Talk of how the Cinch Playoffs will affect the NFR field in 2024 has been swirling, and the daysheets are posted for the first rodeo with major implications in the Playoff Series at the Washington State Fair in Puyallup barrel racing on Sept. 5-8.
Table of contents
What is the Playoff Series, and why does it matter?
There will be two “sets” or “sections,” both comprised of 12 barrel racers Each set is two go-rounds, back-to-back. Following the long rounds will be a top eight Semifinals, followed by a top four Finals.
The top four barrel racers based on the average from each of the two sets will advance to the Semifinals on Sunday, Sept. 8. The top four teams from the Semifinals will advance to the Finals.
Projected Payout
Puyallup Rodeo has a purse of $73,000 for barrel racers
Payoff per performance:
- 1st: $3,450
- 2nd: $2,587.50
- 3rd: $1,725
- 4th: $862.50
In the Semifinals, which will be made up of eight teams, 5th-8th will receive $1,500 a man. The top four teams will advance to the Finals. Payoff for the Finals is as follows:
- 1st: $13,000
- 2nd: $9,750
- 3rd: $6,500
- 4th: $3,250
A refresher on Puyallup
Standings are kept throughout the season and there is a championship event at the end of the year. Contestants competed at rodeos such as Odessa, San Antonio and Salinas, just to name a few, to earn points.
Points are distributed to contestants who place in the top 20 at each of the designated WPRA Playoff Series Rodeos, based on the fastest time. For rodeos with multiple rounds, the points are calculated based on the average. Tournament rodeos are more complicated, but points are assigned based on how far each competitor advanced through the tournament.
The top 23 in the standings, plus the NFR Open barrel racing champion, Jessica Routier, compete in Puyallup at the PRCA Playoff Series Finale Sept. 5-8. The top eight teams from the Playoff Series year-end standings and the top four from Puyallup will earn a position into The Governor’s Cup, Sept. 26-28.
Why does the Governor’s Cup matter?
The Governor’s Cup takes place Sept. 26-28, 2024, and offers a payout across eight events of $1 million. In the barrel racing there is a purse of $144,444.
The close of the WPRA ProRodeo regular season is Sept. 30. That means that the following massive payouts will hit during the final days of the season and it will have an impact on who makes the National Finals Rodeo in December as the buzzer sounds.
The following 24 cowgirls are barrel racing in Puyallup on Sept. 5-8, 2024.
- Last Push for Puyallup: August 12-18 ProRodeo Barrel Racing Results
- Underdogs Doing Big Dog Stuff: August 19-25 ProRodeo Results
- The Rundown: The One Where We Start Nerding Out on Rodeo Stats
- Liza’s Time: Beisel and Ivory On Fire Earn $43,250 at 2023 Governor’s Cup
Section 1- Sept. 05-6
Abby Phillips
Megan McLeod-Sprague
Halyn Lide
LaTricia Duke
Andrea Busby
Ashley Castleberry
Section 2- Sept. 07 Matinee and Evening
Jordan Driver
Michelle Alley
Hayle Gibson
Jessica Routier
Carlee Otero
Shelley Morgan
Wenda Johnson
WPRA World Standings
As of Sept. 04, 2024 from WPRA.com
| 1 | Leslie Smalygo | Skiatook, OK | $185,463.19 | 61 |
| 2 | Hailey Kinsel | Cotulla, TX | $154,211.65 | 60 |
| 3 | Kassie Mowry | Dublin, TX | $151,282.84 | 24 |
| 4 | Emily Beisel | Weatherford, OK | $146,036.44 | 66 |
| 5 | Ashley Castleberry | Montgomery, TX | $125,622.40 | 69 |
| 6 | Lisa Lockhart (G) | Oelrichs, SD | $118,038.99 | 50 |
| 7 | Wenda Johnson | Pawhuska, OK | $117,969.63 | 57 |
| 8 | Tiany Schuster | Krum, TX | $115,945.01 | 82 |
| 9 | Dona Kay Rule | Minco, OK | $107,253.74 | 55 |
| 10 | Abby Phillips | Marshall, TX | $106,563.14 | 73 |
| 11 | Andrea Busby | Millsap, TX | $104,929.63 | 79 |
| 12 | Carlee Otero | Lipan, TX | $101,623.33 | 67 |
| 13 | Halyn Lide | China Spring, TX | $99,654.69 | 75 |
| 14 | Shelley Morgan | Eustace, TX | $94,509.18 | 69 |
| 15 | Paige Jones | Wayne, OK | $93,312.56 | 42 |
| 16 | Jordon Briggs | Tolar, TX | $86,367.84 | 37 |
| 17 | LaTricia Duke | Zephyr, TX | $85,984.06 | 74 |
| 18 | Tayla Moeykens | Three Forks, MT | $82,016.76 | 56 |
| 19 | Summer Kosel | Glenham, SD | $80,004.61 | 42 |
| 20 | Sara Winkelman | Big Lake, MN | $76,322.33 | 81 |
Pool A
Round 1 Results
First performance: 1. Dona Kay Rule, 14.23 seconds, $3,450; 2. LaTricia Duke, 14.28, $2,588; 3. Halyn Lide, 14.32, $1,725; 4. Ashley Castleberry, 14.33, $863.
Round 2 Results
1. Abby Phillips, 14.18 seconds, $3,450; 2. (tie) Chelsea A. Moore, Megan McLeod-Sprague and Halyn Lide, 14.38, $1,725 each.
Pool B
Round 1 Results
1. Emily Beisel, 14.24 seconds, $3,450; 2. Leslie Smalygo, 14.32, $2,588; 3. Shelley Morgan, 14.57, $1,725; 4. Lisa Lockhart, 14.66, $863.
Round 2 Results
1. (tie) Leslie Smalygo and Lisa Lockhart, 14.26 seconds, $3,019; 3. Carlee Otero, 14.30, $1,725; 4. Jessica Routier, 14.33, $863.
1. Leslie Smalygo, 28.58 seconds on two head; 2. Emily Beisel, 28.59; 3. Lisa Lockhart, 28.92; 4. Shelley Morgan, 28.94.
Advancing to Sunday Semifinals
From Pool A
Halyn Lide, 28.70 on two
Ashley Castleberry, 28.75
Dona Kay Rule, 28.78
Chelsea Moore, 28.82
From Pool B
Leslie Smalygo, 28.58 on two
Emily Beisel, 28.59
Lisa Lockhart, 28.92
Shelley Morgan, 28.94
Final Results
Semifinals
1. Shelley Morgan, 14.37 seconds; 2. Chelsea A. Moore, 14.42; 3. Halyn Lide, 14.47; 4. Ashley Castleberry, 14.52; 5. Dona Kay Rule, 14.56, $1,500; 6. Leslie Smalygo, 14.70, $1,500; 7. Emily Beisel, 19.59, $1,500, 8. Lisa Lockhart, 19.69, $1,500.
Shootout (all four qualifying to Sioux Falls Governor’s Cup)
1. Ashley Castleberry, 14.21 seconds, $13,000; 2. Halyn Lide, 14.50, $9,750; 3. Chelsea A. Moore, 14.74, $6,500; 4. Shelley Morgan, 14.90, $3,250.
