The Denver qualifier was held in Castle Rock, Colorado, on Dec. 28-29, and saw Kathy Grimes ride KG Just Money to the second round and aggregate win to lead the pack to the National Western Stock Show & Rodeo.
The National Western Stock Show & Rodeo runs January 15–25, 2026, at the Denver Coliseum in Denver, Colorado.
Table of contents
Where is the National Western Stock Show & Rodeo
The rodeo performances take place indoors at the historic Denver Coliseum, located at 4600 Humboldt St. in Denver, Colorado.
The rodeo features sixteen preliminary performances, followed by three semifinal rounds and a finals performance. Performances begin Thursday, January 15, at 7:00 p.m., with multiple daily performances scheduled throughout the run.
When is the National Western Stock Show & Rodeo?
Performance schedule:
• January 15 – 7:00 p.m.
• January 16 – 1:30 p.m. & 8:00 p.m.
• January 17 – 11:00 a.m., 3:30 p.m. & 8:00 p.m.
• January 18 – 2:00 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.
• January 19 – 1:00 p.m.
• January 20 – 7:00 p.m.
• January 21 – 1:30 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
• January 22 – 1:30 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
• January 23 – 1:30 p.m. & 8:00 p.m.
• Semifinals: January 24 – 11:00 a.m., 3:30 p.m. & 8:00 p.m.
• Finals: January 25 – 2:00 p.m.
There is no slack scheduled for barrel racing at this rodeo.
The National Western is part of the WPRA Playoff Series, offering $71,875 in added money with an entry fee of $351. The event is limited to 80 contestants and will be run in a two-go, back-to-back format, advancing to semifinals and a final.
How do barrel racers qualify for the National Western Stock Show & Rodeo?
A total of 80 barrel racers will compete, with entries filled as follows:
- Top 28 from the 2025 WPRA ProRodeo World Standings
- Top 5 from the 2026 WPRA ProRodeo World Standings, based on earnings seven days prior to entries closing
- Top 2 from the 2025 WPRA Tour standings
- Top 5 from the 2025 Mountain States Circuit standings (not already qualified through another category)
- 40 qualifiers advancing from the December 28–29, 2025 qualifier
First round: 1. CJ Vondette, 15.13 seconds, $2,036; 2. Kathy Grimes, 15.26, $1,745; 3. Brittany Fellows, 15.54, $1,454; 4. Morgan Addison, 15.58, $1,260; 5. (tie) Katie Chism and Dusty Willis, 15.65, $873 each; 7. Sara Pringle, 15.67, $582; 8. Avery Ledesma, 15.71, $388; 9. Blake Molle, 15.72, $291; 10. Mataya Eklund, 15.75, $194.
Second round: 1. Kathy Grimes, 15.25 seconds, $2,036; 2. Heidi Gunderson, 15.28, $1,745; 3. Maylee McCrary, 15.34, $1,454; 4. Tara Carr, 15.39, $1,260; 5. Blake Molle, 15.48, $969; 6. Jaylan Neatherlin, 15.53, $776; 7. (tie) Kim Schulze and Kim Squires, 15.56, $485 each; 9. (tie) Sherry Cervi and Kylie Kanngiesser, 15.57, $242 each.
Average: 1. Kathy Grimes, 30.51 seconds on two head, $2,036; 2. Blake Molle, 31.20, $1,745; 3. CJ Vondette, 31.21, $1,454; 4. Tara Carr, 31.29, $1,260; 5. Emily Ward, 31.36, $969; 6. Avery Ledesma, 31.38, $776; 7. Chelsea A Moore, 31.41, $582; 8. Morgan Addison, 31.43, $388; 9. (tie) Jean Winters and Kappie Bryant, 31.48, $242 each.
How to Watch the National Western Stock Show & Rodeo
The NWSSR will air on The Cowboy Channel and Cowboy Channel + App.
