North Platte, Neb.-Two WPRA ladies from opposite ends of the experience spectrum shared the title at the NEBRASKALand Days and Buffalo Bill Rodeo in North Platte, Neb., June 17-20.

Delores Toole has been there, done that. The Manter, Kan., cowgirl and her great gelding, Paa Rocket have been to three Wrangler National Finals Rodeos, three Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeos, numerous Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeos, and even the 2002 Winter Olympics exhibition rodeo outside of Salt Lake City in Farmington, Utah. They were DNCFR Champs in 2001 and have won the $50,000 Bonus Round at the Calgary Stampede.

On the other hand, Korrina Lynn Hughes has been on the rodeo trail for just two years. The Nebraska native makes her home now in Glenwood, Iowa, just 20 minutes south of Omaha and is making just her second run at a Prairie Circuit Finals qualification.

Despite the difference in rodeo years, the pair got the same results at North Platte. Clocking identical times of 17.62 seconds in the great big North Platte arena, the ladies each took home nearly $1,900 in championship points. For Toole, the win moved her up to second in the circuit behind World leader Mary Burger. For Hughes, it put her into the hunt for a first time qualification to the circuit finals rodeo.

"It would mean so much to me to make the circuit finals," Hughes says. Her last season to try for the finals ended with an injury to her horse late in the year. That misfortune won't happen again as Hughes has a pair of tough ponies to choose from at each rodeo.

Smoke, a 12-year old gelding, is her "small pen" horse but he got the call in North Platte after Brown Eyed Speedy -better known as Speedy - cut his foot on a fence just two days prior to her competition and had to be cast to make sure it heals properly.

"I almost turned out," Hughes laughs about her trepidation; she doesn't run Smoke in big pens as he has a tendency to build too much speed into the first barrel and misses the turn.

"I know I had just started to lope when we go to the eyes because I was worried about having too much speed into first," she says. "I am just shocked that we won the rodeo."

Hughes' rodeo travels are limited. She and husband Allan, a PRCA team roper, run a construction business and have two small children, Logan, 3, and Haylee Mae, just 1. She also works part time at the local golf course.

"We hit what we can but it's tough with our jobs and the kids," Hughes says, "but maybe when the kids get older, where it's easier to travel with them, we can go more."

While Hughes is hoping for a first circuit finals berth and the chance to haul more, Toole and the 17-year old Paa are enjoying a slower pace.

"We have a big Fourth of July planned-Santa Fe, Greeley, Livingston, Red Lodge, Cody-but that will be our one big run of the year," Toole says. "We stay closer to home and I try not to line up too many runs in a row. It works out better that way."

Toole makes North Platte almost every year and was pleased to walk away with a share of the title. "I think I caught a break with the ground, it rained and it always makes it better when it's wet," Toole was characteristically humble.

"I have to thank the committee for putting on such a nice rodeo, and for the nice job they did with the ground," Toole says. "They were trying to pack it and just really tried to make it the best it could be."

The Buffalo Bill Rodeo is just a part of the larger NEBRASKALand Days celebration which began in 1965 to promote tourism and commemorate the heritage of the state. With over 80 events held inside of two weeks on a budget of nearly $1 million, it attracts about 100,000 visitors to North Platte and is Nebraska's "official celebration." For more information, visit www.nebraskalanddays.com.