By Susan Kanode for National Western Stock Show, with modification from Barrel Horse News
DENVER — January 12, 2023 — The National Western Stock Show Rodeo’s Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and Women’s Professional Rodeo Association competition got underway at the Denver Coliseum on January 12. This year’s competition is tournament-style, with contestants getting two opportunities in the preliminary rounds. The contestants are divided into eight groups. Their scores and times will be added together with the best from each pool advancing to the semifinals January 21, where they will be vying for a spot in the finals January 22.
Follow along with here with Barrel Horse News magazine for updates on the NWSSR Denver barrel racing action. Scroll down for barrel racing results from Denver.
Jimmie Smith Tew Wins 2023 National Western Stock Show Rodeo Denver Barrel Racing
DENVER — January 22, 2023 — Championship Sunday at the National Western Stock Show Rodeo presented by Centura Health came to a close in the Denver Coliseum.
The winners were crowned based on how well they did during Sunday’s rodeo, with the highest scores and fastest times in each event leaving as the champion. A sold-out crowd saw outstanding performances in each event.
2023 117th National Western Stock Show Champions
Bareback Riding – Garrett Shadbolt, Merriman, Neb., 89.5 points, $6,181
Steer Wrestling — Jace Melvin, Fort Pierre, S.D., 4.2 seconds, $4,758
Team Roping – Clay Smith, Broken Bow, Okla., and Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan., 3.9 seconds, $6,821
Saddle Bronc Riding – Stetson Wright, Milford, Utah, 90 points, $4,636
Tie-down Roping – Riley Mason Webb, Denton, Texas, 7.2 seconds, $4,782
Barrel Racing – Jimmie Smith-Tew, McDade, Texas, 14.83 seconds, $4,782 (find complete results below)
Bull Riding, Bryce Burnell, Sheridan, Wyo., 91 points, $4,581
In the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association, the win went to McDade, Texas, barrel racer Jimmie Smith Tew, and no one was more surprised at the outcome. Tew barely advanced to the Semifinals out of her bracket, then was in the last spot to get into the Finals.
Riding 2013 mare A Valiant Nicky (Valiant Hero x Nicky Brick House x Brick House Bouncy), Tew stopped the clock in 14.83 seconds, the fastest run of the whole rodeo. Tew has ridden “Nicky” mostly at outdoor rodeos, but with her success in Denver, she may be changing her mind about who to run in the building rodeos. Tew earned nearly $5,000 in Denver toward the WPRA world standings.
Darby Fox and VF Misty Stinson Three-for-Three So Far in Denver Barrel Racing
DENVER — January 21, 2023 — There is just one performance left at the National Western Stock Show presented by Centura Health and it promises to have some of the most exciting action yet.
Three semifinals rodeo performances were held on Saturday, and the sold-out crowds enjoyed every bit of the rodeo action. Saturday night was especially exciting for barrel racer Darby Fox from King Hill, Idaho, and her 2015 mare VF Misty Stinson (Eddie Stinson x BN Misty Moon x Steppin For The Moon), as the pair has won first place in every round in which they’ve ran so far in Denver this year.
The National Western Stock Show Rodeo started off January 12 with the first of eight brackets. In the timed events, contestants competed in a qualifying event or got in based on their standings in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association or Women’s Professional Rodeo Association.
The rodeo started with 80 contestants in each event competing in one of eight brackets. Three of the contestants from every event then advanced to the semifinals based on how they finished in the individual brackets. Those 24 contestants were divided into three semifinals performances held in the Denver Coliseum on Saturday.
Darby Fox was one of the barrel racers that qualified for the rodeo performances. Then, she became the only competitor to have to runs less than 15 seconds in a bracket. She was at the top of the leaderboard in Bracket Six. When she made her run in Semifinals three, there was a 15.04-second time by her name and she once again was at the top.
VF Misty Stinson is a mare that Fox bought as a yearling and trained herself. She started seasoning her in 2022, and the experience paid off for both of them. Last year, Fox won $10,086 at rodeos. Thanks to her success in Denver, Fox has already collected $7,776 and stands to win more on Sunday.
National Western Stock Show Rodeo Favorite Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi Sets the Pace in Denver Barrel Racing
DENVER — January 16, 2023 — Rodeo fans would be hard-pressed to find a rodeo contestant that has been more successful at the National Western Stock Show presented by Centura Health than barrel racer Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi.
