2014 ROPING DIVISION WOMEN’S PROFESSIONAL RODEO ASSOCIATION 431 S. Cascade Colorado Springs, CO 80903 Phone (719) 447-4726 • Fax (719) 447-4631 www.wpra.com ROPING DIVISION ROPING DIVISION The Roping Division features the best approved and co-approved events, are kept just kind of backed off of the calf roping a little $1,998. female ropers in the WPRA competing in team like they are in the barrel racing division. At bit; I even talked about this being my last Never one to settle for just one title in a roping (header and heeler), tie-down roping the end of the year, the WPRA hosts a World one to rope at.” year, Hobbs was busily reclaiming her spot and breakaway roping. World titles are award- Finals featuring top competitors from each of With the limited number of events and atop the All Around standings too. With ed in each division as well as in the all-around the roping events that gives each competitor purse money to be won, the versatile cow- only one event prior to the World Finals category in which a competitor competes in one last chance to win enough money to cap- girl was feeling her efforts might be better which counts towards the All Around, the more than one event winning more money than ture a world title. the rest of the field. This section features the 2013 World spent elsewhere. WPRA World Finals is essentially a sud- Sporting a small but loyal membership Champions as well as listings of past cham- “There’s only so far I’m going to go in den-death chase for the WPRA’s most pres- (that is currently growing in numbers and pions not only in the roping events but in the the calf roping at this time and this age; I tigious crown. events), the women of the Roping Division roughstock events of bareback riding and bull feel like I’ve already done what I’m going Hobbs split or won outright two rounds have the opportunity to compete at events all riding, when that was offered through the to do in that,” Hobbs continued. “I really in the breakaway roping, placing in a third over the United States in search of a world title. WPRA. want to put some more time into the team to take second in the average with her four Standings, based on money won at the roping, especially with the opportunities head time of 10.3 seconds. She earned I’ve got in that.” $2,535. That idea was quickly dispelled follow- Meanwhile, the three-time World Finals Hobbs adds two ing the performance of her horse T-boy at Team Roping Champ placed in all four the Finals. rounds heading for reigning WPRA World more world titles to “He’s always been so good in the break- Champion Heeler Ashley Mills but fell just resume – 2013 All- away and the heading, that pays more,” short of her fourth consecutive average title Hobbs says, noting that she hadn’t concen- by just 4.3 seconds. Around and trated much time in the tie down with the On the heeling side, Hobbs paired with Tie-Down Roping gelding but that a few changes in training Tibba Smith; the tough duo placed in three prior to Waco made a huge difference. “My rounds and took fourth in the average. By Jolee Lautaret goodness that horse worked so good. I was “I had great partners, Tibba and Ashley, hen it comes to world titles, Jack- so excited. Now, I may enter a few more they’re both as good as you could ask for,” ie Hobbs prefers to gather ‘em up places since I have a good one.” says Hobbs, who actually talked Mills into two at a time. W So, the rest of the ladies in the tie down buying her WPRA card in 2012. Mills went After four straight years in which she may not be getting a break from Hobbs just on to win the world title in 2012 and suc- won two world titles per season, 2012 yet. cessfully defended that title in 2013. came and went without Hobbs’ name next During the 2013 season, she brought a With her team roping earnings added to to the World Championship in any event. In 2012, Jackie Hobbs left the WPRA World Finals empty slim lead into the World Finals and quickly the breakaway and tie down roping, Hobbs’ She won nearly $20,000 in WPRA sanc- handed but that wasn’t the case in 2013 leaving with the increased it with a pair of second place fin- take for a weekend in Waco was $7,707. tioned events; she roped well at the WPRA WPRA All-Around World title and the Tie-down Roping ishes in the opening rounds with matching “This is the first time that every horse World Finals in Lincoln, Neb., earning World title. With her