the world championships (Bareback, Bull Riding and All Around. His lifetime rodeo earnings exceeded $400,000.

Or learn more by clicking here

If you are viewing this from facebook or another feed reader you may have to go directly to the blog to view the video click - RodeoClassifieds.com Blog

First Canadian World Champion Barrel Racer Crowned

Lindsay Sears and Martha are the first Canadian World Champion Barrel Racing team - that is SO EXCITING. I had a feeling all day she was going to break the world record time so I'm feeling a little disappointed she didn't. I mean....she broke every other record! ? Weird how when someone gets so darn good our (my) expectations just keep getting higher and higher. Good for her for letting someone else win for a change though eh? (threw that eh in there for our US visitors...they liked that in Vegas..lol). Martha won 5 of the 10 rounds and placed 3rd in the average even with a tipped barrel.

From www.prorodeo.com
Barrel racer Lindsay Sears clinched her first world title after Round 8, so the only question remaining in that event was how much the Canadian would win and how high she would set the season earnings record bar. Sears, of Nanton, Alberta, finished the season as the sport's first $300,000 barrel racer, earning $323,570 in 2008 while claiming the gold buckle. Her horse, Martha, was named AQHA Barrel Racing Horse of the Year, and Sears has been more than complimentary when talking about the talented horse.

"I''m very honored and very proud to be Canadian today, and it means a lot to get the first barrel racing world championship that we get to take home to Canada," said Sears, who finished third in the Wrangler NFR average. "It''s been such a surreal year this year. It''s unbelievable. I''m so thankful that I have such an awesome horse. Martha''s really the world champion. She deserves it, and I''m so proud of her."

Sears won five of the 10 rounds in Las Vegas, including four in a row from Rounds 6-9, to pocket $139,002 at the Wrangler NFR. Jill Moody of Letcher, S.D., won the Wrangler NFR average with a total time of 140.11 seconds, earning $104,117 in Las Vegas to finish a distant second to Sears with $218,880 in total earnings. Terra Bynum won the 10th round in 13.70 seconds to finish her 2008 Wrangler NFR on a high note.


Here is the link to Lindsay's round 9 win I missed earlier

And how about Rod Hay - Finally able to show is stuff in the 10th round drawing well to take the win with an 89 point ride on Miss Congeniality. Here is the link. Jeff Chapman won another round in the 10th with a 7.1.

Canadian Barrel Racers Traci Dawson and Deb Renger weren't able to add any more money to their bank account in the last round. Dawson with a Barrel and Renger with another solid run - just out of the money.

Dusty LaValley didn't take any coin home in the last round, but will gladly take his third place average check from the pay window.

Curtis Cassidy ended the week with a bit of tough luck, but the Cassidy family will still be well paid as Willy was hard at work all week helping the new world champion Luke Branquino. Cassidy will be happy to have taken a 4th place cheque home in the final round.

World Champions include:
2008 World Champion Bareback Rider: Justin McDaniel
2008 World Champion Steer Wrestler: Luke Branquinho
2008 World Champion Header: Matt Sherwood
2008 World Champion Heeler: Randon Adams
2008 World Champion Saddle Bronc Rider: Cody Wright
2008 World Champion Tie-Down Roper: Stran Smith (a very exciting race to the end!)
2008 World Champion Barrel Racer: Lindsay Sears
2008 World Champion Bull Rider: J.W. Harris

For detailed interviews from the world champs click here for PRCA story

For Graham and a bit of round 9 reporting

Graham, here's some team roping reporting for you....
Sadly, I'm home from Vegas...its 2 am here (but only midnight in Vegas so I'm wide awake).

LAS VEGAS - The grandest stage in ProRodeo can often inspire greatness, and that certainly was the case in the team roping during Round 8 of the 50th Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center. Travis Tryan and Cory Petska not only won the round, but also thrilled the 17,463 in attendance by tying the PRCA world record with a blistering 3.5-second time. Their mark ties the record shared by Blaine Linaweaver and Jory Levy (2001), Clay Tryan and Patrick Smith (2005) and Colter Todd and Cesar de la Cruz (2008).

