Malloree Barnes helps team to second place

A team of Nebraska cowgirls took second place at the 9th Annual Women’s Ranch Rodeo Association World Finals Oct. 18-19 in Dodge City, KS.

Too Hard To Handle made up of Gothenburg resident Malloree Barnes, Anselmo resident Alesa Jones, Raelyn Gilmore and Rachel Smith of Ulysses, KS qualified for the World Finals at a rodeo in Hyannis.

At both Hyannis and the World Finals, teams of four com-

peted in five events: branding, trailer loading, doctoring, sorting and tie down.

“All four girls worked together in each event,” Barnes said. “We all had good horses and were experienced.”

Too Hard To Handle finished second in branding, 11th in trailer loading, seventh in doctoring, first in sorting and eighth in tie down for a second place finish overall.

Barnes noted that some of the teams that placed below them didn’t look as comfortable on their horses.

“They didn’t look like they felt as good on their horses as we did on ours,” Barnes said.

Although the women placed well in the finals, the chance to compete wasn’t easy, Barnes said.

“We had a lot of community support and had to spend our winnings from qualifying to make the trip,” Barnes said. “Without support from sponsors we wouldn’t have made it.”

The prize for second place was a cash pot, trophy stirrups, head stalls, reins and gift certificates.

Each of the ladies received jackets too.

The World Finals is still relatively unknown Barnes said, and it is new to Nebraska.

She added that interest in state women’s qualifying rodeos has grown and that more are scheduled for next year.

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