By Susan Kanode For the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, Jan. 30, 2012
FORT WORTH — Last year Kay Blandford was the big money winner at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo.
The barrel racer from Sutherland Springs, Texas, rode her horse Talents Dark Angle for the championship and earned $17,797. Last year all of the barrel racers competed once with the 12 best advancing to the finals. At the 116th edition of the show, 202 women are competing for a spot in a progressive round with the 12 fastest combined times moving onto the finals.
Blandford moved into second place in the first round here on Sunday afternoon with a 16.51 second run. At the Sunday evening performance, the fastest time was 16.90. With just two more performances left in the first round, Blandford is looking very good to get a big check in the round. More importantly, she will get to compete here again and with a fast run in the progressive round, she will be looking good for another championship and a big Fort Worth pay day.
After 10 years of qualifying for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, three world championships and nearly $2 million in career earnings, it would seem that there is little in rodeo that Will Lowe hasn’t accomplished. However, the bareback rider from Canyon, Texas, has never won the rodeo here.
To win a bareback title here, competitors must have successful rides on four horses. Lowe has done that on three and now is tied for first in the overall standings with Winn Ratliff from Leesville, La. Each man has 240 total points. Lowe rode his first horse on Saturday night and scored 77 points. He followed that up with an 84 and 79 on Sunday.
There are two performances of the rodeo here on Monday at 2 and 7:30 p.m.
Women’s Barrel Race: 1. Kay Blandford, Sutherland Springs, Texas, 16.51; 2. Christy Loflin, Franktown, Colo., 17.13; 3. Kelly Yates, Pueblo, Colo., 17.21; 4. Rainy Graham, Gardendale, Texas, 17.37.
Current Leaders:
Women’s Barrel Race: 1. Carlee Pierce, Woodward, Okla., 16.45 seconds; 2. Kay Blandford, Sutherland Springs, Texas, 16.51; 2. Benette Little, Springer, Okla., 16.55; 4. Randa Kellogg, Point, Texas, 16.59; 5; Callie Chamberlain, Colorado City, Texas, 16.64; 6. Rachel Primm, Washoe Valley, Nev., 16.65; 7. Trula Churchill, Valentine, Neb., 16.67; 8. (tie) Layna Kight, Wills Point, Texas, and Tana Renick, Kingston, Okla., 16.73; 10. Lisa Lockhart Oelrichs, S.D., 16.74; 11. (tie) Nicole Ferrell, Wendell, N.C., and Jana Bean, Fort Hancock, Texas, 16.75; 13. Kaley Bass, Davenport, Fla., 16.76; 14. Brenda Mays, Terrebonne, Ore., 16.80; 15. Tammi Reynolds, Troy, Texas, 16.81.