The Lampasas, Texas, resident and her great 2011 mare Babe On The Chase (Chasin Firewater x Streakin Six Babe x Streakin Six) are the defending champions after winning the Denver barrel racing title in 2022. That was the fifth time Tonozzi left Denver with the championship. Tonozzi competed in the first round of Bracket 5 on Monday afternoon and now has the fastest time of the rodeo so far.
She and “Birdie” were first out on the ground, and their 14.84-second time placed first in their bracket and first in the round. They have their second run Tuesday night, and even though they will be last out, they stand a good chance of qualifying for the semifinals in Denver.
Second in the barrel racing was California’s Katie Pascoe with a 15.22, a significant spread in an event timed to hundredths of seconds, aboard 2009 gelding JR Naughty Jet (Blazin Jetolena x Dash On Sky x On The Dash). All of Bracket 5’s competitors will have their second round Tuesday night. At the completion of that performance, the three with the fastest total times will advance to Saturday’s semifinals January 21.
Tonozzi is certainly hoping to be among those qualifiers and add another Denver title to her rodeo resume. Rodeo fans can see all of the action on the Cowboy Channel. Tuesday’s rodeo starts at 7 p.m. and will see the fifth set of competitors making plans to be back here over the weekend.
Nurse Practitioner Advances to NWSSR Denver Barrel Racing Semifinals
DENVER — January 13, 2023 — The National Western Stock Show presented by Centura Health saw plenty of great rodeo action on Friday.
Bracket 1 was completed at the matinee performance with a nurse practitioner from Brock, Texas, being the most consistent barrel racer in the field. Jamie Olsen stopped the clock on her 12-year-old bay gelding Royal Quick Frencher (PC Frenchman x Royal Fancy May x Royal Quick Dash) in 15.18 seconds during the first performance. She and “Easy” came back at the Friday matinee with a 15.20 and finished the bracket in the top spot with a total time of 30.38 seconds. It was nearly three-tenths of a second in front of Megan McLeod-Sprague from Marsing, Idaho, who had a total of 30.67.
Jamie grew up in South Dakota and got her nursing degree from South Dakota State University with help from a rodeo scholarship. She and her husband, Lee Olsen, moved to Texas, and when she wanted to get her master’s degree, she sold her barrel racing horse and focused on her education and family. She got her nurse practitioner degree and, until last year, had a full-time job.
But Jamie’s passion has always been barrel racing, and when she got horses that were competitive again, and with the support of her husband, she hit the road. Jamie finished 54th in the world standings last year and is working to improve on that this year.
A win at the National Western could certainly help that. She will have a week to get ready for her next run in Denver on Saturday, January 21, in the semifinals.
Barrel racing was exciting at the Friday night performance as well. Lisa Lockhart, who is one of Jamie’s heroes, took the lead with a great 15.12-second run on her superstar gray gelding Promise Me Fame Guys (Aint Seen Nothin Yet x Bar Blue Lass x FC Aboo), nicknamed “Levee.”
The last two seasons, the Oelrichs, South Dakota, cowgirl has had to make a last-minute push to qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. 2022 marked Lockhart’s 16th consecutive trip to Las Vegas to compete for a world championship. She is hoping to start her 2023 season off winning and be high enough in the standings that she isn’t on the bubble this year for a hopeful 17th qualification. A win in Denver could get the momentum going in the right direction for Lockhart.
There are three performances at the National Western Stock Show Rodeo on Saturday, January 14. The 11 a.m performance will see the completion of Bracket 2. Bracket 3 will be completed at the 3:30 and 8 p.m. performances.
National Western Stock Show Kicks Off in Denver With Exciting Rodeo Action in Colorado Versus The World
DENVER — January 7, 2023 — Opening Saturday at the National Western Stock Show presented by Centura has become a fan favorite for rodeo contestants and enthusiasts over the past 10 years in Denver, Colorado.
This year was no exception, as the 11th Super Saturday showdown between contestants representing Colorado rodeos and world-renowned rodeos dueled it out for winner-take-all prizes of $8,000. Along the way to the final championship, the tournament-style competition paid a total of $90,000 during three performances.
In the barrel racing, Team Colorado topped the leaderboard when Brittney (Barnett) Sporer stopped the clock in 15.268 seconds aboard her small-but-mighty 2007 Paint mare Chicks Keen O Pocopoo (Mr Dominator x Stylish Chick Olena x Dix Chic Olena). Sporer was entered representing the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo in Colorado Springs and took home $8,000 for the win.
