With the reigning Wildfire Open Breakaway Champion Abigayle Hampton at second callback, Sarah Morrissey came into the short round of the Wildfire XXII Open Breakaway in the number-one spot with a time of 10.01 seconds on three head.
Before roping her short round calf, Morrissey watched as Hampton made a smoking fast run in 2.82 seconds, but got the barrier to make her 12.82 seconds, relieving some pressure as she prepared to back into the box. Morrissey didn’t back off and made an aggressive run of 3.07 seconds to win the roping with an aggregate time of 13.08 seconds on walking fresh calves, worth $6,200.
[READ: Scoring Tips in Breakaway Roping from Lari Dee Guy from Spin To Win Rodeo]
“I just had to take the shot that I’ve been taking all night long,” Morrissey said. “We scored good and I just kind of launched it out there. That was a tough short round. There were some fast times, and I’m not going to lie, I was going for first in the short round. I didn’t get it done, but first in the average is pretty sweet.”
Morrissey rode a 13-year-old gray gelding she calls Oreo, whom she’s owned since he was 4 years old.
“That horse does what I ask him to,” Morrissey said. “If we don’t do it right, 98% of the time it’s my fault. He is as honest as they come and if we’re struggling, then I know something’s not right—whether it be me or it’s just him, tired. He’s had a few struggles over the winter. He just wasn’t feeling right. These last two weeks he’s just been fire and working really good. We’ve trained him with a help of a few people along the way.”
[READ: Ideal Characteristics in a Breakaway Horse with Lari Dee Guy]
Morrissey worked as a pharmacist for 12 years and decided that roping calves was something she wants to do full-time after quitting her job in July 2019.
“I quit my job back in July and I sold my house and I went on the breakaway trail. I’ve been jobless for about six months now. I’m ready to contribute back to society a little bit so thank goodness I was able to get a check tonight and that way I can keep going.”
Now that breakaway roping is being featured in more of ProRodeo’s top rodeos, Morrissey, like most breakaway ropers, has her sights set on backing in the box at the National Finals Rodeo in the future.
“The ultimate goal is to rope in that little yellow arena and I think it’s going to happen. I can’t give a timeline, but it’s going to be soon.”
Full Results:
1. Sarah Morrissey, 13.08 seconds on four head, worth $6,200
2. Jackie Crawford, 15.53 seconds on four head, worth $4,200
3. Shelby Boisjoli, 15.66 seconds on four head, worth $3,100
4. Lari Dee Guy, 17.41 seconds on four head, worth $2,250
5. Samantha Jorgenson, 18.04 seconds on four head, worth $1,700
6. Kelsie Chace, 20.45 seconds on four head, worth $1,150
Short-Go Fast Time:
1. Laney Jo Almon, 2.7 seconds, worth $750
2. Shelby Boisjoli, 2.79 seconds, worth $500
Round 1 Fast Time:
1. Kayelen Helton, 2.54 seconds, worth $750
2. Morgan Sparks, 2.91 seconds, worth $500
Round 2 Fast Time:
1. Kelsie Chace, 2.38 seconds, worth $750
2. Haley Kiehne, 2.69 seconds, worth $500
Round 3 Fast Time:
1. Kelsie Chace, 1.69 seconds, worth $750
2. Cadee Williams, 2.64 seconds worth $500
