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Few circuit
finals rodeos this year can match the talent from top
to bottom of the California Circuit. When the Dodge
California Circuit Finals Rodeo begins this weekend
in HorseTown USA - the southern California city of Norco,
fans will be treated to one of the toughest WPRA barrel
races in the nation. The top three ladies in the race
for the year-end title all finished above 21st in the
WPRA NFR standings. Two of the qualifiers will be competing
in Las Vegas in a couple of weeks at the Wrangler NFR.
Throw in the 26th ranked contestant and a past NFR qualifier
and you've got the ingredients for a great WPRA barrel
race.
Leading the pack is Murrieta cowgirl
Rachel Ross. Ross and her super mare Jackfork Billie
had a phenomenal season, both nationally and within
the circuit. Despite holding down her job as a respiratory
nurse and being a single mom whose son is in his last
year of high school, Ross was able to travel enough
to finish the year 18th in the NFR standings, just about
$6K from her first Wrangler NFR berth. She and Billie
amassed over $62K in earnings at WPRA approved events.
With over $21K won in California,
Ross holds a comfortable lead over second ranked competitor,
Christina Richman of Glendora. Coincidentally, Richman
finished just behind Ross in the final WNFR standings
at 19th. Richman is the reigning California Circuit
champion, claiming the title a year ago by well over
$11,000.
Ross and the 15-year old Billie
dominated across the state in 2009 with their largest
victory coming at the California Rodeo in Salinas, where
she took the reserve title and $7,453. The duo claimed
the championship in Salinas a year ago in 2008. Also
in the 2009 circuit chase, Ross won Glennville, took
second at Sonora and Red Bluff, and won big checks in
Clovis, Livermore, and Oakdale.
Ross' only real competition will
come from last year's champ, as Richman is the only
contestant with a mathematical chance to surpass Ross
in earnings. Richman also made bank at Salinas - she
finished fourth in the average and collected checks
worth $4,043. Richman won Sonora and collected big winnings
in Redding, Ramona, and Red Bluff. Richman has been
a top 20 NFR cowgirl for two straight seasons.
Sitting third is Montana transplant
Rachael Myllymaki, a veteran of numerous Wrangler NFR
qualifications, the last coming in 2002. Myllymaki made
a good run for another WNFR in 2009, finishing the season
21st in the final WNFR standings.
Also amongst the competition is
California Circuit rookie of the year Haley Jochims,
2009 WNFR qualifiers Sheena Robbins and Danyelle Campbell,
26th NFR ranked cowgirl Nellie Williams and former three
time WNFR qualifier Lita Scott.
All cowgirls will compete in three
rounds of competition, running November 20-21 with two
runs on Saturday afternoon at 4 PM and 8 PM. With added
and sponsor money of over $7,600, all cowgirls will
be competing for go round money and the finals championship,
which comes along with a seat at the Dodge National
Circuit Finals Rodeo, probably the second most prestigious
finals competition in pro rodeo behind the WNFR. The
barrel racing at Norco is sponsored by "The Coffee
News." For more info on the Dodge California CFR,
please visit them on-line at www.californiafinalsrodeo.org.
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