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Cross-country barrel battle

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51533ponokaShaynaDodds
Shayna Dodds is an up and comer on the barrel racing circuit.

CHARLES TWEED/Ponoka News

It was a battle drawn between the 48th parallel during the ladies’ barrel racing event at the 75th Ponoka Stampede.

Susan Smith, from Blackfoot, Idaho, had the fastest time of the week posting a 17.11 second run, which was 0.25 seconds faster than the next closest time. Smith won the average with a time of 34.55 over two runs.

The next fastest average was Sammi Bessert, from Loma, Colo., who had a time of 34.88.

The two top times from the states were flanked by the next two fastest times which came out of Alberta.

Lindsey Sears, from Nanton, clocked a total time of 34.91 in her two runs while Traci MacDonald, from Erskine, was fourth with a time of 35.04.

The runs ensured a showdown that featured two riders from the United States and two from Canada.

Sunday’s showdown proved a flip-flop in the standings as the Canadian riders used the hometown crowd to post the two fastest times.

Sears won the showdown with a time of 17.38 while MacDonald was 0.03 seconds back, good for second spot.