BARREL RACING RECORDS Women’s Professional Rodeo Association 431 S. Cascade Colorado Springs, CO 80903 Phone (719) 447-4726 • Fax (719) 447-4631 www.wpra.com Cervi would edge Sears by a scant five-hundredths ridden 20 rounds at the WNFR on Stitch without Pozzi Captures Second World Title In of a second (139.01 to 139.06) for her second WNFR hitting a barrel.’’ average title. The 12th one out and the last of the But Pozzi also understood that Duke would oper- Dramatic Fashion three in contention (Sears, Cervi and Pozzi), Pozzi ate better in the tighter confines of the Thomas and by Joe Kusek delivered a solid 13.81-second run to place third in Mack Center. the round and to pick up a check totaling $10,228. “Duke has a very different style,’’ Pozzi explained. Brittany Pozzi was in no mood to talk entering the Pozzi filled her day in Las Vegas with some shop- Sears placed fifth for $4,423. “When you lead him in, he stands up. But he is just final round of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. ping and taking care of her horses. “I knew, I knew,’’ Pozzi said of the final numbers. so quick, snappy around the barrel. He tries hard all The previous nine rounds of barrel racing dur- But Pozzi’s competitive curiosity finally got the It also put her an important third in the average, the time. When he stubs his toe, he tries even harder.’’ ing the Wrangler NFR had been an emotional roller best of her. which was worth another $28,197. Duke was fine in the arena, but outside, that was a th coaster. From the high of winning two go-rounds to An hour before the 10 and final round at the Pozzi had her second world championship in three different story. the devastating low of knocking over a barrel in sev- Thomas and Mack Center, Pozzi was frantically years in one of the most dramatic world title races in “He’s so wild. So hard to control. They were laugh- enth round when she switched to Stitch, who used to calling those same friends and family to find out the WPRA history. ing at me when I was trying to warm him up,’’ said be her main mount. The Wrangler NFR was coming different scenarios that faced her before the final bar- Pozzi won the world title by $7,091 over Sears. Pozzi. “He’s just ready to go.’’ to a close and Pozzi was holding on tight to her lead rel racing run. Pozzi finished with $279,434. Sears was second with Pozzi and Duke opened the WNFR with 1-2-2 in the WPRA world standings. “I couldn’t take it anymore,’’ Pozzi said with a $272,343, while Cervi jumped from seventh to third finishes in the first three rounds. They missed out on Now it came down to this: The final round of the laugh. “I was calling people, ‘Talk to me.’ I had to in the final world standings with $219,628. It is the the money in rounds four and six but placed third in WNFR to determine the world champion. Pozzi knew know.’’ first time in WPRA history that three barrel racers round five. she would need a little help to win her second world What she needed, along with another solid run won more than $200,000 in a single season. Pozzi decided to switch horses for the seventh title. The mathematical possibilities would make an aboard her horse Duke, was some help from two-time “It’s terrible that someone’s bad luck is your round, bringing out Stitch. “Duke is just six, he needed accountant dizzy. world champion Sherry Cervi. Cervi had to bump fortune,’’ Pozzi said of Sears falling one place in the a rest,’’ Pozzi said of the decision. And the 25-year-old Victoria, Texas cowgirl didn’t 2008 world champion Lindsay Sears out of first average. But Stitch and Pozzi bumped a barrel, putting her want to know any of them. place for the average for Pozzi to win the coveted The three combined to win six go-rounds at the world title hopes in jeopardy. “It was don’t mess with Brittany, don’t freak her gold buckle. WNFR and a total of $400,793 over the 10 rounds. “When I first hit the barrel, I thought, ‘Oh no, we’re out,’’ Pozzi said of the understanding of her strong “I was leaning over the railing watching Sherry’s Cervi was the high-money winner not only among not going to win the world,’ ” recalled Pozzi. “I was support group of family and friends. run,’’ Pozzi said of being a very interested spectator. all barrel racers but of any competitor with $146,100 kind of a wreck. It was such a great race with myself, followed by Sears with $131,125 and Pozzi with Lindsay and Sherry. It was just one of those races $123,569. where it was going to be who screwed up first. And A total of 10 barrel racers won over $103,000 dur- that was me. ing the 2009 season. “Then I found out I had moved just one place down The most going to Pozzi. in the average. I just had to calm down. A lot of things “I’m more excited about this time than when I can happen over 10 rounds. I was nervous, but you won the first one,’’ said an ever-smiling Pozzi. “Last can’t let it get you down.’’ time (2007), it was a lot of pressure and it was just Pozzi went back to Duke for the eighth round and like, ‘Whew,’ it’s over. This year, it was a race. It promptly won with a time of 13.77 seconds, her best was exciting. run of the WNFR. “I’m pretty proud of myself, I’m not going to lie.’’ “The game plan worked perfectly,’’ she said of Pozzi came to Las Vegas with a $14,000 lead over resting Duke. Sears in the WPRA world standings. “I just didn’t plan on knocking over the barrel. That Pozzi won 13 barrel racing titles at rodeos in eight wasn’t the plan,’’ she continued with another laugh. states, along with four in Canada. She also won the “Duke, I’ve just got so much confidence in him. year-end Canadian Pro Rodeo Association barrel rac- “I was not going to stress out until it was over. That ing championship in November. was my way of dealing with it … not thinking about it. After a slow winter, Pozzi pocketed $29,372 dur- Those last three rounds, there was no playing it safe.’’ ing the lucrative Fourth of July run, the most of any Pozzi closed out the WNFR with a 1-2-3 finish in barrel racer and second-most for any competitor in the final three rounds. professional rodeo. “I’m just so excited,’’ she said. “I think it showed “I credit most of the Fourth of July run to Stitch. my ability to ride different horses and to win world He loves those big outdoor pens,’’ said Pozzi, of her titles on different horses.’’ 12-year-old gelding who’s registered name is Sixth She plans to compete at the winter rodeos around Vision. It was Stitch who carried Pozzi to the world Texas, “They’re pretty close to home, easy to get to,’’ title in 2007 and a runner-up finish in 2008. but then spend the spring working with her younger However, when it came time for the WNFR, Pozzi horses around home. opted for Duke, a six-year-old gelding who’s regis- “I’ll go back out hard during the summer,’’ Pozzi tered name is Yeah Hes Firen. said of her 2010. But it was time to savor 2009. Brittany Pozzi and Duke round the barrels to perfection en route to winning a second career world “I know what people were saying, ‘How can you “It’s been a great year.’’ title with total earnings of $279,435. Photo by Kenneth Springer. get off a championship horse?’ ” Pozzi said. “I had BARREL RACING BARREL RACING World Records & Season Stats World Records & Season Stats Youngest NFR Qualifiers Most Money Won at the NFR Back to Back World Champions WPRA Presidents since 1948 Ann Lewis, 10 years old, 1968 Sherry Cervi, $146,100, 2009 Kelly Kaminski, 2004-2005 2009- Kathi Myers Rachael Myllymaki, 11 years old, 1988 Lindsay Sears, $139,002, 2008 Kristie Peterson, 1996-1998 2005-2009 Jymmy Kay Davis Lindsay Sears, $131,126, 2009 Charmayne James, 1984-1993 2003-2004 Patti Davis Oldest NFR Qualifiers Janet Stover, $126,934, 2001 Gail Petska, 1972-1973 1997-2002 Carolynn Vietor June Holeman, 62-years-old, 2005 Brittany Pozzi, $123,570, 2009 Jane Mayo, 1959-1961 1996 Carolynn Vietor (acting) Martha Josey, 60-years-old, 1998 Sherry Cervi, $114,373, 1999 Billie McBride, 1955-1958 1994-1995 Carol Lake Mary Burger, 58-years-old, 2006 Wanda Harper Bush, 1952-1953 1978-1993 Jimmie Gibbs Munroe Linda Vick, 58-years-old, 2005 Most Money Won at a Rodeo 1976-1977 Kay Vamvoras Judy Myllymaki, 54-years-old, 1998 $61,500 by Lindsay Sears at the 2008 Repeat World Champions 1975 Sammie Fancher Thurman RodeoHouston (not back to back) 1972-1974 Margaret Clemons Youngest World Champion $58,500 by Mary Burger at the 2009 Brittany Pozzi, 2007, 2009 1965-1971 Mildred Farris Ann Lewis, 10 years old, 1968 RodeoHouston Charmayne James, 1984-93, 2002 1960-1964 Florence Youree Jackie Jo Perrin, 13 years old, 1977 Sherry Cervi, 1995, 1999 1957-1959 Billie McBride Charmayne James, 14 years old, 1984 Most Money Won, Kristie Peterson, 1994, 1996 1954-1956 Jackie Worthington (Ann was killed, a car accident just prior Rookie Year Lynn McKenzie, 1978, 1981 1952-1953 Billye Burk Gamblin to the 1968 NFR but maintained her lead, $79,076 by Brittany Pozzi, 2003 Loretta Manual, 1963, 1967 1951 Thena Mae Farr the world standings and was awarded the $60,782 by Peyton Raney, 1999 Latonne Sewalt, 1950, 1954 1950 Nancy Binford championship posthumously.) $54,913 by Gloria Freeman, 2000 Margaret Owens, 1948, 1951 1948-1949 Margaret Owens Oldest World Champion Most Money Won, Placed in 10 Consecutive Rounds at Mary Burger, 58 years old, 2006 Regular Season (Prior to NFR) NFR Janet Stover, 47 years old, 2001 $184,567 by Lindsay Sears, 2008 Colette Graves Baier, 1974 Kristie Peterson, 43 years old, 1998 $155,865 by Brittany Pozzi, 2009 Lynn McKenzie, 1978 Kappy Allen, 42 years old, 2000 $141,218 by Lindsay Sears, 2009 Charmayne James, 1986 Martha Josey, 42 years old, 1980 $130,996 by Sherry Cervi, 1999 Kristie Peterson, 1996-97 Most NFR Qualifications WPRA Career Earnings Leaders Charmayne James, 19 (1984-2002) (Through 2009) Sherry Combs Johnson, 12 (1959-68, 70, 91) 1.