BACK-TO-BACK Briggs Tops Field in Houston for Second Straight Year By Kristen M. White J ordon Briggs knows that when you try to make plans, life often has other ideas in store.
But also, sometimes the things you hardly dared to think about in your wildest dreams can come true. It’s the second one that came to fruition for Briggs this year. After winning Rodeo Houston in 2022 and punching her ticket to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, she was excited to return to Houston and had high hopes of doing well - knowing just how tough the competition would be with plenty of other women having the same hopes. And in 2023, Briggs again came out on top, winning Houston for the second year running. She still can’t quite believe it. “Before I got there, I had huge expectations on myself, but I just
Jordon Briggs defended her title in Houston after stopping the clock in 14.73 seconds in the Championship Shootout round. Ironically enough that was the exact time she ran earlier in the day to advance to the Finals. Photo by Impulse Photography, Mallory Beinborn
She was second in the third round, in 14.90 seconds, solidifying her spot in the semifinals. It was then that she and Rollo clocked the fastest time of the whole event - 14.35 seconds - to get her into the final round. The Championship Shootout round was neck-and-neck, and when it was all said and done Briggs was at the top, in a time of 14.73 seconds. Molly Otto, who had given Briggs quite a run during the rodeo, finished in 14.75, with Jessica Routier hot on their heels in 14.79 seconds. “Molly had dominated through her set and the semis and I knew she was a force to be reckoned with,” Briggs said. “All the horses that were there knew how to run on tough ground and really deserved to be there.” With more than $87,000 already to her name for 2023, Briggs knows she’s in good position for another NFR run, but also said she knows not to count her chickens. Last year, she didn’t know until late in the season that there was a minimum rodeo count of 25 to make the NFR, so she got her rodeos in and breathed a sigh of relief, but knows this year will be different. “I want to get my circuit rodeo count in so I can go to circuit finals,” Briggs said. “My husband and I enjoyed Reno so much, and the Fourth of July run, and we’ll see what happens after that. We’ll take time to come home and rest too. “Last year I had an amazing year, and I will never take that for
told myself I needed to get through the semifinals and make it back, remembering that second and third place pay really well too!” she said. “I was trying not to put that pressure on myself … last year I was an emotional wreck when I won and this year, I think it was just so surreal. It’s such a blessing to have a horse that likes Houston.” Her trusty ride, Rollo, does seem to love the unusual setup in Houston. Held in a football stadium, Briggs said she knows how intimidating the whole thing is because the arena is so big compared to the barrel pattern, with no fences in sight. Rollo, however, doesn’t seem to notice, or he doesn’t care if he does. “He focuses on the pattern,” she said. “Even though I might not have all the confidence in the world sometimes, Rollo always does. He’s like, ‘I know it’s a hard setup or the ground sucks, but don’t worry mom - I’ve got this.’” Briggs noted that this year’s ground was new at Houston, and all the runs were a little trial and error. Although some of it was rough, she thanked the ground crew and committee for working hard to improve the conditions as much as they could. She noted that Houston “takes great care of us - the hospitality is amazing - and when you step into that arena you get goosebumps. You’re just grateful to be there.” Briggs competed in the first Super Series in Rodeo Houston, and she started things off with a bang, winning the first round in 14.93 seconds.
14 WPRA NEWS APRIL 2023
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