By Amy Wilson
Women’s Professional Rodeo Assn.
Stingray, “Horse with the Most Heart,” carried the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo veteran Sherry Cervi to the 2013 WPRA Barrel Racing World Championship. Cervi, who also won gold buckles in 1995, 1999, and 2010, was very emotional after collecting her fourth world title.
“They have all been so very special,” said the Marana, Ariz., resident. “Nothing more to say than it’s just all so special. This has been such a great year for me. Winning the world and also the Top Gun award, I’m a bit overwhelmed.”
Cervi indeed won the Ram Top Gun award which is a new Ram truck that is given to the contestant who wins the most money in a single event at the NFR. She got to take a ride around the Thomas and Mack in her new Ram Top Gun truck as she received a standing ovation.
With her $155,899 in earnings at the Wrangler NFR, Cervi also broke the Wrangler NFR earnings record which was set last year by Mary Walker after winning $146,941. Combined with Cervi’s regular season earnings of $147,418, her total money won in 2013 equaled $303,317. Lindsay Sears holds the record for most money won in a single season with $323,570 set in 2008. Sherry Cervi moved to second on that list with $303,317 set in 2013.
Cervi didn’t stop there with breaking records. En route to winning the 2013 Wrangler NFR average with 138.15 on 10 runs, she broke Jill Moody’s record of 138.26 from back in 2010. Winning the NFR average was an important goal for Cervi, who also won it in 1999 and 2009.
“It is special because getting around these barrels 10 times and being faster than anyone else here is so very, very hard to do,” said Cervi, who credits the horse she trained with the title.
“I am so proud of my horse and the consistency it takes to accomplish winning the average. I just feel it is an important way to finish what I started when I arrived here.”
In addition to winning the average, Cervi was consistent at getting checks. In fact, she became only the fifth barrel racer in history to place in all 10 rounds of the NFR, and the first since Kristie Peterson in 1997. The 10th round win went to Lisa Lockhart with a 13.88 run which was one hundredth of a second better than Jane Melby who placed third. Sabrina Ketcham, Cervi, and Shada Brazile finished out the top six in the round. Brazile was the only other NFR barrel racer to have 10 cleans runs. She finished second in the average with 140.30 at her first NFR as a competitor.
It was fun to see this year’s NFR barrel racers dress flashy. Fallon Taylor won the Jerry Ann Taylor Best Dressed Award and $5,000. It was also fun to watch 2013 WPRA Rookie of the Year, Taylor Jacob, on her great horse Bo, win four rounds and set a new arena record. Needless to say, it was an awesome barrel race at this year’s Wrangler National Finals Rodeo! The WPRA congratulates all the qualifiers, and especially the 2013 World Champion Barrel Racer Sherry Cervi!
Barrel racing — Average: 1. Sherry Cervi, 138.15 seconds on 10 runs (breaks the WNFR record of 138.26 set by Jill Moody in 2010), $47,776; 2. Shada Brazile, 140.30, $38,762; 3. Lisa Lockhart, 143.71, $30,649; 4. Kaley Bass, 145.21, $22,536; 5. Christy Loflin, 150.74, $16,226; 6. Mary Walker, 153.21, $11,719; 7. Jane Melby, 154.41, $8,113; 8. Michele McLeod, 158.08, $4,507; 9. Taylor Jacob, 160.99; 10. Jean Winters, 166.12; 11. Sydni Blanchard, 166.52; 12. Brittany Pozzi, 168.89; 13. Sabrina Ketcham, 171.06; 14. Fallon Taylor, 174.75; 15. Trula Churchill, 178.44.
World standings: 1. Sherry Cervi, $303,317; 2. Mary Walker, $229,363; 3. Lisa Lockhart, $184,201; 4. Taylor Jacob, $164,484; 5. Michelle McLeod, $151,357; 6. Kaley Bass, $148,512; 7. Christy Loflin, $148,412; 8. Shada Brazile, $130,278; 9. Jane Melby, $124,642; 10. Sabrina Ketcham, $119,147; 11. Fallon Taylor, $116,785; 12. Brittany Pozzi, $113,156; 13. Trula Churchill, $90,313; 14. Sydni Blanchard, $82,867; 15. Jean Winters, $69,847.
2013 WPRA Rookie of the Year Taylor Jacob on her great horse “Bo” set a new arena record at the WNFR. (Photo by Kirt Steinke)
