SAN ANGELO, Texas – Two rounds in two buildings with different set-ups is uniquely San Angelo for women that run barrels.

Only the top 120 cowgirls after the first go-round compete in the performances of the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo inside Foster Communications Coliseum, and only the top 12 with a two-run cumulative time advance to the championship round, which takes place Friday, April 15.

Jordon Briggs of Tolar, Texas, virtually secured her spot in the short round during Saturday’s matinee, the seventh performance of the storied rodeo, now celebrating its 90^th anniversary. She rounded the cloverleaf pattern in 14.29 seconds and is fourth in the second go-round. More importantly, though, her aggregate time of 29.99 seconds ties for first place with Michelle Alley. Nobody in Saturday night’s performance moved the two cowgirls from their spot atop the leaderboard.

“I hope that gets me back (to the final round),” said Briggs, a second-generation world champion who last year followed in the footsteps of her three-time titlist mother, Kristie Peterson, in claiming the gold buckle. “There are some tough girls in the next (two) performances; if I get back to the short round, I’ll be happy.”

San Angelo’s unique in that it features open entries for the first round of barrel racing, then the top 120 advance to the “progressive round.” The champion will be the lady who post the fastest three-run cumulative time after the rodeo ends next Friday.

“I love that they get a lot of entries,” Briggs said of the rodeo. “They let everybody run, so it pays really well, and it gives everybody a shot. When they bring back that many to the performances, it lets everybody get their feet wet in the coliseum.”

“There were only eight-tenths (of a second) between first and 120^th. That’s a tough barrel race.”

Yes, it is, but Briggs is pretty tough, too, especially with Rollo, an 8-year-old sorrel gelding that was named the 2021 barrel racing horse of the year. That vote happened before the National Finals Rodeo, and the tandem then went on to pocket just shy of $200,000 in 10 December nights to claim gold. Having a horse like Rollo, she knows he can handle the different types of ground that comes from one round to another or any size arena.

“He’s a good boy,” she said. “I think this is his last rodeo for a while. He’s going to take a break, and I’m going to focus on my futurity colts.”

That will happen after they run next weekend, a return to this memorable coliseum.

“It’s a great arena, and it’s fun to change it up like that,” Briggs said of the different set-ups. “Last year I stayed for a performance, and I had to sit on a step because there was not a seat in that coliseum. San Angelo is very much a rodeo town, and I enjoy going there.”

San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo
April 1-15
Bareback riding leaders: 1. Keenan Reed Hayes, 86 points on Hampton Pro Rodeo’s Rising Tide; 2. (tie) Tanner Aus and Tim O’Connell, 85; 4. Bronc Marriott, 84.5; 5. (tie) Seth Hardwick, Jayco Roper and Bradlee Miller, 84; 8. (tie) Chad Rutherford and Gavin French, 82; 10. (tie) Jamie Howlett and Mike Solberg, 80.5; 12. (tie) Kody Lamb and Orin Larsen, 80.

Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Cade Goodman, 3.5 seconds; 2. (tie) Talon Roseland, Bryn Roy and Trell Etbauer, 3.8; 5. (tie) Dakota Eldridge, Brandon Harrison and Justin Shaffer, 3.9; 8. (tie) Tory Jonson and Clayton Hass, 4.0. Second round leaders: 1. Chance Howard, 3.3 seconds; 2. (tie) Stetson Jorgensen and Walt Arnold, 3.5; 4. Tyler Pearson, 3.6; 5. (tie) Dakota Eldridge and Dirk Tavenner, 3.7; 8. (tie) Cameron Morman, Payden McIntyre, Jesse Brown and Clayton Hass, 3.9. Average leaders: 1. (tie) Dakota Eldridge and Stetson Jorgensen, 7.6 seconds on two runs; 3. Walt Arnold, 7.7; 4. Clayton Hass, 7.9; 5. (tie) Tyler Pearson and Payden McIntyre, 8.1; 7. Dirk Tavenner, 8.2; 8. Tory Johnson, 8.3; 9. (tie) Landris White and Winston McGraw, 8.4; 11. Brandon Harrison, 8.6; 12. Cade Goodman, 8.9.

Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, 3.5 seconds; 2. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 3.7; 3. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 3.8; 4. (tie) J.C. Yeahquo/L.J. Yeahquo and Lightning Aguilera/Coleby Payne, 3.9; 6. Caleb Smidt/Sergio Gonzales, 4.1; 7. (tie) Aaron Tsinigine/Paul Eaves and Dawson Graham/Dillon Graham, 4.2. Second round leaders: 1. Nelson Wyatt/Tyler Worley, 3.5 seconds; 2. Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, 3.6; 3. Cory Kidd/Lane Mitchell and Chace Thompson/Tyson Thompson, 3.8; 5. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 3.9; 6. (tie) Clint Summers/Ross Ashford and Chet Weitz/Jace Davis, 4.1; 8. (tie) Derrick Begay/Colter Todd, Tucker Menz/D.J. Dugger and Tanner James/Phoenix Everano, 4.3. Average leaders: 1. Aaron Tsinigine/Paul Eaves, 8.8 seconds on two runs; 2. Derrick Begay/Colter Todd, 8.9; 3. Lightning Aguilera/Coleby Payne, 9.2; 4. Kolton Schmidt/Wyatt Cox, 9.4; 5. Tanner James/Phoenix Everano, 9.5; 6. Wyatt Imus/Caleb Anderson, 9.6; 7. Andrew Livingston/Seth Smithson, 9.8; 8. Payden Emmett/Lucas Falconer, 10.2; 9. (tie) Kolby Krieger/Boogie Ray and Cinch Moody/Rich Skelton, 10.4; 11. Nelson Wyatt/Tyler Worley, 12.5; 12. J.C. Yeahquo/L.J. Yeahquo, 12.6.

Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Ryder Wright, 89 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Uptuck; 2. Spencer Wright, 88; 3. Jake Finlay, 86; 4. Rusty Wright. 85.5; 5. Allen Boore, 85; 6. Chase Brooks, 84.5; 7. Statler Wright, 84; 8. Stetson Wright, 83.5; 9. (tie) Riggin Smith, Samuel Kelts, Kole Ashbacher and Creighton Curley, 83. (Rusty Wright likely will not be able to ride because of an injury)

Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. (tie) Tyler Milligan and Travis Rogers, 7.6 seconds; 3. (tie) Hudson Wallace and Dakota Felton, 7.8; 5. Riley Wakefield, 8.0; 6. (tie) Cody McCartney and Chance Thiessen, 8.1; 8. (tie) Weldon Watson and Matt Shiozawa, 8.2. Second round leaders: 1. Riley Webb, 7.3 seconds; 2. John Douch, 7.4; 3. Zack Jongbloed, 7.4; 4. Marcos Costa, 7.5; 5. (tie) King Pickett and Trenton Smith. 7.7; 7. (tie) Cory Solomon, Kyle Lucas and Ryle Smith, 7.9. Average leaders: 1. Tyler Milligan, 15.7 seconds on two runs; 2. (tie) Zack Jongbloed and J.D. McCuistion, 16.7; 4. Dakota Felton, 16.8; 5. (tie) Luke Potter and Cody McCartney, 16.9; 7. (tie) Marcos Costa and Travis Rogers, 17.5; 9. Lane Livinngston, 17.7; 10. Brushton Minton, 17.9; 11. Thomas Conway, 18.0; 12. (tie) Chance Oftedahl and Blake Deckard, 18.1.

Barrel racing: Second round leaders: 1. Michelle Alley, 14.16 seconds; 2. Chani Graves, 14.19; 3. Kailee Murdock, 14.21; 4. Jordon Briggs, 14.29; 5. Sherry Cervi, 14.30; 6. Laura Mote, 14.34; 7. Jennifer Driver, 14.35; 8. Josey Owens, 14.39; 9. Melinda Edwards Dunn, 14.44; 10. (tie) Destri Davenport and Lindsay sears, 14.46. Average leaders: 1. (tie) Jordon Briggs and Michelle Alley, 29.99 seconds on two runs; 3. Cassidy Champlin, 30.14; 4. Sherry Cervi, 30.15; 5. Chani Graves, 30.18; 6. Destri Davenport. 30.19; 7. (tie) Kailee Murdock and Halyn Lide, 30.22; 9. Melinda Edwards Dunn, 30.31; 10. Jamie Olsen, 30.39; 11. Lindsay Sears, 30.41; 12. Cindy Smith, 30.44.

Bull riding leaders: 1. Laramie Mosley, 90 points on Hampton Pro Rodeo’s Road Warrior; 2. Stetson Wright, 88; 3. Riley Barg, 87; 4. Ky Hamilton, 85.5; 5. Zach Parker, 85; 6. Tristen Hutchings, 84.5; 7. (tie) Jaron Sheehan, Tyler Bingham and Jordan Wacey Spears, 84; 10. Garrett Wall, 82; 11. Coy Pollmeier, 76; 12. (tie) Seth Green and Dawson Gleaves, 75.