![]() It’s none other than Hailey Kinsel and her great mare DM Sissy Hayday that we all know as Sister. The favorite team this year has a history in Las Vegas, a history at the NFR and most of all a history of winning. The favorites – While barrel racing is not technically a team event, it definitely takes a horse and rider team to win it and because of the relationships that these women have with their horses, they are a team. On that note, I have some thoughts that I will share in a series of blogs. With an increase in prize money in Las Vegas, there is a lot at stake and it’s more than gold buckles. ![]() ![]() I can’t wait to walk into the Thomas & Mack Center, - and The Orleans Arena for breakaway roping - feel the energy of the Wrangler NFR and see who emerges as our 2021 world champions. I’ve followed the Professional Rodeo Cowboys association and Women’s Professional Rodeo Association and what an exciting year it has been. I’ve also tuned into the Cowboy Channel and seen rodeos that I couldn’t attend. I’ve been to several events and watched them live. For many of them it was a comeback after the pandemic and that has offered contestants more opportunities as they pursue a Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualification. I’m only 19 years old, so I don’t get to experience the full Vegas,” Gilbert said with a laugh and a smile.It’s been a stellar year for rodeos across the country. But as she reminded this reporter, she’s not quite yet of age. It’s a huge accomplishment, and she’s certainly in a city that knows how to celebrate. “I kind of just want to spend time with my family and friends, and just enjoy the moment.” I haven’t really had time to come down,” Gilbert said. During the rodeo, she was introduced to the crowd of 16,000-plus as the new breakaway world champion. Gilbert barely had time to hit her hotel and change before she was whisked to the Thomas & Mack Center for Tuesday night’s sixth go-round of the Wrangler NFR. “I’m not a big emotional person, but after getting back there with the other ropers, and them congratulating me, that’s when I started getting a little wet around the eyes.” I saw the rope go around his neck, and then the emotions came,” Gilbert said. “I knew all I had to do was just catch that last one. Gilbert was the only roper of the 15 finalists to catch all 10 head, and she finished the year with $71,654, a little more than $2,000 ahead of Boisjoli ($69,457). That average check of $11,313 was key to claiming the gold buckle. Gilbert did just that with a 2.5-second time and, in fact, finished with a 10-round total of 46.3 seconds to win the average, as well. I wanted to just make sure I didn’t break the barrier, and that I roped the calf clean.” “Oh man, coming into the 10 th round, there was only like $86 between me and Shelby,” Gilbert said. It was a bang-bang two days and 10 go-rounds – five Monday, five Tuesday – at Orleans Arena, and it was air-tight going into the final run, with Gilbert battling Shelby Boisjoli for the world championship. 2, and I got to be the second to win the title,” she said. Not that Gilbert minds being attached to the second digit. Gilbert became the second breakaway roping gold buckle winner – but the first to clinch in Las Vegas. ![]() So on Tuesday afternoon, Sawyer Gilbert made some history of her own. Breakaway roping has been around for decades and honors a season-long champion each year, but 2020 marked the first time the women’s event fell under the NFR’s auspices.īut recall that the 2020 Wrangler NFR and National Finals Breakaway Roping were held in Texas, due to pandemic restrictions at the time in Las Vegas. Jackie Crawford made history last year as the first breakaway roper to win a world championship under the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo banner. ![]()
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