ProRodeo Sports News - August 2, 2019

BEST EVER?

After an incredible two-year run, it’s hard to believe she has much more to learn about handling the NFR. But the intro- spective Kinsel understands that in the sport of rodeo, humility is never further away than your next ride. “I’ve only been to two NFRs, and I know those 10 days can go either way,” she says. “God’s been good to me.” Like Brazile, Kinsel recognizes that the 2018 Wrangler NFR had an abundance of memorable moments in every event. But she pointed to three of her barrel-racing peers who had great showings, too: Routier, Carman Pozzobon and Jessie Telford. Not only were Pozzobon, Routier and Tel- ford first-time NFR qualifiers, but the trio rode horses that also hadn’t been under the bright lights of the Thomas & Mack. Yet they finished 1-2-3, respectively, in the NFR average, meaning they were the most consistent barrel racers over the entire 10-day competition. “The NFR average is a tough title to win. It’s hard to make 10 good runs, or even nine,” Kinsel says. “You expect a veteran horse and rider to do the best. But last year, the top three in the average were first-time qualifiers on first-time horses. They showed up and dominated the rodeo together. That’s pretty dang impressive.” ... Whether the 2018 Wrangler NFR was the best or simply one of the best ever, Davis certainly couldn’t have picked a better year to wrap up his three-plus decades as general manager. While he was reluctant to pinpoint one moment that made 2018 the best he’s ever seen, he couldn’t help but tip his Resistol to the king of the cowboys. “With Trevor, he just got so good that you almost expected him to win,” Davis says. “But there was some great action every night. It was just a tremendous sequence of great happenings, intermingling with that crowd participation. “A lot of great things happened—things that people had never seen before. Things where people left the building thinking, ‘That’s the best I’ve ever seen.’” Davis, perhaps more than anyone else in the history of rodeo, would know.

Worthy champions collected their buckles and saddles (top), Tim O’Connell laid it on the line to win his third-straight world title (middle) and Hailey Kinsel took home $158,000 in Vegas (bottom)

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Photos: Kinsel, O’Connell - Tom Donohue. Champions - Steve Spatafore.