2023 Colorado Versus The World Rodeo Results
Showdown – Colorado Versus The World – Contestant, followed by team, score and money.
Women’s Barrel Race: (Semifinals) 1, Carley Cervi, World, 14.952, $1,000. 2, Brittney Barnett, Colorado, 15.413, $1,000 (Final) 1, Barnett, 15.268, $8,000
Cinch Jeans Team World Performance – contestant, rodeo represented
Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Amanda Welsh, San Angelo (Texas) Rodeo, 15.381, $1,000. 2, Paisley Pierce, Buffalo Bill Rodeo (North Platte, Nebraska), $15.527, $700. 3, Carley Cervi, Guymon (Oklahoma) Pioneer Days, 15.528, $600. 4, Tasha Welsh, Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, 15.528, $600.
RAM Rodeo Team Colorado Performance – contestant, Colorado rodeo represented
Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Brittney (Barnett) Sporer, Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo (Colorado Springs), 15,317, $1,000. 2, Shali Lord, Greeley Stampede, 15.322, $700. 3, Jessica Routier, National Western Stock Show Rodeo, 15.455, $600. 4, Jenna Pruitt, Colorado State Fair Rodeo (Pueblo), 15.691, $500.
2023 NWSSR Denver Barrel Racing Results
Championship Finals, Twentieth Performance January 22, Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Jimmie Smith-Tew, McDade, Texas, 14.83, $4,074. 2, Kalli McCall, Lufkin, Texas, 14.95, $3,543. 3, Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, Lampasas, Texas, 14.96, $3,011. 4, Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 15.04, $2,480. 5, Darby Fox, King Hill, Idaho, 15.06, $1,948. 6, Kristi Steffes, Vale, S.D., 15.18, $1,417. 7, Timber Allenbrand, Paola, Kan., 15.21, $886. 8, Sophie Nolen, Stephenville, Texas, 15.25, $354.
Semifinal 3, Nineteenth Performance January 21, Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Darby Fox, King Hill, Idaho, 15.04 seconds. 2, Katie Pascoe, Morro Bay, Cali., 15.17. 3, Sara Winkelman, Big Lake, Minn., 15.22. 4, Taycie Matthews, Wynne, Ark., 15.24.
Semifinal 2, Eighteenth Performance January 21, Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Sophie Nolen, Stephenville, Texas, 14.92. 2, Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, Lampasa, Texas, 14.97. 3, Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 15.00. 4, Jimmie Smith- Tew, McDade, Texas, 15.28.
Semifinal 1, Seventeenth Performance January 21 Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Kalli McCall, Lufkin, Texas, 15.07. 2, Timber Allenbrand, Paola, Kan., 15.20. 3, Kelly Yates, Pueblo, Colo., 15.30. 4, Kristi Steffes, Vale, S.D., 15.33.
Sixteenth Performance January 20 Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Emma Charleston, Reeds, Mo., 15.09 seconds. 2, Kalli McCall, Lufkin, Texas, 15.13. 3, Jackie Ganter, Abilene, Texas, 15.30. 4, Sophie Nolen, Stephenville, Texas, 15.36. (total of two – semifinals qualifiers) 1, Nolen, 30.51. 2, Charleston, 30.53. 3, McCall, 30.54
Fifteenth Performance January 20 Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Sophie Nolen, Stephenville, Texas, 15.15 seconds. 2, (tie) Wenda Johnson, Pawhuska, Okla., and Jackie Ganter, Abilene, Texas, 15.30. 4, Kalli McCall., Lufkin, Texas, 15.41.
Fourteenth Performance January 19 Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Austyn Tobey, Bemidji,, Minn., 15.12 seconds, 2, Paige Jones, Wayne, Okla., 15.17. 3, Stephanie Fryar, Waco, Texas, 15.28. 4, Ilyssa Riley, Hico, Texas, 15.32. (total on two — semifinals qualifiers) 1, Riley, 30.2. 2, Tobey, 30.44. 3, Kelly Allen, Stephenville, Texas, 30.56.
Thirteenth Performance, January 19 Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Ilyssa Riley, Hico, Texas, 14.88 seconds. 2, Kim Schulze, Larkspur, Colo., 14.91. 3, Kelly Allen, Stephenville, Texas, 15.13. 4, Austyn Tobey, Bemidji, Minn., 15.32.
