CLEAN RUNS Cadee Williams Wins NFBR Average Title By Joe Kusek T he young girl was easy to hear at The South Point Arena and Equestrian Center. Holding signs through 10 rounds of the National Finals Breakaway Roping, she would cheer at the top of her tiny lungs for her favorite breakaway ropers. “She was yelling for all of her friends,” said Cadee Williams, the girl’s mother. “It was fun.”
And five-year-old Honor Williams had plenty to cheer about as her mother won the NFBR average at the two-day event, Nov. 29-30. With Swiss watch consistency, the Montana-turned-Texas cowgirl finished with a total time of 31.9 seconds on 10 head. Williams became the first WPRA competitor in the three-year history of the event to rope all 10 calves without a penalty. “That was awesome,” said Williams, who lives in Weatherford, Texas with husband Landon, daughter Honor and son Wyatt. She is originally from Belgrade, Montana. “You can’t hardly beat South Point Arena. It’s a world-class facility. They wanted us to be the best. They were good to the contestants. It was pretty dang cool,” stated Williams. Williams earned $19,645 in Las Vegas, moving from 13th to eight in the final WPRA world standings. Lari Dee Guy, of Abilene, Texas was second in the average with a total time of 40.1 seconds. Martha Angelone, of Stephenville, Texas won the year-end gold buckle with $130,303. “Martha had the year-end championship sewn up,” Williams said. “I definitely wanted to win the average. “My game plan, honestly, was to catch every calf. To make a run on every calf and make the best run that I can.” Riding her bay mare Scandal, Williams snapped off times of 2.9, 3.0, 2.8, 3.6 and 2.4 the first day, placing fourth in rounds one and five. “I should have placed in more rounds that first day,” she said. “But I didn’t want to be dumb and take a low percentage run. Honestly, we were a little hit and miss. We had a hard time with the scoring. I think that first day Scandal was a lot more nervous.”
The Tarleton State University graduate altered her preparation for the second day of competition. “I loped her for a while on the second day. That got her more tired and better in the event,” Williams said of the seven-year-old horse registered as Dropit Likeitz Hott and by Hottish and out of Miss Peppys Moped. Facing a strong pen of calves, Williams and Scandal closed out with times of 3.4, 3.2, 3.1, 3.5 and 3.4. She added another $875 by placing sixth in the sixth round. “The second day, I had two calves that were kind of tough,” she said. “I was happy to get past those two. There is a little bit of luck involved. Once I got past those two, I felt a lot better for some reason. “I wanted to make sure I caught in rounds eight, nine and 10,” noted Williams. “Not safety up, just trying to make the best runs I could. I was settled in and wanted to finish doing our job.” And when the last loop was pulled tight, Honor Williams could be heard throughout the arena. “That sure was exciting and kind of a relief,” said Williams. “It felt good to come out and do what we planned to do.” Williams is no stranger to the winner’s circle. She won the National High School Rodeo Finals breakaway roping title in 2008 and came within a missed calf of winning the College National Finals Rodeo title. “To this day, that calf haunts me,” Williams said with a chuckle. “I don’t know what makes me successful. I grew up with three brothers (Colt, Casey and Cody) and I am extremely competitive. I don’t like to During the regular season, Williams and her husband relied on friends to help watch their children while mom competed in breakaway roping and dad in tie-down roping. The wife and husband also competed in continued on page 46 lose backyard basketball or football games. “I’ve worked hard. I have been blessed.” Cadee Williams entered her first Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping knowing she didn’t have a shot at the world title but the average title was definitely up for grabs. When the dust had settled Williams became the first WPRA competitor in the three-year history of the event to rope all 10 calves without penalty. Her fastest time came in the fifth round (shown here) when she stopped the clock in 2.4 seconds. WPRA photo by Jackie Jensen
Cadee Williams roped at her first National Finals Breakaway Roping with Swiss watch consistency to win the average in a total time of 31.9 seconds on 10 head. Riding her bay mare Scandal, Williams earned $19,645 in Las Vegas moving from 13th to eighth in the final WPRA world standings. WPRA photo by Jackie Jensen
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023 WPRA NEWS 25
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