fifth All Around title, Hobbs pulls within one championship of JJ Hampton and Jackie 11.7 second runs. Though she failed to cash I rode there was one that I own and that I over $6,000 but newcomer Kelsie Chace Worthington, two WPRA legends who share second place a check in round three, she placed in the trained,” says Hobbs. “That was pretty ex- outgunned Hobbs for the All Around by behind Wanda Harper Bush, who at nine holds the most final round as well. citing for me, to have every horse wearing just over $400. She finished second in the WPRA All Around titles. WPRA photo by James Phifer When the average was totaled, 2011 the exclamation point brand.” breakaway roping and third in the tie down, World Champion Kari Woodall edged With all the usual success in the arena, walking away empty handed for the first Hobbs by just 1.2 seconds for the average 2013 was pretty special for Hobbs because time since 2007. 24-27. Capping off a phenomenal year both win; in Hobbs’ eight year pro career, she’s she got engaged to Wrangler National Fi- A fantastic season by any standards but inside and outside the arena, she captured never been lower than second in the aver- nals Rodeo team roper Charly Crawford Hobbs is wired a little differently—she two more WPRA World titles, bringing her age at the Finals. during the Justin Boots Playoffs in Puyal- likes to win first, all the time. Period. career total to 10. With $1,526 at the World Finals, Hobbs’ lup, Wash.; the pair practices together and Whether missing out on any titles in “There were four or five ropings we went season earnings grew to $3,611, taking shares horses too. 2012 was the motivator or not, Hobbs to and tied down this year,” said Hobbs, her to her fourth tie down roping world “He did so good,” laughed Hobbs of the roared through the 2013 WPRA World Fi- who is sponsored by Equibrand, Classic title. Woodall earned Reserve honors with surprise proposal orchestrated to look like nals, held this year in Waco, Texas October Equine, Ariat and Total Equine Feed. “I ROPING DIVISION ROPING DIVISION part of rodeo clown Keith Isley’s interac- year anniversary together. “It came down to the last round. I had to munity College in DeQueen, Ark. She fin- tion with fans. Though the top ropers had With her fifth All Around title, Hobbs place in the round, and I knew that. I didn’t ished the year fifth in the world standings known each other a long time, they just had pulls within one championship of JJ Hamp- know if I had to win it or if I had to win with $3,465, most of which she earned their first date during the Wrangler NFR ton and Jackie Worthington, two WPRA third, but I knew I had to win something in in Waco. She won the opening round and last year. With busy schedules all around, legends who share second place behind the round to even have a chance.” shared the third-round victory with Hobbs. the pair is looking at possibly getting mar- Wanda Harper Bush, who at nine holds the So Thompson backed into the roping box In all, she pocketed $2,693 during the ried in Vegas during the NFR, on their one most WPRA All Around titles. atop 8 Track, a 12-year-old gelding. In 2.5 WPRA World Finals. seconds, she stopped the clock and collect- “It was my first time to go there, but it ed the third-place check. It was just enough. was fun,” said DeSalvo, who, in July, was Thompson adds “He won a lot of top horse or Horse of the competing at the International Youth Finals Year awards this year,” she said of 8 Track. Rodeo and the National High School Finals major title to “He won horse of the roping at the Ross Rodeo. “From all the really good, handy resume winning Churman Roping and won top horse at the ropers that were in there, it means a lot to TRCA Finals this year. He also won it at the be able to do that with all the people I roped the 2013 WPRA UPRA Finals and at the CPRA Finals.” against. Breakaway Roping The horse isn’t the only winner in the “It was pretty tough. Jackie Hobbs didn’t tandem, which is a pretty good indication make it very easy on me.” title of talent Thompson owns. Thompson’s suc- It’s not supposed to be easy, but DeSalvo By Ted Harbin cess is an indication of the work she puts has figured that out already at her young ope Thompson trains horses and into her roping, especially since she doesn’t age, and she had help from a good horse, helps teach roping schools, so to come from a rodeo family.