DUNCAN, Okla. – Cheyanne McCartney has found contentment out of a frustrating 2023 rodeo season.
After three straight qualifications to the National Finals Breakaway Roping in Las Vegas, McCartney will not return to defend her aggregate championship at the South Point Equestrian Center. She will, however, be the No. 1 cowgirl heading to the Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17-Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Stephens County Arena in Duncan.
“I have not had a very good ProRodeo season,” said McCartney of Kingston, Oklahoma. “It just didn’t go very good, but I’ve had a really good year at the futurities and the roping jackpots; my ProRodeo season has not been what it usually is.
“I was excited to finish the regular season off on a high note, going in to the Prairie Circuit Finals No. 1.”
It’s not a big lead, but it’s still something in which she takes great pride. McCartney holds just a $516 advantage over the No. 2 cowgirl, Taylor Munsell, a two-time circuit champion from Alva, Oklahoma. While those two are atop the money list, most of the ladies in the field have a chance to move into the top spot by the time the three-day championship concludes.
“There’s a good group of ropers in our circuit, especially Taylor,” McCartney said. “I think anytime your name is above everyone else’s, it is on a high note. Going into the circuit finals, I have some confidence, and that money counts toward next season’s standings, so I’m looking forward to the opportunity.”
While the circuit title is on the line, there’s much more to this championship. The year-end and aggregate champions in each event advance to the national circuit finals, which is called the NFR Open and takes place next July in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Each layer of this cake offers great financial incentives.
“That’s something that I’ve wanted to accomplish,” she said of qualifying for the NFR Open. “I really wanted to accomplish it last year, and I was close – I won second in the average at our circuit finals – so that’s definitely a goal of mine. It’s some thing I’ve worked toward, so I’m keeping my head down and staying focused.
“I think that’s every girl’s goal going in is to get a spot in the NFR Open. I’m looking forward to a chance to hopefully compete at it.”
She expects the competition to be tough once the girls nod their heads inside the Stephens County Arena, because it’s been that way all season. McCartney utilized some key runs in Gordon, Nebraska; Guymon, Oklahoma; and Kansas City, Missouri, to secure her spot atop the standings. Now comes the time she lets her work take care of the results.
“I’m a roper that doesn’t think too much about the race,” McCartney said. “Yes, I think everyone wants to win it, but I’m more of a one-calf-at-a-time person and focusing on what I need to do.”