LAS VEGAS — December 2, 2022 — Hailey Kinsel and DM Sissy Hayday added another round win to their Wrangler National Finals Rodeo barrel racing portfolio with Round Two — the only round of the NFR “Sister” had yet to win, until tonight.

“I finally got this one! I’m really excited about that,” Kinsel said. “I was trying not to think about it, but after getting my [mistakes] out of the way last night, I was like ‘Well, you set yourself up to do the thing you really wanted to do.’

“My timing wasn’t perfect last night, and she was moving so fast,” the Cotulla, Texas, native continued. “She needs me to be perfect. I knew I had a lot of horse tonight, knew I had the chance to be on a go-round winning horse for sure, and accomplish that little goal. So, it’s pretty cool. I don’t really know that that’s even a thing to be excited about, but I’m excited!”

—> 2022 WPRA Top 15 Stats

Kinsel and Sister tipped a barrel in Round One, but Kinsel knew coming into Round Two all it took were adjustments on her part as jockey, namely setting up her first barrel.

“She gets to running so fast to the first barrel, and she took off so fast last night and just got running a little too hard,” she said of the 2011 mare by PC Frenchmans Hayday and out of Royal Sissy Irish by Royal Shake Em. “Tonight, I wanted to let her out [of the alley] sooner so that I could get ahold of her before we got to the mouth of the alley.”

The Round Two win marks Kinsel and Sister’s 17th NFR round win over the course of six NFR qualifications, and there is still a lot of rodeo left this year. Kinsel has earned more than $965,550 at the NFR alone in her six years of qualifying.

Hailey Kinsel’s Round Wins

2017:

2018:

2019:

2020

2021

Hailey Kinsel turns second barrel
Hailey Kinsel and DM Sissy Hayday win Round Two of the 2022 Wrangler NFR barrel racing with a 13.61 — their first Round Two win of their career. Photo by Kenneth Springer

The three-time Women’s Professional Rodeo Association world champion had a little different rodeo schedule during the 2022 regular season than in years’ past. She took along a field of younger horses to season, allowing her $2 million-earning mount to save her legs for only world standings-approved rodeos. The last run Sister made was in September at the Albuquerque, New Mexico, pro rodeo, making last night’s run at the NFR her first competitive run since. Kinsel says the difference in competition schedule has Sister feeling fresh for 10 days in Vegas.

“I just wanted to have her fit [prior to the NFR], but she’s not a horse that needs to be told to turn the barrel; she’s going to turn the barrels,” Kinsel said. “I just have to be in the right place to make sure. I was happy to have a fresh and healthy horse here — that’s always what makes you excited to come back.”

Kinsel’s goal for the 2022 NFR was to come into the marathon rodeo within striking distance of another world title, and with her round win, she moves from fifth in the world standings to third.

“Well, I had my mistake in Round One, so I got that out of the way,” she said. “Now, it’s just pedal-to-the-metal the rest of the way. I get to have fun, go for it, and that’s what we’re going to do.”

—> 2022 Wrangler NFR First-Timers

First-Time Qualifiers Show Off

The group of first-time NFR qualifiers is a powerful field with top-shelf horseflesh backing their talents as horsewomen. In Round One, Leslie Smalygo was the first of the new faces to earn a paycheck with the fourth-place check for $12,125. Tonight in Round Two, Margo Crowther earned her first paycheck of her first NFR for a time of 13.72 aboard Shes Packin Fame for a hefty $22,851.15. Crowther, of North Fort Myers, Florida, moved from 10th in the world standings to sixth and is currently sitting third in the aggregate.

Shes Packin Fame is a daughter of Carrizzo and out of the Packin Sixes mare Heidis Dashing Sixes. “Sissy” was bred and raised by longtime barrel horse player Frank Moore of Pendleton, South Carolina. Sissy was trained and started on the barrels by EquiStat leading rider Craig Brooks, and has earned more than $265,327 in EquiStat reported lifetime earnings. Now, she can add NFR money-earner to her record as well.

