COLUMBIA CIRCUIT: BREAKAWAY Minors Sweep Breakaway Championships in Redmond Jordan Takes Year-End, Annie Takes Average
By Tim Gentry B reakaway calf roping is enjoying a surge in popularity nationwide, and a big part of that surge comes from the willingness of ProRodeos to include a new event in their performance order. The Columbia River Circuit has been at the forefront of this movement, having been the circuit the WPRA conducted their pilot program before introducing it nationwide. Now that more rodeos are adding this second all-women’s event, cowgirls who have been breakaway roping since they were old enough to ride and swing a rope are making the most of the opportunity.
had nearly ended her career. They’d won the event together in 2018, but Minor wasn’t sure if her Mojo was still working. “She lost her eye a couple of years ago,” explained Minor, “and I really didn’t know if I would ever use her at that high of a level anymore. I didn’t know if she would be as she was before. That was a good part to the summer, knowing that I had her back and she feels the same.” They entered the Circuit Finals in Redmond trailing the standings leader, Kimberly Williams, but still within reach. Minor came out strong in the first go with 2.4 for second, and had another clean run just outside the money the next night. One more in the third would have given her a strong shot at the average, but it just wasn’t her night. “I don’t have any excuses,” said a chagrined Minor. “The round was wide open and for some reason everyone was struggling that night. I got out really good on a good calf and I thought it was going to work, and it did not. That’s the one you really wish you could redo as soon as it happens.” In the end, the $1,131 she won in the first round was enough to nudge her into first place in the final standings by less than $200. At the end of a super competitive season, only $2,500 separated first and fourth place, and all four cleared $10,000 in Columbia River Circuit earnings. Just down in sixth place for the year, and a few branches over on the Minor family tree, was Annie Minor, who put together a dominating performance over the weekend in Redmond to win the average and punch her own ticket to the NFR Open. continued on page 28 Jordan Minor edged Kimberly Williams for the year-end title and a chance for a national title now at the NFR Open in July. Minor finished the year with $12,737 to Williams’ $12,561. Jordan will join Annie Minor as the two breakaway ropers earning a ticket to the NFR Open. Photo by Kent Soule
“It’s always kind of funny when I hear people say, ‘new event,’” said Year-End Breakaway Circuit Champion Jordan Minor, “because it is to a lot of people and it is to the ProRodeos, but at the same time most of us girls who do it have been doing it forever. We’re just having more opportunities now.” Opportunities that now include qualification to the NFR Open in Colorado Springs, Colorado, next July, an honor she shares with PRCA team roper and 2022 Wrangler NFR Qualifier Riley Minor. Both come from big, rodeo-centered families from the northwest. Jordan’s parents, Maureen and Shane Crossley, were both Columbia River Circuit Champions, and the horse she ropes on, Cisco’s French Mojo (“Mojo”), is out of the mare her mother campaigned on in year’s past. After an up and down year, the Ellensburg, Washington, cowgirl’s regular season highlight was splitting a win of the long go at the Pendleton Round-Up, along with fourth in the average to pocket nearly $8,000 and springboard her into contention for the year-end title. It was also Mojo’s first trip back to the Pendleton since an injury Annie Minor (left) and Jordan Minor will be the two ladies representing the Columbia River Circuit at the NFR Open in the breakaway roping. Annie captured the average title, whole Jordon took home the year-end title.
DECCEMBER 2022
WOMEN’S PRO RODEO NEWS 19
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