2022 YEAR IN REVIEW January 23 –The National Western Stock Show and Rodeo has long been a staple on a rodeo contestant’s schedule, as it is the first major rodeo of the new season each year taking place in January. Two-time world champion and 15-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi hasn’t missed an
“This is awesome, I am so thankful for San Antonio adding the breakaway as this is such a cool feeling,” Angelone said moments after winning the title. “With the tournament style, you kind of got to go at all of them and that’s what I like to do the most.” Angelone added $11,250 to her 2022 earnings and moved into second place behind Fort Worth’s champion Kelise Domer. Domer has won $35,443 at six events attended while Angelone now has $23,123 at 12 rodeos attended. Angelone will be looking to add more at RodeoHouston, another top rodeo who will be featuring breakaway roping for the first time.
opportunity to run at this event over the last 17 years and for good reason, she has a pretty great win percentage inside the Denver Coliseum. Pozzi Tonozzi captured her fifth title in the Mile High City this time aboard her 10-year-old mare Babe On the Chase “Birdie.” Despite almost knocking over the third barrel, the duo was able to keep it up and stopped the clock in 14.89 seconds in the sudden death final round. “I have been super blessed to have the horses I have had, and this is actually my 17th year to come to Denver,” said Pozzi Tonozzi. “It never gets old winning. I am not usually a trick rider but had to with that third barrel. With this type of format where the fastest time wins, I had to go for it.” Pozzi Tonozzi won the barrel racing title in Denver in 2007, 2008 and 2010 aboard Sixth Vision “Stitch” and returned to the winner’s circle in 2012 riding Yeah Hes Firen “Duke.” A credit to the horsewoman that she is having navigated the set-up in Denver both with the barrel pattern and rodeo formats throughout the years to win no matter the circumstances.
March 19 - RodeoHouston is definitely a bucket list rodeo that every WPRA member would like to win and have on their resume. Before 2022, this dream was only achievable by barrel racers but thanks to the explosion of breakaway roping events and RodeoHouston adding a second female only discipline for the first time, a whole new group of ladies can now dream of standing in the winner’s circle inside NRG Stadium. Following the conclusion of RodeoHouston in 2022, after being abruptly stopped in 2020 and not holding the event in 2021 due to the pandemic, reigning world champion Jordon Briggs and three-time WPRA breakaway roping world champion Erin Johnson etched
February 5 – The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo came to a rousing conclusion on Saturday night (February 5) with the final performance of the ProRodeo Tournament. No barrel racer was more dominant than Wenda Johnson of Pawhuska, Oklahoma.
their name in the history books of this prestigious event and shot to No. 1 in the WPRA world standings in their respective disciplines. Briggs and her Horse of the Year, Famous Lil Jet “Rollo,” won the sudden-death final round in a time of 14.33 seconds and in so doing hit it big with the $50,000 payout to the winner. Interestingly enough, Briggs edged Kassie Mowry, a fellow futurity horse trainer, who rode Famous Ladies Man “Emmitt.” Both Rollo and Emmitt were bred and raised Busby Quarter Horses. Mowry finished in a time of 14.55 seconds, while three-time world champion Hailey Kinsel and Sister was third in 14.80 seconds. On the roping end, Johnson made history by being the first woman to win the breakaway roping title. She did so by turning in the only clean run of the final round stopping the clock in 2.7 seconds. Ironically enough, she barely squeaked into the finals after turning in a 12.2-second run to finish fourth in the semifinal round. Johnson of Fowler, Colorado, earned $25,000 for her winning time in the finals to move ahead of Fort Worth’s breakaway champion Kelsie Domer. Johnson has won $49,899 at eight events in 2022, while Domer is second with $35,443 at seven events.
Johnson set the barrel racing on fire inside Dickies Arena every time she ran down the alley. It started in her qualification rounds when she set a record at 16.17 seconds. She blew that away on Saturday night when she and Macgyver Moonflash “Mac,” an eight-year-old bay gelding, stopped the clock in 16.08 seconds. Mac is owned by Mark and Lori Singleton of Tres Mesa Horses. Several years ago, they watched the barrel racing at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, and they said one day they wanted their horse to run at this Legendary Rodeo. Well, their wish came true in 2022 and did so in dominating fashion with a first-class jockey in Johnson. “It was exciting to get to run him here,” said Johnson just moments after the winning run. “The owners that have these horses, this is where it started for them. They watched this rodeo and said my horse could be a barrel horse and I am grateful to have this win on these amazing horses that I get to ride.”
April 17 – Six-time Wrangler NFR qualifier Stevi Hillman and her trusty gelding Cuatro Fame better known as Truck, proved to be a force to be reckoned with at the 104th annual Red Bluff Round-Up, held in Red Bluff, California every April. Truck is Hillman’s 15-year-
February 26 – The San Antonio fans were treated to women’s breakaway roping for the first time in the rodeo’s storied career. Martha Angelone, who is putting together her own storied career in the WPRA, took home the inaugural title stopping the clock in a quick 2.1 seconds.
52 WPRA NEWS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023
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