The phrase “All Around World Champion” is head-turning in any context, and Martha Angelone snapped necks while gathering 2023 Women’s Rodeo World Championship All Around title and $20,000.
The 2022 WPRA Breakaway World Champion pulled together a staggering amount of year-end points to get it done.
The title is determined by the total number of WRWC leaderboard points an athlete earned throughout the year by nominating events. The points year runs from April 18, 2022 to April 16, 2023 plus the WRWC itself, which takes place May 18–20, 2023.
Heading into the event, Angelone had 1,245 total points in the heading and heeling—and a whopping 22,307 points in the breakaway roping. (For context, the next-closest breakaway roper, Josie Connor, had 10,324 points).
Paired with 3,360 more points she picked up with Jackie Crawford in the WRWC team roping for two third-place finishes in the go rounds, Angelone cleared 26,000 points and rightfully collected the $20,000 payday, champion buckle and saddle.
“I’ve been trying to do this for three years now and have always been in the running or close but haven’t been able to finish yet,” Angelone, 28, said. “This year I told myself I was going to set myself up better so I had a great chance to win it and I’m glad I can finally say I did. It’s a great feeling.”
The Main Event: WRWC
Angelone entered up for the WRWC in the breakaway and team roping as a header for Crawford and Erica Krantz of Whitesboro, Texas. While Angelone’s partnership with Krantz didn’t evolve into a Showdown Round qualification, she managed to pick up $1,000 in round money with Crawford for a 7.23-and-8.01-second runs.
Angelone will be competing in breakaway and team roping in the WRWC Showdown Round at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 20. Find out how to watch here.
Roping with THE Jackie Crawford
Angelone and Crawford have been roping together throughout 2023, and it’s a partnership Angelone had been hoping for.
“I’ve always wanted a chance to rope with her and I’m glad I finally get the chance,” Angelone said. “It makes me have a good feeling whenever we back into the box. We’re good together in the team roping because we don’t overthink things. Because we’re both [mostly] breakaway ropers, team roping isn’t our number one focus. We’re not worried about doing anything other than our job. We’re just trying to make consistent runs over and over and over.”
Angelone is mounted for the WRWC Showdown Round on boyfriend Tanner Green’s horse “Punk.” The two of them are a brand new pairing and needed a few runs to iron out some errors in the facing. But, by in the WRWC Semifinals, the final component of a team roping run was satisfactory for Angelone.
