TEXAS CIRCUIT: BARRELS
First Time’s A Charm Outhier Wins Average in her First Appearance at Texas Circuit Finals
By Josie Fladager M adison Outhier roped four calves in 11.1 seconds inside Extraco Events Center in Waco, Texas to win the average in her first-ever Texas Circuit Finals. In just her second year as a WPRA member, Outhier earned her ticket to the NFR Open. She and year-end winner Martha Angelone will compete in Colorado Springs, Colo. this coming July for equal money, and a chance to set them up well for a NFBR qualification. Going into the Texas Circuit Finals, which paid equal money to breakaway ropers, Outhier had her sights set on the average win and earning her place at the NFR Open, knowing how big of an impact winnings there had for Angelone’s season this past year. Her game plan was to get good starts, rope all her calves, and let the rest work itself out. Outhier was the first roper out in the first round, getting the first look at the calves. The calf she drew turned out to be slow, and Outhier credits “Rooster,” her trusty mount since middle school, for handling
placing 5th once again. For the week, Outhier earned a total of $5,983 and finished 7th in the year-end standings. But the highlight was accomplishing her goal of Madison Outhier continues to make headlines in the breakaway roping. The most recent being capturing her first Texas Circuit Finals average title. Outhier was competing in her first circuit finals but she roped like a veteran roping four calve sin 11.1 seconds. Photo by Rodeobum.com – James Phifer
the situation well. She roped the calf in 3.3 seconds after taking another swing to be safe on her first calf, placing her 5th in the round and just one place out of a go-round check. “My calf was super slow and I had no idea and [Rooster] just totally did great,” Outhier said. “I had to almost pull to a complete stop because the calf was so slow, but it all worked out.”
making it to the exclusive NFR Open, another rodeo where breakaway ropers have a shot at an equal payout. “It all worked out in my favor and I’m super happy it did because I’m stoked about getting to go to Colorado Springs for the NFR Open,” Outhier said. “We got to watch it and see the huge payout [last year] and it’s a huge opportunity for us in the world standings for sure.” For the rest of the winter, Outhier is grateful for her qualifications into the building rodeos, such as RodeoHouston, San Antonio, and Austin. She is looking forward to roping in those limited entry rodeos again to get a jump-start on continued on page 34
Outhier was a little bit more aggressive in the second round, taking a good start once again. She roped her calf in 2.0 seconds to win the round ahead of two 2022 NFBR qualifiers, JJ Hampton and Josie Conner. “It kind of just happened,” Outhier said about her round win. “It wasn’t my gameplan, but I feel like that happens a lot if you get a good opportunity.” Her first two runs put her to the lead in the average going into round three. Drawing a faster calf this time, Outhier roped her third calf in 2.7 seconds to place 5th in the round. Consistency and smart roping was the name of her game, as Outhier roped her fourth and final calf in 3.1 seconds, taking an extra swing to ensure her spot in the average, and Martha Angelone will be back to defend her NFR Open title in July after winning the year-end title in the Texas Circuit. Angelone won the $1M NFR Open in 2022, which helped propel her to her first WPRA Breakaway Roping World Title at the end of November. Angelone will be focused on repeating both feats in 2023. Photo by Rodeobum.com – James Phifer
Madison Outhier, won the WPRA Rookie of the Year title in 2021 but finished out of the top 12 for the circuit finals last year. This year she not only qualified she dominated winning the average among a field of very talented ropers. One can bet she will be laser focused on adding an NFR Open title to her already impressive resume in July 2023. Photo by Rodeobum.com – James Phifer
DECCEMBER 2022
WOMEN’S PRO RODEO NEWS 21
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