BREAKAWAY ROPING AWARDS By Ann Bleiker Betty Gayle Cooper Fast Time Award
without her main mount in Las Vegas for the Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping. Although he was recovered from the surgery, she didn’t feel he was in shape to handle the 10 consecutive rounds, but one can bet she will be backing into the box on him as the 2023 season gets underway in search of a repeat championship year. Breakaway Horse of the Year
to the WPRA history books with the legend and world champion Jackie Crawford, but she becomes the only other cowgirl thus far to win this award. Crawford won the award in 2020 and 2021 after turning in the fastest times in the first round both years in a time of 1.9 seconds. Diana Vela, the Associate Executive Director of the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, was on hand in Las Vegas to present Angelone with a custom bracelet and for the first time a bonus check of $1,000. Vela has been a big supporter of the women’s breakaway roping and thanks to her hard work was able to get the award sponsored by Wanda Waters, a Cowgirl Hall of Fame Board member. Elise Wade, Director of Public Engagement, was on hand during the 10th round of the NFR to recognize both Angelone and Margo Crowther, who won the Jerry Ann Taylor Best Dressed Award, also sponsored by the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. Breakaway Horse With the Most Heart
The award honors the late 1987 Cowgirl Honoree and a nine-time world champion that included being crowned the 1989 breakaway champion. Cooper worked as a rodeo director of the WPRA to strengthen the sport and she coached the men’s and women’s rodeo teams for Southeastern Oklahoma State University to win national titles. For the first two years, the award was given to the fast time in the first round of the NFBR. Beginning in 2022, the award was given to the fast time of the entire event (all 10 rounds). If a tie would occur the first tiebreaker would be based on how they finished in the average and if still tied then would go to final world standings. This year the fast time would be recorded on the second day in the eighth round by eventual world champion Martha Angelone. Although it had been a Finals with ups and downs for the talented roper it all came together for her in the eighth round stopping the clock in 1.8 seconds. “This is awesome,” stated Angelone when she was officially recognized in the arena with this prestigious award. “The horse I rode at the Finals, I hadn’t planned on riding him, but I can’t be more proud of Jesse and to win the fast time on him makes it even more special.” Not only has Angelone added her name Image left to right: Jimmie Munroe (WPRA President), Margo Crowther (Jerry Ann Taylor Best Dressed), Martha Angelone (Betty Gayle Cooper Fast Time Award) and Elise Wade (National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame)
Baybe Bullet, ridden Joey Williams, was officially recognized in Las Vegas during the 2022 PRCA Awards Ceremony as the 2022 Nutrena Horse of the Year presented by the American Quarter Horse Association. “Baybe” was bred, raised, and trained on the Williams’ family ranch. Baybe has been particularly special to the Williams family, and Joey was thrilled when she received the news that her 11-year-old bay mare had caught the attention of her peers. “I was literally just giddy about it,” Williams said. Baybe’s resume is quite impressive. Until Joey started hauling harder this year in the breakaway, she and her husband Taylor shared Baybe. Joey said the mare switched effortlessly going back and forth between breakaway and team roping. “I don’t think she’s ever once made a mistake going back and forth,” Joey said of the horse that has carried her to back-to- back National Finals Breakaway Roping appearances.
This award is voted on by the top 15 breakaway ropers and is given to the horse that has shown outstanding achievement and an amazing desire to compete and perform at a professional level throughout the 2022 rodeo season. This year’s winner was Martha Angelone’s horse Spots Lil Legend “Legend.” Legend is a 13-year-old gelding that finished second in the Horse of the Year honors but was a big reason for Angelone’s dominating season. Unfortunately, due to colic surgery in August, Angelone was
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023 WPRA NEWS 31
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