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Women’s breakaway roping will be added as one of the events at the rodeo.
Sanctioned by the Women’s Pro Rodeo Association (WPRA), breakaway roping is a modified type of tie-down roping.
In the breakaway, the cowgirl, on horseback, nods her head when she’s ready, and the calf is released from the chute. The cowgirl ropes the calf, stops her horse and as the calf runs, the end of the rope, which is attached to the saddle horn, breaks away, signaling the end of the run. Good breakaway runs will be two or three seconds in length.
It’s an event fans will enjoy, said Ricky Solida, committee man with the rodeo.
“It’s fast paced and fun,” he said. “It will bring more contestants to town, and it gets the ladies more involved in pro rodeo.”
Glade, Kansas cowgirl Jessica Chester has been competing since was a little girl, and in high school rodeo, was a contestant in the barrel racing, pole bending and breakaway roping.
She has competed in various regional associations, including the Kansas Pro Rodeo Association and the Nebraska State Rodeo Association, and three years ago, became a WPRA member.
She is excited that breakaway roping has been added to Kansas Biggest Rodeo.
“It’s a big deal, and I think it will bring a lot of breakaway contestants, too.” She noted that the Hill City rodeo also added breakaway, so cowgirls have two rodeos close to each other at which to compete.
Chester has been attending the rodeo for years, and is excited to compete at it.
Adding breakaway is another way to showcase women’s talent, she said. “It’s very empowering for other women to see that women can rope, and that there’s more than one (women’s) event out there.
“The community will love it,” Chester said. “It’s going to add a lot of speed to the rodeo.”
This year’s Kansas Biggest Rodeo will be held August 1-2-3. Breakaway roping, along with the other events (bareback riding, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, team roping, saddle bronc riding, barrel racing and bull riding) will be held each night.
Shows start at 8 pm nightly.
Tickets are available online at KansasBiggestRodeo.com and at Garrett Insurance (685 Third Street, Phillipsburg) or by calling 785.543.2448.
Tickets range in price from $13-$22.
For more information, visit the website or call 785.543.2448.
