By Kailey Sullins. Photo by Ric Anderson
Miller came to Weatherford, Oklahoma, to attend Southwestern Oklahoma State University and made it her home after graduating. She now works full time as a dental hygienist and is the barrel racing champion of the Prairie Circuit, which includes Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska.
Miller and her mount are no strangers to the RNCFR. They had a good showing here last year, but Miller hopes to better their times this year. Namgis D 35 is a 7-year-old gelding by Bucks Hancock Dude out of Central Station by First Down Dash. He has led Miller to many pro rodeo earnings and recently got the call as her mount at Rodeo Houston.
“I actually I’ve been off him. After the [Prairie] Circuit Finals in October, I pulled his shows and so his first trip down the alley was Houston. Houston was a surprise; I got the last minute call otherwise I would have been a little bit more prepared,” Miller said with a laugh. “I planned on Kissimmee technically being his first rodeo back and just go to some barrel races before this, but he had to get ready a little sooner. He’s been good.”
Miller and “Pipewrench” struggled last year in Kissimmee with their approach to the first barrel, however this year, Miller focused on setting her mount up. Her strategy worked.
“Last year here I struggled getting my first barrel down. I just couldn’t get the timing,” Miller said. “This year when I got to work in the arena, I got him really paying attention and looking at it and knowing it was coming. He was very rate-y for Pipewrench coming into the first barrel, which kind of threw us off just a hair, because when he set on the backside to come back around we were about to hit the first. He had to bow off of it, and I had to work to get him back over to the second barrel, but once I got him back in line he knew where he was at and it was game on from there.”
Having seen the tournament-style rodeo already, Miller has an upper hand for this year’s performance. She plans to stay focused on her game plan.
“Keep the barrels up. That’s really important here, you can’t progress without it. I learned a lesson last year, because last year I was a last-minute replacement here and didn’t feel very prepared. When I came into the semi-finals, I had in my mind I just needed to be smooth and make it on to the finals and I would be OK. I went out there and made a run, but I didn’t really make a rodeo run and this is the RNCFR; it’s tough. Last year I didn’t end up progressing,” Miller said. “The important thing this year is we got the first one under our belt and it looked good, but the times are tight so I just have to go out there and do the same thing again. I’ll drive him into the first a little more the second run so he’s maybe not so rate-y, and we can get around the backside a little smoother. Other than that, I’m going to let him do his thing and we’ll see what happens.”
Emily Miller and Namgis D 35. Photo by Ric Anderson
The first round of the RNCFR will be completed at the second performance Friday night, but the duo is in good position to win part of the prize money. Miller and Pipewrench will compete again Saturday night in the second round. Twenty-six teams are competing at the RNCFR, and the eight with the fastest total times on the two rounds will advance to Sunday’s semifinals.
Lisa Lockhart and Rosas Cantina CC followed in second place with a fast time of 15.48. Nellie Miller is sitting third with a 15.52, followed by Ari-Anna Flynn in fourth with a 15.53.
At stake are national championships and $1 million in cash and prizes. For the first time, the money earned at the RNCFR counts in the world standings for the sanctioning organizations, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association.
Round 1 Leaders – after first performance
1.Emily Miller, Weatherford, Okla., 15.46 seconds
2.Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 15.48
3.Nellie Miller, Cottonwood, Calif., 15.52
4.Ari-anna Flynn, Charleston, Ark., 15.53
5.Ashley Baur, Virnamwood, Wis., 15.67
6.Sabra O’Quinn, Ocala, Fla., 15.71
7.Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., 15.75
8.Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, Victoria, Texas, 15.81
9.Kathy Grimes, Medical Lake, Wash., 15.90
10.Nikki Hansen, Dickinson, N.D., 15.92
11.Luisa Herrera, Chihuahua, MX, 16.27
12.Wendy Chesnut, Poultney, Vt., 21.02
13.Jessie Telford, Caldwell, Idaho, 21.60
Aggregate Leaders – after first performance
1.Emily Miller, Weatherford, Okla., 15.46 seconds on one run
2.Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 15.48
3.Nellie Miller, Cottonwood, Calif., 15.52
4.Ari-anna Flynn, Charleston, Ark., 15.53
5.Ashley Baur, Virnamwood, Wis., 15.67
6.Sabra O’Quinn, Ocala, Fla., 15.71
7.Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., 15.75
8.Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, Victoria, Texas, 15.81
9.Kathy Grimes, Medical Lake, Wash., 15.90
10.Nikki Hansen, Dickinson, N.D., 15.92
11.Luisa Herrera, Chihuahua, MX, 16.27
12.Wendy Chesnut, Poultney, Vt., 21.02
13.Jessie Telford, Caldwell, Idaho, 21.60
14.(tie) Lindsey Hayes-banks, Opelika, Ala., 0.00
Lori Todd, Willcox, Ariz., 0.00
Tiany Schuster, Krum, Texas, 0.00
Trula Churchill, Valentine, Neb., 0.00
Jordan Moore, Mauston, Wis., 0.00
Calli Van Tassell, Draper, Utah, 0.00
Tracy Nowlin, Nowata, Okla., 0.00
Nas Yeverino, Coahuila, MX, 0.00
Jana Griemsman, Piedmont, S.D., 0.00
Karly Stoltzfus, Mcclure, Pa., 0.00
Amberleigh Moore, Keizer, Ore., 0.00
Carmel Wright, Roy, Mont., 0.00
Kailey Sullins is managing editor of Barrel Horse News. Email comments on this article to [email protected].
