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| Kassie
Mowry, 2009 World Finals Barrel Racing Champion |
The Friday night performance of
the 2009 Women's World Finals Rodeo, presented by Wrangler,
began with a bang.
Reigning world champion Jackie Hobbs of Abilene, Texas,
was the first cowgirl to compete and she wasted no time
- clocking an 11.1-second run which held through 14
more ropers to win the third round. The closest anyone
got to Hobbs was Kari Woodall's 12.1.
While the tie-down ropers saved the fastest runs for
the Friday night performance, the top two breakaway
times were set during the afternoon slack. Tibba Smith
of Stephenville, Texas, was the first cowgirl of the
week to break the two-second barrier in a clean run.
Her 1.9-second run held through the performance for
first in the round. Jesse Alsup of Fair Grove, Mo.,
clocked a 2.2 in the slack for second place. Five cowgirls
split third through seventh with times of 2.3.
The short round of the World Finals Barrel Race began
with a 16.02 by Martha Wright of Dublin, Texas. Wright,
who tied for the 15th slot to qualify for the short
round, set a pace that would not be overcome. Second
was Pam Deaver of Hearn, Texas, with a 16.05. Kassie
Mowry of Dublin, Texas, won the average with a cumulative
time of 48.83. Second was Pam Deaver with 48.87 while
Wright was third. More than $50,000 was paid to winners
in the World Finals Barrel Race.
Lora Hyde of Fallon, Nev., and Michelle Dyer of Waurika,
Okla., roped their steer in the fastest time of the
week thus far in the team roping, winning the round
with a time of 6.6 seconds. Erin Johnson of Pueblo,
Colo., and Willow Raley of Baggs, Wyo., had the lead
from the slack with a 7.9 which was good enough for
second place.
The all-women Sky Angels Drill Team of Monticello, Ark.,
entertained the crowd with their precision riding and
presented the colors for the rodeo opening.
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