By Jasmine Franklin
Young cowgirls and cowboys compete all year to enter the Canadian National College Finals Rodeo.
This year, competing locals came out with good results at the national competition.
Participants from all over Alberta and across Canada competed in team roping, goat tying, breakaway roping, pole bending, steer wrestling and barrel racing. The rodeo was held at Rexall Place in Edmonton.
Kendra Richardson, 21, came home with a smile from this year’s rodeo, coming first place in breakaway roping and team roping with Scott Hubschmid, and fourth in goat tying.
“This year was really fun, the whole bottom level of Northlands was packed and there everyone had a lot of talent,” she said. “The top 10 contestants from four separate rodeos throughout the season are the ones who qualify for the finals.”
Richardson has been involved with rodeo her entire life and continues to do it because she loves it. She also went to the college finals in 2008.
Other achievements came from Rebecca Sperber, third in barrel racing; Bailey Whyte, sixth for barrel racing; Klay Whyte and Levi Simpson, third in team roping. Wacey Finkbeiner participated in bull riding and Rode Vold participated in team roping and steer wrestling.