It came down to the final run of the Ram Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo. But that was enough for Oelrichs, S.D., cowgirl Lisa Lockhart to capture both the year-end and the average titles for the circuit and add to her already impressive resume.

Lockhart now has six year-end titles to her name, with the first coming in 1996, and won the average the past three years. She said she's excited to have both titles this season and more importantly to earn another trip to the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City.

"I really wanted to be able to move on to the RNCFR," she said. "So whichever (title) I needed to acquire to do that, I would have been happy with either. I knew it was going to be extremely tough."

Lockhart won the rodeo average with a time of 52.91 seconds on four runs. On her heels was Nikki Steffes, who finished in 53.40 seconds.

Steffes and Lockhart also battled it out for the year-end title. When all the runs had been made and the dust settled, Lockhart finished the year with $17,212, while Steffes had $15,314. The difference there came from the difference in the runs at the Badlands Finals.

"Everything just came down to the last day," Lockhart said. "Somebody could have stubbed a toe. It was exciting and nerve-racking. I knew it would be extremely tough with the horses that were (at the circuit finals). Nothing is ever easy anymore in rodeo."

Lockhart and her 8-year old buckskin gelding, Louie (registered An Oakie with Cash) started the circuit finals rodeo strong and never looked back. They won the first round in 13.11 seconds, followed by Steffes in 13.26.

Round two brought another victory for Lockhart, this time in 13.25 seconds. Britany Fleck was second, hot on Lockhart's heels, with a 13.29-second run, and Steffes was third that round in 13.30.

In round three, Lockhart was again victorious, finishing the cloverleaf pattern in 13.17 seconds, followed again by Fleck and Steffes. Jessica Routier won the fourth round in 13.27 seconds, and Steffes and Lockhart tied in 13.38 seconds that round for second place.

"It was just a really tight barrel race," Lockhart said. "With four rounds, there are usually some hit barrels and everything, and there just weren't that weekend. For me, just getting off right after that first round, that really helped a lot."

Nikki Steffes

Steffes agreed, noting that no tipped barrels or big mistakes by anyone made the rodeo incredibly competitive. She said she knows how tough Lockhart and Louie are and was proud of her horse, Nilla, for keeping up.

"This is only my second year of having my card, and my first trip to the circuit finals, so I'm really excited about all the opportunities," she said. "It was tough to the very end, such a tough group of girls, and definitely a tough battle."

Lockhart said she was pleased with Louie's performance in Minot, N.D. She said he listened well and "just helped me out" so they could get the win.

"Louie is pretty good everywhere," she said. "Sometimes it's hard for horses inside a tight pen, but he's super-broke and allowed me to help him and keep him in check around the corners. He was very focused on his job and gave me 100-percent every time."

This is Louie's second full year of competition. Lockhart said she seasoned him a lot last year, and when her main horse Fast An Gold "Chism" got injured just prior to the start of the Wrangler NFR, Louie stepped in for her and did a great job. After proving he could handle the small arena there and the tough competition, Lockhart knew he was good for just about any rodeo.

And although she's got several other year-end and average circuit finals titles to her name, Lockhart said winning this year was special in its own way.

"It's always an awesome thing to accomplish (the year-end title) on another horse," she said. "I've ridden several horses over the last few years, and to do it on a horse you've trained is always great."

Lockhart is excited about a return trip to the RNCFR, which she called a "great rodeo." She said anytime there's the ability to win a large paycheck in a weekend, against a small group of women, it's a great opportunity.

"I know that anybody who is there has the goal of winning, and has the capabilities of winning," she said. "I just try to go and do my job and have my horse doing his job, and work to the best of our abilities. I think the format is pretty exciting, when you're pitting two girls from each circuit against each other in kind of a tournament-style thing, it's unique and differs a little from a regular rodeo."

This will be Steffes' first trip to the RNCFR, and she said she's thrilled because she's heard so many great things about the rodeo.

"I know it will be a super tough barrel race there too," she said. "But every place you go is tough, so I'm really excited. I'm so proud of my horse, her very first rodeo ever was Odessa (Texas) this year, and she's just done outstanding. I'm so excited about the opportunities to come."

Ram Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo
Minot, N.D., Oct. 6-9

First round: 1. Lisa Lockhart, 13.11 seconds, $1,011; 2. Nikki Steffes, 13.26, $758; 3. Britany Fleck, 13.33, $506; 4. Lacy Cowan, 13.43, $253. Second round: 1. Lisa Lockhart, 13.25 seconds, $1,011; 2. Brittany Fleck, 13.29, $758; 3. Nikki Steffes, 13.30, $506; 4. Gale Beebe, 13.51, $253. Third round: 1. Lisa Lockhart, 13.17 seconds, $1,011; 2. Britany Fleck, 13.31, $758; 3. Nikki Steffes, 13.46, $506; 4. Jessica Routier, 13.50, $253. Fourth round: 1. Jessica Routier, 13.27 seconds, $1,011; 2. (tie) Nikki Steffes and Lisa Lockhart, 13.38, $632 each; 4. Amy Holmes, 13.44, $253. Average: 1. Lisa Lockhart, 52.91 seconds on four runs, $2,022; 2. Nikki Steffes, 53.40, $1,517; 3. Britany Fleck, 53.50, $1,011; 4. Jessica Routier, 53.92, $506.