ProRodeo Sports News - December 16, 2022

WRANGLER NFR NEWS & NOTES

Martha Angelone came in as the season leader at the Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping presented by Teton Ridge and as walked away as the world champion on Nov. 30. Dan Lesovsky photo

Angelone nabs breakaway roping title

BY PRCA STAFF M artha Angelone’s mission is complete. The Stephenville, Texas, cowgirl captured her inaugural breakaway roping world championship after taking care of business Nov. 30 at the 2022Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping presented by Teton Ridge. Angelone, who came into the NFBR with a $37,009 lead in the world standings, kept her grip on her lead to claim the coveted title at the South Point Arena & Equestrian Center. She finished atop the standings with $130,304, while Taylor Munsell was second with $90,845. “It hasn’t sunk in yet, maybe (it will) in a couple of days from now,” said Angelone, 27, about her world championship. “It just hasn’t hit me yet.” Angelone held a $33,008 advantage over Shelby Boisjoli after the opening five rounds. Angelone earned $4,828 on the opening day Tuesday. After a sluggish first five rounds on Nov. 29, Angelone was in a groove on Day 2. She won Round 8 with a 1.8-second run – the fastest run of the event – and split Round 9 with Taylor Hanchey as they both had 2.1-second runs. She earned $21,207 at the NFBR to cap her magical season. Angelone’s year included winning the NFR Open powered by RAM in Colorado Springs, Colo., on July 16. At the NFR Open, Angelone won the

RAMTop Gun Award for earning an event-best $25,765. “My regular season was awesome,” Angelone said. “I couldn’t have asked for anything better. I had one of the best summers I have ever had. Like I was talking about earlier, the horse (Legend) who I didn’t get to ride here and who was second in the (Horse of the Year), he definitely set me up. I just had to come and try and win as many rounds as I could here (in Las Vegas). He made it a lot easier on me.” Legend, 13, had colic surgery in September and wasn’t ready to compete at the NFBR, so Angelone rode Jesse James, 7, at the South Point. “I’m extremely proud of him ( Jesse James),” Angelone said. “This horse had never (competed in) anything this big in his life. He definitely pulled through for me. I was glad I finally did what I needed to do (Wednesday).” In 2020, at the inaugural Wrangler NFBR at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, Angelone let her world championship opportunity slip through her grasp. Jackie Crawford won the world title with $47,185, narrowly holding off runner-up Angelone, who finished with $45,611. “I broke the barrier in the 10th round to win the world that year, so it was nice to win this time,” Angelone said. Crawford (2020), Sawyer Gilbert (2021) and Angelone (2022) are now the world champions who have been crowned at the Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping. “We are just blessed that we get to have a ProRodeo Finals,” Angelone

ProRodeo Sports News 12/16/2022

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