Who’s running at Denver? (Daysheets)
Bracket 1 (Thursday, Jan. 15)
Morgan Addison
Sharin Hall
Kylie Kanggiesser
Dusty Willis
Kappie Bryant
Acey Pinkston
McKenna Coronado
Christy Larsen
Whitley Sharp
Emily Askew
(Sue Smith and Emily Beisel removed – drawn out)
Bracket 2 (Friday, Jan. 16)
CJ Vondette
Fallon Forbes
Chandler Camblin
Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi
Mackenzie McCuistion
Kara Kreder
Shali Lord
Jordan Bassett
Kim Schulze
Bonnie Wheatley
Bracket 3 (Saturday, Jan. 17 – Matinee)
Leslie Smalygo
Alex Odle
Katie Traut
Cacee Hendrick
Kylie Wells
Kari Boxleitner
Avery Ledesma
Jamie Olsen
Emily Ward
Maylee McCrary
Bracket 4 (Sunday, Jan. 18 – Matinee)
Chery Pinkston
Julie Plourde
Alexandra Daigle
Lindsey Muggli
LaTricia Duke
Lisa Lockhart
Chloe Gray
Suni Olkjer
Chelsea Moore
Morgan Bagnell
Bracket 5 (Monday, Jan. 19 – Matinee)
Sydney Graham
Jaylan Neatherlin
Jesse Harris
Gracen Harman
Taryn Boxleitner
Nicole Turner
Hailey Garrison Graham
Katie Chism
Heidi Gunderson
Loralee Ward
Bracket 6 (Wednesday, Jan. 21 – Matinee)
Presley Smith
Brittany Fellows
Alyssa MacDonald
Sherry Cervi
Kaydi Anderson
Carlee Otero
Sara Pringle
Kim Squires
Lyndee Moser
Kathy Grimes
Bracket 7 (Thursday, Jan. 22 – Matinee)
Austyn Tobey
Jeannette Etchebarne
Mataya Eklund
Emma Parr
BryAnna Haluptzok
Tayla Moeykens
Tara Carr
Jordan Driver
Katie Halbert
Makenna Shook
Bracket 8 (Friday, Jan. 23 – Matinee)
Kristi Cole
Blake Molle
Hailey Kinsel
Summer Kosel
Jean Winters
Alyssa Urbanek-Wade
Megan McLeod-Sprague
Amy Jo Reisdorfer
Michelle Alley
Makenzie Mayes
Finals
Sunday, January 25 daysheet
LaTricia Duke
CJ Vondette
Jamie Olsen
Heidi Gunderson
Fallon Forbes
Julie Plourde
Sydney Graham
Jordan Driver
Summer Kosel
Morgan Addison
Mataya Eklund
Makenzie Mayes
Results
Bracket One
First round: 1. Acey Pinkston, 15.16 seconds; 2. McKenna Coronado, 15.25; 3. Morgan Addison, 15.41; 4. Whitley Sharp, 15.43; 5. Emily Eskew, 15.59; 6. Christy Larsen, 16.23; 7. Dusty Willis, 17.94; 8. Kappie Bryant, 20.40.
Second round: 1. Morgan Addison, 15.10 seconds; 2. Kappie Bryant, 15.23; 3. Acey Pinkston, 15.25; 4. Whitley Sharp, 15.27; 5. Emily Askew, 15.36; 6. Christy Larsen, 16.20; 7. McKenna Coronado, 20.33; 8. Kylie Kanngiesser, 20.39.
Qualifiers: 1. Acey Pinkston; 2. Morgan Addison; 3. Whitley Sharp.
Bracket Two
Bracket Two: First round: 1. Fallon Forbes, 15.09 seconds; 2. Shali Lord, 15.30; 3. Bonnie Wheatley, 15.35; 4. CJ Vondette, 15.40; 5. Chandler Camblin, 15.70; 6. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 15.72; 7. Mackenzie McCuistion, 15.87; 8. Jordan Bassett, 15.98.
