2008 WPRA World Champion Lindsay Sears started the month of July off winning the most of any barrel racer over the Fourth of July and wrapped it up by winning the Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days Rodeo, which actually concluded on Sunday, Aug. 1.

Sears of Nanton, Alberta, split the tour-round victory with a 17.70-second run and won the average over two-time world champion Sherry Cervi by just .15 seconds to earn $15,806 on the week. This win marked the second time Sears has left the capital city with the title. Going back in the history of the Cheyenne Frontier Days the last barrel racer to win two Cheyenne titles was Kristie Peterson in 1997.

Cervi captured the first round victory in a time of 17.62 seconds aboard MP A Man With Roses, affectionately known as George, while her main mount MP Meter My Hay "Stingray" remained out West for the rodeos in Utah and Nampa, Idaho. Sears finished out of the money in the first round with a time of 17.84 seconds.

Sears rebounded in the second round stopping the clock in a rodeo best 17.40-sconds to win the second round and put her in contention for the title. Cervi was second, this time aboard Stingray, with a time of 17.52. Cervi entered the Tour round with a two run total of 35.14 seconds, while Sears was a close second with a 35.24.

Cervi finished with a 17.95-second run in the Tour round, while Sears tied for the round win with Sue Smith of Blackfoot, Idaho, in a time of 17.70 seconds. As a result Sears finished with a three run total of 52.94 seconds to Cervi's 53.09 seconds for the title. Following Cheyenne, Cervi continues to lead all barrel racers in the WPRA NFR standings with $154,925, while Sears is third with $91,783. Brittany Pozzi, the reigning world champion, is currently second with $101,482.

The 114th Annual Cheyenne Frontier Days was once again a rousing success. The 10-day celebration of the Western lifestyle came to a conclusion on Aug. 1.

The opening Saturday rodeo was attended by 13,800 fans, the largest number on record since the 100th celebration in 1996. It was the second highest opening rodeo since 1988. Total ticketed attendance for rodeos and concerts was 183,486. Those fans were among the nearly 550,000 estimated people who also attended pancake breakfasts, parades, the Indian village, the art show and museum, and Thunderbirds.

This year's rodeo featured nearly 1,500 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and Women's Professional Rodeo Association competitors vying for championship buckles and saddles along with prize money. Money and prizes worth over $1 million was awarded to contestants at the rodeo and the Professional Bull Riders.

The Pancake Breakfast, held downtown on Monday, Wednesday and Friday had 29,513 patrons enjoying a free meal put on by Cheyenne Kiwanis and local Boy Scouts and the CFD Indian Committee. Over 50,000 people toured the Indian Village with the largest group of 8,496 coming through on opening Saturday.

"Our volunteers work so hard to put on this event," said Rod Hottle, General Chairman. "We think this has been a huge success and has brought a lot to our community. It's very rewarding to see the history and tradition of Cheyenne Frontier Days continue. We had great crowds with a lot of energy and excitement. We love seeing the kind of support that we have had and are looking forward to 2011."

Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days Rodeo
July 20 - Aug. 1
First round: 1, Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., 17.62 seconds, $5,021. 2, Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 17.63, $4,304. 3, (tie) Sydni Blanchard, Albuquerque, N.M., and Kelli Tolbert, Hooper, Utah, 17.68, $3,347 each. 5, (tie) Kelly Yates, Pueblo, Colo., and Sue Smith, Blackfoot, Idaho, 17.70, $2,152. 7, Jeanne Anderson, White City, Kan., 17.71, $1,435. 8, Jetta Abplanalp, Ogden, Utah, 17.72, $956. 9, (tie) Turla Churchill, Valentine, Neb.; Lindsey Ewing, Midland, Texas, and Kelly Maben, Spur, Texas, 17.74, $398. Second round: 1, Lindsay Sears, Nanton, Alberta, 17.40, $5,021. 2, Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., 17.52, $4,304. 3, Angie Meadors, Blanchard, Okla., 17.60, $3,586. 4, Kim Schulze, Elbert, Colo., 17.69, $3,108. 5, Ashley Leifeste, Willow City, Texas, 17.74, $2,391. 6, (tie) Sammi Bessert, Loma, Colo., and Jolene Stewart, Springer, Okla., 17.77, $1,674. 8, Sue Smith, Blackfoot, Idaho, 17.80, $956. 9, Rainy Graham, Gardendale, Texas, $717. 8, Brenda Mays, Terrebone, Ore., 17.82, $478. Tour Round: 1 (tie) Lindsay Sears, Nanton, Alberta, and Sue Smith, Blackfoot, Idaho, 17.70 seconds each, $3,254 each. 3, Sydni Blanchard, Albuquerque, N.M., 17.71, $1,860. 4, Jetta Abplanalp, Ogden, Utah, 17.76, $930. Average: 1, Lindsay Sears, Nanton, Alberta, 52.94 seconds on three runs, $7,531. 2, Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., 53.09, $6,456. 3, Sue Smith, Blackfoot, Idaho, 53.20, $5,380. 4, Jetta Abplanalp, Ogden, Utah, 53.40, $4,662. 5, Sydni Blanchard, Albuquerque, N.M., 53.47, $3,586. 6, Angie Meadors, Blanchard, Okla., 53.52, $2,869. 7, Kelli Tolbert, Hooper, Utah, 53.54, $2,152. 8, Jeanne Anderson, White City, Kan., 53.78, $1,435. 9, Rainy Graham, Gardendale, Texas, 53.85, $1,076. 10, Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 53.86, $717.