It was clear that there was speed in the ground from the first run, when Brittany Pozzi was on her way to a 13.49-second run before tipping the third barrel. Five runs later, Melby and Beauty turned in a smooth and fast run reminiscent of their 3rd Go win.
“She was a little wild in the alleyway,” Melby said of Beauty. “I was okay with her being wild, and it just went from there.”
Melby gave Beauty the fifth and sixth rounds off after the mare developed swelling in a knee. She rode her again in the 7th Go, but hit a barrel after stumbling, which scared Melby. After checking her thoroughly to ensure that no damage had been done, Melby entered the 8th Go with the words of a friend echoing in her mind.
“I had someone say ‘You hit a barrel in the second round and won the third,’” Melby said, “‘so if you hit a barrel in the 7th round, you’re going to win the 8th,’ and it happened!”
With Brittany Pozzi and Sherry Cervi both tipping the third barrel in the 8th Go, the race for both the World Championship and NFR Average have both fallen in Lindsay Sears’ favor. Sears now trails Pozzi, who leads the World Championship standings with $182,051.72 in 2011 earnings, by just $6,072.17.
Sears also took over the lead in the NFR Average standings with her third-place finish in the 8th Go, and now has a 2.2 second lead over second place Christina Richman.
8th Go Results
1) Jane Melby/RC Back In Black – 13.78 – $17,884.62
2) Lisa Lockhart/An Oakie With Cash – 13.84 – $14,134.62
3) Tammy Fischer/Easy Dash Oak – 13.99 – $9,086.54
4) Lindsay Sears/Sugar Moon Express – 13.99 – $9,086.54
5) Jody Sheffield/Skip The Finances – 14.01 – $4,615.38
6) Jeanne Anderson/Flaming Fire Bug – 14.07 – $2,884.62
7) Christina Richman/Xtrared – 14.13
8) Britany Fleck/Dasher Dude – 14.24
9) Jill Moody/GS Doco Daisy – 14.43
10) Brenda Mays/Judge Buy Cash – 14.51
11) Brittany Pozzi/Yeah Hes Firen – 18.49
12) Angie Meadors/Mulberry Canyon Moon – 18.89
13) Carlee Pierce/Blue Moon Fling – 19.07
14) Sherry Cervi/MP Meter My Hay – 19.32
15) Sue Smith/Real Claim To Fame – 24.18
NFR Average Results – Through the 8th Round
1) Lindsay Sears/Sugar Moon Express – 111.76
2) Christina Richman/Xtrared – 113.96
3) Brenda Mays/Judge Buy Cash & Judge My Fame – 114.42
4) Sherry Cervi/MP Meter My Hay – 116.99
5) Jody Sheffield/Skip The Finances – 117.50
6) Tammy Fischer/Easy Dash Oak – 118.26
7) Jeanne Anderson/Flaming Fire Bug – 118.69
8) Brittany Pozzi/Yeah Hes Firen – 120.76
9) Lisa Lockhart/An Oakie With Cash – 121.83
10) Angie Meadors/Mulberry Canyon Moon & Heza Bug Leo – 123.32
11) Jill Moody/Chasin Firewater & GS Doco Daisy – 125.02
12) Jane Melby/RC Back In Black & RC Brooks A Streakin– 127.66
13) Sue Smith/Real Claim To Fame – 132.65
14) Britany Fleck/Dasher Dude – 134.17
15) Carlee Pierce/Rare Dillion & Blue Moon Fling– 140.62
World Championship Standings—End of 8th Round
1) Brittany Pozzi – $182,051.72
2) Lindsay Sears – $175,979.55
3) Sherry Cervi – $162,203.21
4) Lisa Lockhart – $141,825.24
5) Carlee Pierce – $128,773.95
6) Jane Melby – $105,109.50
7) Sue Smith – $94,751.90
8) Jody Sheffield – $92,833.05
9) Angie Meadors – $89,815.46
10) Brenda Mays – $87,960.82
11) Tammy Fischer – $80,349.02
12) Jeanne Anderson – $74,684.15
13) Christina Richman – $72,098.64
14) Britany Fleck – $66,004.52
15) Jill Moody – $61,420.89