It was the first round victory of the 10-day rodeo for Tryan and Petska and just their third check in the first eight performances, but they made it count in a major way.

"It's the coolest feeling I've ever had in my roping career," said Tryan, of Billings, Mont. "I got emotional after the run. I threw my hat, and I never do that. I had a feeling tonight that we were going to break the record, which I've never had before in my life, and can't explain why. When I was riding up to the box, I was thinking we were going to get the record. We had a great steer that stayed straight, maybe even stepped to the right a little, which helped us be fast because it helped my horse quicken up a little because he doesn't duck too hard, so it made things happen fast."

Petska is honored to have a share of the world record.

"I don't think it's set in yet that we just tied the world record," said Petska, of Lexington, Okla. "I got a little emotional at first. I was the same as Travis said, when we started to do the TV interview, I was a little worried that I would choke up. You own a piece of history."

Trevor Brazile and Patrick Smith continue to lead the Wrangler NFR average race and are on pace to crush the average record of 59.1 seconds for 10 head set by Jake Barnes and Clay O'Brien Cooper in 1994. They have a 41.4-second total through eight rounds and need only to finish the final two rounds in less than 17.6 seconds to lower the record mark.

Here is the link to that Run

Lindsay and Martha keep setting records and keep getting faster. Looks like they made another awesome run in the 9th round (will link tomorrow when its up). A 13.53 The world record is a 13.52 set by Brandie Halls (to correct any misleading info I might have posted earlier...). The 10th round will have the crowd on their feet cheering for the fastest time ever in the Thomas and Mack

Rod Hay and Dusty LaValley both grabbed cheques in the 9th round and Curtis Cassidy was empty handed with a NT. Deb Renger and Traci Dawson each took a barrel down according to Friday's results.

There are also some great interviews with round winners from the WPRA if you might like to read those...click here

Live from Las Vegas - Barrel Racing Video Catch Up

Brittany Pozzi-Pharr took another round last night in the 5th go. Click for the link to her winning run and watch for a video of the fifth round coming soon.

None of the links on the prorodeo.com page seem to be working for me to give you the official results. I watched the rodeo live last night from Toby Keith's Bar and Grill. It was pretty cool. We taped the barrel race for you guys on a digital camera but it turns out my friend brought the TV cord instead of the computer cord and our cards don't swap out to my camera and my computer isn't reading the card. Technology...good when it works. We will try my camera tonight and see how we do. Right now I'm off to find some rodeo tickets and do some shopping. We were late getting to the ticket exchange yesterday and they were closed. Did a little preliminary scooting of the original Cowboy Christmas...I'm pretty sure I'll find something there to bring home!

Oh...the results from last night....
Lindsay was second behind Pozzi-Pharr. Deb Renger had a nice run, just a little long and Traci Dawson tipped. Doc kind of bumped second with his nose on the way in by the looks of it. Looked like that knocked the wind of Traci's sails and she got 3rd too. I hope she can stay strong and pull off a run we all know she can make soon. Curtis Cassidy made a clean run, but out of the money. Dusty LaValley had a crappy draw but rode it for all it was worth and placed 6th. Rod Hay rode, but we don't think he scored high enough to place, if he did it was lower.

Our YouTube friend has caught up on some of the goes so I've put her links in below.

Round 4 - part 1


Round 4 - part 2




Round 3



Hopefully we can get a camera to cooperate and we'll get some pictures on here too!

Cheers from Vegas!
Michelle

Sears is back on top......

A shakey start to the NFR had left Lindsay Sears without a cheque in the first and second round. Looks like they are back in business running a time of 13.91 to win the third round. The duo should be back on track and soon to see the winners stage again soon. Traci Dawson had some rough luck loosing a stirrup at first and taking down the second barrel. Deb Renger made another solid run on Harley remaining one of the few with all the barrels standing.