Margo Crowther turns the second barrel
Margo Crowther and Shes Packin Fame finish second in Round Two of the Wrangler NFR with a 13.72. Photo by Kenneth Springer

Charmayne James Awarded NFR Icon

Legendary barrel racer Charmayne James was honored with an NFR icon award and had a banner unveiled in the Thomas and Mack Center arena. The 11-time WPRA World Champion and ProRodeo Hall of Famer joins two other Hall of Famers in receiving these inaugural awards in 2022 — Trevor Brazile, who was honored Thursday night, and Ty Murray, who will receive the honor Saturday.

Amy Wilson interviews Charmayne James
Legendary barrel racer Charmayne James was honored with an NFR icon award and had a banner unveiled in the Thomas and Mack Center arena. The 11-time WPRA World Champion and ProRodeo Hall of Famer joins two other Hall of Famers in receiving these inaugural awards in 2022 — Trevor Brazile, who was honored Thursday night, and Ty Murray, who will receive the honor Saturday. Photo by Kenneth Springer

NFR Barrel Racing Round Two Results

Place, Name, Horse, Time, Money Won

  1. Hailey Kinsel, DM Sissy Hayday, 13,61, $28,913.70
  2. Margo Crowther, Shes Packin Fame, 13.72, $22,851.15
  3. Wenda Johnson, Steal Money, 13.75, $17,254.95
  4. Lisa Lockhart, Promise Me Fame Guys, 13.78, $12,125.10
  5. Sissy Winn, Chewingthehotwire, 13.88, $7,461.60
  6. Shelley Morgan, HR Fameskissandtell, 13.91, $4,663.50
  7. Jordon Briggs, Famous Lil Jet, 13.92
  8. Bayleigh Choate, TJR Stinson Blue, 13.95
  9. Leslie Smalygo, Justaheartbeattofame, 14.01
  10. Emily Beisel, Namgis D 33, 18.57 * 
  11. Kassie Mowry, CP He Will Be Epic, 18.84 *
  12. Dona Kay Rule, High Valor, 18.89 *
  13. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, RC Black In Famous, 18.93 *
  14. Stevi Hillman, French Zone, 19.18 *
  15. Jessica Routier, Fiery Miss West, 19.40 *

* denotes penalty

2022 WPRA World Standings

Rank, Name, Hometown, Earnings

  1. Jordon Briggs, Tolar, TX, $205,034.10
  2. Wenda Johnson, Pawhuska, OK, $177,762.92
  3. Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, TX, $158,303.28
  4. Dona Kay Rule, Minco, OK, $142,105.29
  5. Stevi Hillman, Granbury, TX, $130,602.22
  6. Margo Crowther, North Fort Myers, FL, $129,721.86
  7. Kassie Mowry, Dublin, TX, $125,404.45
  8. Shelley Morgan, Eustace, TX, $125,124.42
  9. Sissy Winn, Chapman Ranch, TX, $119,309.76
  10. Emily Beisel, Weatherford, OK, $111,426.36
  11. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, SD, $106,996.01
  12. Leslie Smalygo, Skiatook, OK, $106,578.10
  13. Bayleigh Choate (R), Fort Worth, TX, $100,892.81
  14. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, Lampasas, TX, $98,431.79
  15. Jessica Routier, Buffalo, SD, $96,863.10

Aggregate Standings on Two Runs

Rank, Name, Aggregate Time

  1. Wenda Johnson, 27.32
  2. Jordon Briggs, 27.62
  3. Margo Crowther, 27.64
  4. Lisa Lockhart, 27.76
  5. Leslie Smalygo, 27.81
  6. Bayleigh Choate, 27.92
  7. Shelley Morgan, 27.95
  8. Sissy Winn, 28.07
  9. Emily Beisel, 32.39
  10. Kassie Mowry, 32.49
  11. Hailey Kinsel, 32.50
  12. Dona Kay Rule, 32.80
  13. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 33.02
  14. Stevi Hillman, 33.35
  15. Jessica Routier, 33.80
Author

Kailey Sullins is editor of Barrel Horse News, and an avid barrel racer and breakaway roper. Email comments or questions to [email protected]

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