ESTES PARK, Colo. – It’s one thing for Rooftop Rodeo to include ladies breakaway roping into its schedule; it’s another to place the event on the same plateau as all the others in its inaugural year.

That’s why 70 cowgirls entered into the fray to test their talents in Estes Park, and the competition is tough. Of those set to compete, eight have qualified for the National Finals Breakaway Roping, and five of those are world champions.

That just adds to the madness that is rodeoing in the Rocky Mountains.

“The weather up here is so beautiful, just like the place,” said Haiden Thompson, who roped her calf in 2.4 seconds during Tuesday’s fourth performance to take the Rooftop Rodeo lead. “More and more rodeos are adding breakaway roping, but not very many rodeos have added equal money. To be able to rope for this much money is pretty exciting.” 

Everything’s moving at a rapid pace for Thompson. Not only is she leading the race in Estes Park, but she’s in the top spot in the Resistol Rookie Year standings. Oh, and she happens to be traveling with 2022 world champion Martha Angelone.

“Martha has been a huge lifesaver,” said Thompson, 21, the 45th-ranked cowgirl in the world standings from Yoder, Wyoming. “She knows the ins and outs of every rodeo. She knows all the contractors. I actually credit a lot of my success the last couple of weeks to her, just because she’s such a huge help.

“It’s nice to have someone with that much knowledge and support behind you.”

Angelone’s experience has come in rather handy, whether it’s knowing the right roads to take from one rodeo to another or stopping at the best restaurant along the way.

“We totaled it up the other day, and over the last week, we’ve gone almost 7,000 miles,” Thompson said. “It’s been a lot, but it’s super fun, especially going with Martha.”

Over the past five years, the discipline has blossomed. The first breakaway finals took place in 2020, and many big-time rodeos have begun to include it into the mix. Like every cowboy and cowgirl that grows up in this sport, battling for rodeo’s gold is the ultimate dream. Thompson has her eyes set on that prize, but she understands the development stages she’ll have to take to make it happen.

“This year, I definitely want to win the rookie title,” she said. “I feel like that goal is pretty well within reach, but I’m definitely going to try to make the (breakaway) finals. It would be cool to get out there with Martha. We pretty much rope together all the time, but to compete there together would be pretty cool this year.

“We’ll be there eventually. It may not be this year, but it’s always a goal to rope there at the NFR.”

Rooftop Rodeo
July 5-10
Bareback riding: 1. Clay Stone, 84 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Blue Ridge Babe; 2. Andy Gingerich, 80.5; 3. Colt Eck, 80; 4. Bodee Lammers, 76.5; 5. Taylor Broussard, 74; 6. Jacob Raine, 73.5; 8. Colton Clemens, 73; 8. Jade Taton, 71.

Steer wrestling: 1. Hadley Jackson, 4.9 seconds; 2. (tie) Logan Kenline and Logan Wiseman, 5.2; 4. Nick Guy, 6.0; 5. Tai Kvistad, 7.0; 6. Marc Joiner, 7.1; 7. Seth Peterson, 7.2; 8. Talon Sterkel, 7.5.

Team roping: 1. Jake Clay/Tanner Braden, 4.4 seconds; 2. Tanner Tomlinson/Travis Graves, 4.6; 3. Laramie Allen/Kelby Frizzell, 4.9; 4. Slade Wood/Cashton Weidenbener, 5.1; 5. Mason Stueve/Kingston Chang, 5.7; 6. Bodie Mattson/Tucker White, 10.1; 7. Cam Jensen/Clayton Symons, 14.2; no other qualified runs.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Ryder Wright, 87 points on Cervi Brothers’ Promiscuous Girl; 2. Shea Fournier, 85; 3. Statler Wright, 84.5; 4. Gus Gaillard, 84; 5. Mitchell Story, 83.5; 6. Clint Reed, 80; 7. (tie) Leon Fountain, Stetson Wright, Spencer Wright and Tanner Hayes, 78.

Breakaway roping: 1. Haiden Thompson, 2.4 seconds; 2. Kassandra Shoemaker, 2.7; 3. (tie) Sutton Mang and Suzanne Williams, 2.9; 5. (tie) Kaydin Finan, Martha Angelone, Lacey Nail and Cara Liggett, 3.3; 9. (tie) Abby Farris and Rickie Fanning, 3.7.

Tie-down roping: 1. Trevor Hale, 8.2 seconds; 2. John Douch, 8.6; 3. Carter Andreson, 8.7; 4. Roan Hudson, 9.1; 5. Cole Teirney, 9.3; 6. Cory Bomhoff, 9.4; 7. (tie) Bernard Girard, Austin Lawrence and Cash Fuesz, 9.5.

Barrel racing: 1. Austyn Tobey, 16.42 seconds; 2. Millie Marquet, 16.53; 3. Kylie Wells, 16.48; 4. Dina Allred, 16.63; 5. Karson Bradley Burger, 16.64; 6. Madison McCaffity, 16.66; 7. Andrea Busby, 16.68; 8. Christy Hefley, 16.75; 9. Gwyneth Cheyne, 16.80; 10. Blake Molle, 16.82; 11. Morgan Addison, 16.85; 12. Chloe Gray, 16.91.

Bull riding: 1. Stetson Wright, 91 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Dialed In; 2. Kane Taylor, 84; 3. Sage Vance, 82; 4. Cooper Jacobs, 74; no other qualified rides.