SPOT ON Phillips and Big P Take Barrel Title in Clovis By Kristen M. White F or many barrel racers, the Clovis (California) Rodeo is one for the bucket list. Winning it, of course, is an added bonus. And both those things came true this year for Abby Phillips. The Marshall, Texas, cowgirl took her first runs in Clovis this year, and quickly decided it was a place she and her horse, Big P, could get used to.
“It was very exciting!” she said simply. “The whole run in California was a bucket list. I’ve never really felt like I had the horse to go out there, one that would like the setup, until I got this horse about a year ago. I felt like he was ready for it and we decided to give it a go - and it worked!” Phillips said her whole California run hadn’t been all that great, until she got to Clovis, that is. There, she pocketed checks in the first two rounds and eventually won the three-run average. All totaled, she took home nearly $7,500, which made her California run much, much better. “In some of those places in California I was trying to figure out my horse in those wide open setups, and then we got to Clovis and it was a little more closed in and I felt like I tuned in on my horse and that he would do well.” Phillips noted that both the first and second runs had their challenges. The first, of course, was getting comfortable with the setup and knowing exactly where to place Big P for the first barrel. That round everyone ran in slack, which gave a chance to get a little comfortable before adding in the crowds in the second round. “I have never seen crowds like that in California!” Phillips said. “There was a lot going on. I tried to keep Big P calm and cool, which was tricky. It was a packed house, so nailing it under pressure was a big challenge.” Michelle Darling won the first round in 16.88 seconds, but Michelle Alley (16.89) and Phillips in (16.9) were hot on her heels. In the second round, Sissy Winn took the victory in 16.87 seconds, with Phillips again in close pursuit in 16.89 seconds for second place. “By the time the finals rolled around, I realized I was in a good spot
to be able to win. There was a lot on the line, but I just had to trust,” Phillips said. “I’m a firm believer that when it’s your time, it’s your time. The prep was there and my horse had been incredible the first two rounds, so I trusted that it was only going to get better - go and have fun and enjoy the moment.” The final round turned out to be a lightning quick one. Stevi Hillman won in 16.73 seconds, followed by Darling in 16.79. Phillips was out of the money in 16.99, but it was enough to push her to the average victory by more than a tenth of a second. She finished in 50.78 seconds on three, while Darling came in at 50.89 seconds. “A lot of the girls behind me in the average had run ahead of me, and that’s when I got most nervous, so I had to ignore what was going on and just focus on what I could control,” Phillips recalled. “When I turned that third barrel I was pretty sure I had won, but those girls were sure fast in the final round and brought the heat! I knew I’d have to clock well.” Big P proved that Phillips was right in believing he was ready for the big rodeo scene. He’s 8 this year and last year after buying him, Phillips worked on seasoning him, hoping she was building up to a good season. “California ground is very different, and I didn’t know how he’d do on the ground, but I always thought he’d like California and decided to give it a try,” she said. “I’ve been waiting for a win like this! He’s been so spot-on, and so I’m excited to add this win to his resume.” Phillips hopes there is more excitement to come this summer as she travels to Canada - somewhere else she’s never rodeoed. She plans to stay out on the road through the Fourth of July run and, provided all goes well, all the way through Pendleton. “Big P does really well just about anywhere,” she said. “He likes different types of ground and he seems to be versatile. But if I had to pick, I think he really likes the big, outside, wide-open places. Like Clovis! He likes to run fast.” Abby Phillips capped off her California run this year with a big win at the Clovis Rodeo aboard her horse Big P. While this was the duos first time to run at Clovis it now might be a must stop in future years. Photo by Roseanna Sales
Abby Phillips and Big P captured the average title at the 2022 edition of the Clovis (CA) Rodeo with a three run total of 50.78 seconds. The Marshall, Texas, cowgirl took nearly $7,500 back to the Lone Star State. Photo by Roseanna Sales
22 WPRA NEWS JUNE 2022
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator