|
 Winning
a set of Reno Rodeo spurs had always been a goal of
2008 WPRA World Champion Lindsay Sears but was a win
that had always eluded her. Even this year after turning
in two picture perfect runs on 2008 AQHA/WPRA Horse
of the Year Martha to win the first two rounds and lead
the average a chance at the title was in question after
a freak accident at the rodeo in High River, Alberta.
Following her first two runs in Reno, Sears of Nanton,
Alberta, returned to Canada to compete at the rodeos
in Sundre, Wainwright and High River. She would enlist
the services of her backup mare, Hankey, at these rodeos.
As she was exiting the arena at the High River Rodeo
a freak incident occurred. They were supposed to be
running back to a closed gate but a rodeo volunteer
had opened the gate by mistake causing the mare to see
it and want to run through it. However, as they got
there the gate was swung shut causing the mare and then
Sears to hit the gate. As a result, Sears broke the
top of her fibula into about four pieces near the knee
on her left leg.
"Since the break is at the top of the fibula it
isn't as bad as it could have been and since it isn't
the main weight bearing bone, I can put weight on it
with no trouble," said Sears who is now riding
with a custom made splint. "The worse thing is
the nerve damage that was caused by the break."
However, once Sears learned that she couldn't do any
more damage by riding, she was back in the saddle, first
competing at the Ponoka (Alberta) Stampede aboard Martha
before returning for the final round in Reno on Saturday,
June 27.
"Last year I wasn't able to compete in Reno because
Martha was hurt and the two years before that I was
in good position to win the average but knocked over
barrels cost me the title," said Sears when recalling
her previous trips to Reno. "Given my situation
I not only wanted to leave the barrels standing to win
the title but also to save my leg from further injury
or pain."
As they did in the first two rounds, Sears and Martha
turned in a nice clean run stopping the clock in 17.08
seconds finishing second in the round behind Sue Smith
of Blackfoot, Idaho, who finished in a time of 16.91
seconds. However, Sears' time was enough to give her
the average win in Reno with a three run time of 51.11
seconds, while Smith was second with a time of 51.32
seconds.
"Martha was amazing as always and she definitely
did more than her fair share in Reno since I am not
100-percent." Sears said. "Martha has picked
up the slack and I couldn't be more proud or happy.
Winning Reno was one of the goals I set for myself this
year and now I can check that one off the list."
Following Reno, Sears and Martha made the trip to Greeley,
Colo., for a shot at some of the Fourth of July money
up for grabs there. She plans to return to Canada on
Tuesday, June 30 for another MRI so that her doctor
can see how the leg is doing. If all checks out fine
she has plans to run in the finals in Ponoka and at
the rodeo in Cody (Wyo.).
Reno (Nev.) Rodeo
First Round: 1. Lindsay Sears, 17.07 seconds, $3,067;
2. P.J. Burger, 17.28, $2,629; 3. Kyna Schrader, 17.29,
$2,191; 4. Katy Varian, 17.31, $1,898; 5. Angie Meadors,
17.32, $1,460; 6. (tie) Sammi Bessert and Brandie Halls,
17.35, $1,022 each; 8. Megan McLeod, 17.36, $584; 9.
Tammy Key-Fischer, 17.38, $438; 10. (tie) Rachael Ross
and Brittany Pharr, 17.38, $146 each. Second round:
1, Lindsay Sears, 16.96 seconds, $3,036; 2. Sue Smith,
17.01, $2,603; 3. Jeanne Anderson, 17.06, $2,169; 4.
Tammy Key Fischer, Ledbetter, Texas, 17.09, $1,880;
5. Shelley Morgan, 17.11, $1,446; 6. Rachael Ross, 17.13,
$1,157; 7. Jolee Lautaret, 17.14, $868; 8. Brandie Halls,
17.16, $578; 9. (tie) P.J. Burger and Whitney Baker,
17.17, $361. Final round: 1. Sue Smith, 16.91 seconds,
$2,249; 2. Lindsay Sears, 17.08, $1,667; 3. P.J. Burger,
17.14, $1,125; 4. Norma Wood, 17.17, $562. Average:
1. Lindsay Sears, 51.11 seconds on three runs, $4,555.
2. Sue Smith, 51.32, $3,904; 3. P.J. Burger, 51.59,
$3,253; 4. (tie) Norma Wood and Rachael Ross, 51.76,
$2,494 each; 6. Brandie Halls, 51.94, $1,735; 7. Brenda
Seely, 52.00, $1,301; 8. Kelli Tolbert, 52.05, $866;
9. Whitney Baker, 52.09, $651; 10. (tie) Sammi Bessert
and Sabrina Ketcham, 52.33, $217
|