Second round: 1. Shali Lord, 15.38 seconds; 2. Fallon Forbes, 15.43; 3. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 15.44; 4. Jordan Bassett, 15.46; 5. Chandler Camblin, 15.47; 6. CJ Vondette, 15.49; 7. Mackenzie McCuistion, 16.08; 8. Kim Schultze, 20.24.
Qualifiers: 1. Fallon Forbes; 30.52 seconds on two head; 2. Shali Lord, 30.68; 3. CJ Vondette, 30.89.
Bracket Three
First round: 1. Jamie Olsen, 15.18 seconds; 2. Leslie Smalygo, 15.43; 3. Katie Traut, 15.45; 4. Emily Ward, 15.48; 5. Alex Odle, 15.80; 6. Cacee Hendrick, 16.01; 7. Avery Ledesma, 20.62; 8. Kylie Wells, 21.01.
Second round: 1. Morgan Addison, 15.10 seconds; 2. Emily Ward, 15.14; 3. Leslie Smalygo, 15.17; 4. Kappie Bryant, 15.23; 5. Acey Pinkston, 15.25; 6. Whitley Sharp, 15.27; 7. Jamie Olson, 15.30; 8. Emily Askew, 15.36.
Qualifiers: 1. Jamie Olsen, 30.48 seconds on two head; 2. Leslie Smalygo, 30.48; 3. Emily Ward, 30.62.
Bracket Four
First round: 1. Julie Plourde, 15.06 seconds; 2. Chelsea Moore, 15.13; 3. LaTricia Duke, 15.25; 4. Chery Pinkston, 15.29; 5. Lindsey Muggli, 15.33; 6. Chloe Gray, 15.50; 7. Morgan Bagnell, 15.82; 8. Suni Olkjer, 16.03.
Second round: 1. Morgan Bagnell, 14.90 seconds; 2. Julie Plourde, 15.00; 3. LaTricia Duke, 15.03; 4. Lindsey Muggli, 15.13; 5. Lisa Lockhart, 15.19; 6. Alexandra Daigle, 15.32; 7. Chelsea Moore, 15.34; 8. Chery Pinkston, 15.47.
Qualifiers: 1. Julie Plourde; 30.06 seconds on two head; 2. LaTricia Duke, 30.28; 3. Lindsey Muggli, 30.46.
Bracket Five
First round: 1. Sydney Graham, 15.02 seconds; 2. Heidi Gunderson, 15.11; 3. Hailey Garrison Graham, 15.27; 4. Katie Chism, 15.38; 5. Nicole Tumer, 15.46; 6. Jesse Harris, 15.63; 7. Gracen Harman, 16.17; 8. Jaylan Neatherlin, 17.21.
Second round: 1. Gracen Harman, 14.95 seconds; 2. Heidi Gunderson, 15.04; 3. Sydney Graham, 15.14; 4. Hailey Garrison Graham, 15.20; 5. Katie Chism, 15.30; 6. Taryn Boxleitner, 19.88; 7. Jesse Harris, 20.40; 8. Jaylan Neatherlin, 20.41.
Qualifiers: 1. Heidi Gunderson, 30.15 seconds on two head; 2. Sydney Graham, 30.16; 3. Hailey Garrison Graham, 30.47.
Bracket Six
First round: 1. Brittany Fellows, 14.71 seconds; 2. Kathy Grimes, 14.91; 3. Sherry Cervi, 15.03; 4. Carlee Otero, 15.08; 5. Kaydi Anderson, 15.35; 6. Kim Squires, 15.40; 7. Alyssa MacDonald, 15.42; 8. Presley Smith, 15.49.
Second round: 1. Brittany Fellows, 14.87 seconds; 2. Carlee Otero, 15.01; 3. Sherry Cervi, 15.06; 4. Kathy Grimes, 15.07; 5. Kim Squires, 15.18; 6. Lyndee Moser, 15.32; 7. Alyssa MacDonald, 15.41; 8. Sara Pringle, 15.50.
Qualifiers: 1. Brittany Fellows, 29.58 seconds on two head; 2. Kathy Grimes, 29.98; 3. Carlee Otero, 30.09.