Twelfth Performance January 18 Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Darby Fox, King Hill, Idaho, 14.88 seconds. 2, Timber Allenbrand, Paola, Kan., 15.24. Jimmie Smith-Tew, McDade, Texas, 15.40. 4, Cheyenne Allen, Mabton, Wash., 15.55. (total on two–semifinals qualifiers) 1, Fox, 29.87. 2, Allenbrand, 30.51. 3, Smith- Tew, 31.24.
Eleventh Performance January 18 Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Darby Fox, King Hill, Idaho, 14.99 seconds. 2, Baleigh Choate, Fort Worth, Texas, 15.02. 3, Shannon McReynolds, La Luz, N.M., 15.04. 3, Timber Allenbrand, Paola, Kan., 15.27.
Tenth Performance January 17 Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Brittany Tonozzi, Lampasas, Texas, 15.05 seconds. 2, (tie) Katie Pasco, Morrow Bay, Colo., and Jane Malby, Wilson, Colo., 15.18. 3, Kari Boxleitner, 15.34. (Total on two–semifinals qualifiers) 1, Tonozzi, 29.89. 2, Pasco, 30.4. 3, Melby, 30.7.
Ninth Performance January 16 Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, Lampasas, Texas, 14.84 seconds. 2, Katie Pascoe, Morro Bay, Cali., 15.22. 3, Brittney (Barnett) Sporer, Stephenville, Texas, 15.28. 4, Steely Steiner, Oakley, Utah, 15.36.
Eighth Performance January 15 Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Shali Lord, Lamar, Colo., 15.01. 2, Hailey Garrison, Glen, Mont., 15.12. 3, Andrea Busby, Brock, Texas, 15.72. 4, Carlee Otero, Laundesboro, Ala., 16.35. (total on two — semifinal qualifiers) 1, Lord, 30.38. 2, Garrison, 30.53. 3, Sierra Williams, Sherwood Park, Alberta 30.89.
Seventh Performance January 15 Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Kylee Scribner, Azle, Texas, 14.88. 2, Cayla Small, Afton, Okla., 15.18. 3, Shali Lord, Lamar, Colo., 15.37. 4, Hailey Garrison, Glen, Mont., 15.41.
Sixth Performance January 14 Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Taycie Matthews, Wynne, Ark, 15.14 seconds. 2, Molly Pritchard, Byers, Colo., 15.18. 3, Kristi, Steffes, Vale, S.D., 15.34. 4, Rachelle Riggers, Lewiston, 15.36. (total on two- semifinal qualifiers) 1, Matthews, 30.04. 2, Steffes, 30.63. 3, Riggers, 30.63.
Fifth Performance January 14 Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Taycie Matthews, Wynne, Ark, 14.9 seconds. 2, Rachelle Riggers, Lewiston, Idaho, 15.27. 3, Kristi Steffes, Vale, S.D., 15.29. 4, Heidi Tillard, Douglas Wyo., 15.57.
Fourth Performance January 14 Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 14.95. 2, Kelly Yates, Pueblo, Colo., 15.36. 3, Gracen Pomroy, Loveland Colo., 15.42. Michelle Alley, Madisonville, Texas, 15.49. (total on two-semifinal qualifiers) 1, Lockhart, 30.37. 2, Yates, 30.75. 3, Alley, 31.15.
Third Performance January 13 Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 15.12. 2, (tie) Kelly Yates, and Sydni Blanchard, Pueblo Colo., 15.39. 3, Alex Odle, Brush, Colo., 15.60.
Second Performance January 13 Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Sarah Winkelman, Big Lake, Minn., 15.17 seconds. 2, Jamie Olsen, Brock Texas, 15.20. 3, Loralee Ward, Fort Lupton, Colo., 15.32. 4, Megan McLeod-Sprague, Marsing, Idaho, 15.33. (total on two – semifinals qualifiers) 1, Olsen, 30.38. 2, McLeod-Sprague, 30.67. 3, Winkleman, 30.69.
First Performance January 12 Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Jamie Olsen, Brock, Texas, 15.18 seconds. 2, Megan McLeod-Sprague, Marsing, Idaho, 15.34. 3, Abby Phillips, Marshall, Texas, 15.42. 4, Kelcey McNamee, Nunn, Colo., 15.45.
