National Finals Rodeo: Race to the finish

Friday, Dec. 3, 2004 | 10:59 a.m.

Barrel racing pits a woman and a horse against three barrels and a stopwatch. The rider shoots out of an arena tunnel to trigger the clock, then she must navigate a cloverleaf design around two front barrels before speeding to the one at the far end.

Upon circling around it, she must then zip to the finish line. Tipping any barrel adds a five-second penalty to the final time.

The event is judged to the hundredth of a second, so don't blink. Charmayne James, an 11-time world champion who is the most successful female in rodeo history, officially retired from the sport 14 months ago. James competed in the NFR 19 times. In 1996, Scamper, which James rode during her remarkable stretch of 10 consecutive world titles, became the only barrel horse inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.

Amanda Clayman, Naylor, Mo.

Jackie Dube, Giddings, Texas

Sheri Sinor Estrada, Alamogordo, N.M.

Denise Adamns Fea, Lufkin, Texas

Klely Kaminski, Bellville, Texas

Darlene Kasper, Bertram, Texas

Terri Kaye Kirkland, Billings, Mont.

Jolee Lautaret, Kingman, Ariz.

Kelly Maben, Spur, Texas

Liz Pinkston, Alice, Texas

Molly Powell, Simms, Mont.

Deb Renger, Okotoks, Alberta

Paula Seay, Lake Butler, Fla.

Janet Stover, Rusk, Texas

Delores Toole, Manter, Kan.