Bracket Seven
First round: 1. Jordan Driver, 14.91 seconds; 2. Tayla Moeykens, 15.09; 3. Jeanette Etchebarne, 15.10; 4. BryAnna Haluptzok, 15.17; 5. Tara Carr, 15.32; 6. Mataya Eklund, 15.41; 7. Makenna Shook, 15.42; 8. Austyn Tobey, 15.43.
Second round: 1. (tie) Katie Halbert and Mataya Eklund, 15.04 each; 3. Jordan Driver, 15.12; 4. Emma Parr, 15.15; 5. Tayla Moeykens, 15.20; 6. Austyn Tobey, 15.26; 7. Makenna Shook, 17.61; 8. Jeanette Etchebarne, 20.56.
Qualifiers: 1. Jordan Driver, 30.03 seconds on two head; 2. Tayla Moeykens, 30.29; 3. Mataya Eklund, 30.45.
Bracket Eight
First round: 1. Blake Molle, 14.78 seconds; 2. Alyssa Urbanek-Wade, 14.82; 3. Summer Kosel, 15.26; 4. Julia Johnson, 15.38; 5. Amy Jo Reisdorfer, 15.42; 6. Jean Winters, 15.44; 7. Makenzie Mayes, 15.59; 8. Krystal Dillman, 16.88.
Second round: 1. Makenzie Mayes, 14.83 seconds; 2. Michelle Alley, 14.90; 3. Alyssa Urbanek-Wade, 15.06; 4. Summer Kosel, 15.17; 5. Julia Johnson, 15.18; 6. Amy Reisdorfer, 15.22; 7. Jean Winters, 15.54; 8. Krystal Dillman, 15.63.
Qualifiers: 1. Alyssa Urbanek-Wade, 29.88 seconds on two head; 2. Makenzie Mayes, 30.42; 3. Summer Kosel, 30.43.
Rounds 1 & 2 (overall)
First round: 1. Brittany Fellows, 14.71 seconds, $4,781; 2. Blake Molle, 14.78, $4,157; 3. Alyssa Urbanek-Wade, 14.82, $3,533; 4. (tie) Kathy Grimes and Jordan Driver, 14.91, $2,598 each; 6. Sydney Graham, 15.02, $1,663; 7. Sherry Cervi, 15.03, $1,039; 8. Julie Plourde, 15.06, $416.
Second round: 1. Makenzie Mayes, 14.83 seconds, $4,781; 2. Brittany Fellows, 14.87; $4,157; 3. (tie) Michelle Alley and Morgan Bagnell, 14.90, $3,222 each; 5. Gracen Harman, 14.95, $2,286; 6. Julie Plourde, 15.00, $1,663; 7. Carlee Otero, 15.01, $1,039; 8. LaTricia Duke, 15.03, $416.
Semifinals
Semifinal One: 1. Heidi Gunderson, 15.01 seconds, $3,695; 2. LaTricia Duke, 15.03, $2,771; 3. Fallon Forbes, 15.46, $1,848; 4. Morgan Addison, 15.77, $924.
Semifinal Two: 1. Makenzie Mayes, 14.96 seconds, $3,695; 2. Sydney Graham, 15.17, $2,771; 3. Mataya Eklund, 15.28, $924.
Semifinal Three: 1. Summer Kosel, 15.04 seconds, $3,695; 2. Jordan Driver, 15.06, $2,771; 3. Julie Plourde, 15.15, $1,848; 4. C.J. Vondette, 15.35, $924.
Finals
Finals: 1. Heidi Gunderson, 14.91 seconds, $5,312; 2. Sydney Graham, 15.00, $4,619; 3. Mataya Eklund, 15.07, $3,926; 4. LaTricia Duke, 15.09, $3,234; 5. Jamie Olson, 15.11, $2,540; 6. Julie Plourde, 15.14, $1,847; 7. Jordan Driver, 15.21, $1,155; 8. Summer Kosel, 15.22, $462.