Our YouTube source has yet to post the barrel racers from round 3, but I'll keep checking in. It's Sunday morning so maybe they didn't get them posted yet. Until then, here's the link to Linz and Martha's winning run and the rest of the winning runs from the night.

Here is an interview where they talk to Lindsay. She gets asked what happened in her first two runs.

The Canadian roughstock riders continue with a some tough luck at the pay window but we're sure to see a turnaround real soon.

Curtis Cassidy remains solid placing 5th again last night and sitting third in the avearge. The Cassidy horse Willy continues to show why he's the best of the best carrying the top 3 riders in the finals average right now.

Martha has a New Barrel Racing Show

Take a back seat Martha Stewart because Martha Sears and her jockey Lindsay are the new hit series!

Here's a look at ANOTHER fantastic run:



This win puts Lindsay at the top of the world standings with $216,253.30 in earnings to date. She and Martha have won $104,711.30 of that at the NFR. A world championship is a possibility, but Brittnay Pozzi-Phar is sure to have something to say about that.

In the steer wrestling Lee Graves split 4th last night, stills sits 7th in the average and sits at the top of the World Standings for another day. Lee will be looking for a win Saturday night to help stay ahead of the guys in the average.

Rod Hay rode another one last night to remain the only SB rider to ride all 9. He has a high enough score in the average, the average win should be secure. A lot will depend on how Cody DeMoss rides tonight as he is 2nd in the average and ahead of Rod in the world standings.

Saturday night will be a big night in all the events as there aren't too many that have the gold buckle sewn up. Time will tell if the long shots will be able to get'er done.

Canadian Rodeo Contestants are "Tough Enough"

The Tough Enough To Wear Pink Night of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo was a profitable one for Canadian contestants. I guess PINK is their color! Rod Hay continues to be the only contestant to place in every round and is also the only saddle bronc rider to ride all 7 horses. In round 7 he tied for 5th place. Rod currently sits $37,000 behind the leader in 5th spot. Mathematically the championship is within reach. If Rod keeps up his winning ways and the boys between him in the gold buckle fade it will be his. One ride at a time, Rod Hay will take fate into his own hands and continue to cash in.

How bout those barrel racers!!!??? Can't help but be patriotic! Go Canada! 1 and 2 last night, Lindsay and Deb were out for gold!

Lindsay clocked in with a 13.64 and Deb with a 13.83
Smoken hot in pink....here is Lindsay's run


Brittnay Pozzi-Phar has passed the $200,000 mark for her year to date earnings with Linz, behind her in second for 183,464. The gold buckle is certainly a possibility for Linz, but with Brittnay leading the average (and Linz in 7th), having the "chips" "fall" in her favor would certainly help. Linz will keep running for round wins hope the everything adds up in her favor. With over $70,000 won in Vegas so far, it looks like lady luck is on her side!

In the steer wresting Canada's Lee Graves is also 7th in the average, but proved pink really is his color by placing second in the round with a 3.9 behind Stockton Graves 3.7. Lee will continue to go for the big money in every round. He does lead the world standings at this time, but many of the average leaders are hot on his heels.

Last night Canadian bucking horse Street Dance (Kesler Rodeo) took Wrangler NFR Rookie Just McDaniel to a bareback win with a 89.5 point ride.

OK - Canadian rodeo fans....we've got contestants in 3 events and 3 Gold Buckles within reach! Get your pom poms out and get ready to be an armchair cowboy! 3 more rounds, lots more money up for grabs. Go Team Canada!

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Barrel Racing videos from round 5 and 6

Short and sweet today folks. I'll let this video do the talking. An awesome run at an exciting finals.

Last night in the barrel racing Jill Moody won the barrel racing by quite a bit. She clocked in with a 13.64, the fast time of the week. Here is a video of her fantastic run.

They make be choppy the first time through, but let it run through and watch it again. It's worth it.



Go to www.rodeoup.com for more great videos.

Here is one of Lindsay's winning run in round 5



The video makes reference to the Canadian's cheering.....Kristy, Laci, Tracey.....is that you...lol...