Sears hangs on to finish in third

Nothing embarrasses a barrel racer more than making a strong run and almost falling off her horse.

Reigning world champion Lindsay Sears came within a thread of being humiliated at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas on Sunday night.

“My horse worked unbelievable,” she said of her worldrenowned 12-year-old sorrel mare Martha. “I wished I could say the same for my riding abilities. I almost fell off and I’m not exaggerating by any means.

“It happened on the back side of the third barrel. She turned it and I was not in the saddle. She turned out right underneath me and shot me out the back of my saddle. It was a little bit of a scary two strides leaving the barrel because I wasn’t quite sure I was going to be on her when we crossed the finish line. I was basically out the back door.

“If I wouldn’t have had that little mistake it would have been a lot better ride than it was.”

Incredibly, Sears stopped the clock in a third-best 13.81 seconds to rake in another $10,985 and boost her four-day income to nearly $30,000.

She didn’t say she would have won the round without the misstep, but she did feel she could have been faster.

Red-Deer born Carlee Pierce, who had tipped six barrels over the first three rounds, was second with a time of 13.75. Three-time Arizona world champion Sheri Cervi topped the leaderboard with a 13.67

The end results weren’t all that went Sears way.

Texan Mary Walker, who won the first three rounds and was looking like she was unstoppable, tipped a barrel and world standings leader and two-time world champion Brittany Pozzi had a nightmare round, tipping two barrels.

Had Sears not tipped a barrel on opening night, which cost her a share of fourth, she would have placed in all four rounds.

What it all means is the year-end showdown is by no means over.