|  OMAHA,
Neb. - Sue Smith can say things just went her way at the River City Rodeo.
Smith, of Blackfoot, Idaho, overcame a slip in the dirt and the reins slipping
to one side of her horse, Real Claim Ta Fame, to win the Justin Boots Championships
and $15,005. Smith and Claimer, a 7-year-old gelding out of Alicia Rose by Dash
Ta Fame, rounded the cloverleaf pattern in 13.94 seconds to win the final go-round
on Saturday night at the CenturyLink Center.
"I flipped the reins
over my horse's head, and I wasn't even sure he'd make the turn, but I asked him
for it anyway," said Smith, who has secured her second qualification to the
Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. "I just ran him out of the pen."
Then she looked a the clock and saw the third fastest run of the weekend.
Claimer slipped on opening night, but the tandem still finished in a tie for second
place with Angie Meadors of Blanchard, Okla. - both girls posted 14.33s. Smith
finished third on Friday night with a 14.04 and won the aggregate title to qualify
atop the leaderboard for Sunday's clean-slate championship run.
It was
a good way to end the 2011 season and advance to ProRodeo's championship in Las
Vegas.
"This rodeo means a lot to me, even more now that I've won
it," she said. "But I really appreciate the committee fixing the ground,
because it was real bad Thursday night. Somebody saw that and fixed it, and that's
important, because no matter how much this rodeo means to me, I can't afford to
take a chance on my horse getting hurt, especially before the finals."
Justin
Boots Championships
Sept. 22-24 Omaha, Neb. First
round:
1. Britany Fleck, Mandan, N.D., 14.29 seconds, $4,575; 2. (tie) Sue
Smith, Blackfoot, Idaho, and Angie Meadors, Blanchard, Okla., 14.33, $1,975 each;
4. Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., 14.54, $850; 5. Jill Moody, Letcher, S.D., 14.59;
6. Tammy Fischer, Ledbetter, Texas, 14.63; 7. Kim Schulze, Elbert, Colo., 14.71;
8. (tie) Sydni Blanchard, Albuquerque, N.M., and Cassie Moseley, Cedar Lane, Texas,
14.88 each; 10. Carlee Pierce, Woodward, Okla., 19.25; 11. Lindsay Sears, Nanton,
Alberta, 19.27; 12. Robyn Herring, Huntington, Texas, 19.78.
Second round:
1. Carlee Pierce, Woodward, Okla., 13.86 seconds, $4,575; 2. Lindsay Sears,
Nanton, Alberta, 13.97, $2,350; 3. Sue Smith, Blackfoot, Idaho, 14.04, $1,600;
4. Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., 14.11, $850; 5. Angie Meadors, Blanchard, Okla.,
14.25; 6. Cassie Moseley, Cedar Lane, Texas, 14.29; 7. (tie) Jill Moody, Letcher,
S.D., and Tammy Fischer, Ledbetter, Texas, 14.31 each; 9. Sydni Blanchard, Albuquerque,
N.M., 14.43; 10. Kim Schulze, Elbert, Colo., 14.50; 11. Britany Fleck, Mandan,
N.D., 14.52; 12. Robyn Herring, Huntington, Texas, 19.92.
Average:
1.
Sue Smith, Blackfoot, Idaho, 28.37 seconds on two runs, $2,105; 2. Angie Meadors,
Blanchard, Okla., 28.58, $1,025; 3. Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., 28.65, $750;
4. Britany Fleck, Mandan, N.D., 28.81, $500; 5. Jill Moody, Letcher, S.D., 28.90;
6. Tammy Fischer, Ledbetter, Texas, 28.94; 7. Cassie Moseley, Cedar Lane, Texas,
29.17; 8. Kim Schulze, Elbert, Colo., 29.21; 9. Sydni Blanchard, Albuquerque,
N.M., 29.31; 10. Carlee Pierce, Woodward, Okla., 33.11; 11. Lindsay Sears, Nanton,
Alberta, 33.24; 12. Robyn Herring, Huntington, Texas, 39.70.
Finals:
1.
Sue Smith, Blackfoot, Idaho, 13.94 seconds, $9,325; 2. Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz.,
14.05, $4,725; 3. Britany Fleck, Mandan, N.D., 14.25, $3,125; 4. Angie Meadors,
Blanchard, Okla., 14.42, $1,575. |
