Stephanie White and Ricky are enjoying competing in the
second division barrel race on the Christmas rodeo circuit.
Photo by Sally Rae.
"That was so awesome," Stephanie White enthused after
competing in the second division barrel race at the Waimate
rodeo yesterday.
Miss White (24), a teacher at Fenwick Primary School in
Oamaru, is in her first season of rodeo competition.
At last year's Omarama rodeo - held as part of the Christmas
rodeo circuit - she was a spectator.
Today, she will be competing in the event at Buscot Station.
It was while she was watching the rodeo at Omarama that she
decided she really wanted to try barrel racing.
While she had always loved horses, Miss White said she had
only ever "hacked around" and barrel racing was a completely
new experience.
She had been very grateful for the help and support from
Waianakarua rodeo couple Graeme and Henrietta Purvis.
"I went out [to their property] one day and said I was keen.
I've been out there just about every day since. They can't
get rid of me," she laughed yesterday.
She was also very grateful to Ray Taylor who had kindly lent
her Ricky, a former calf-roping horse, to compete.
He was an old hand at rodeos and knew the ropes.
"As soon as I'm on him, I'm not nervous," she said.
The pair's first competitive outings were at Winchester and
Methven rodeos in October, where they "did OK", finishing
mid-field.
On Boxing Day, they were placed fifth at Millers Flat.
"It is such a lot of fun. There's great people. It's just
awesome," Miss White said.
Along with her partner, Craig Robson, who is competing in
second division bull ride and bareback events, Miss White is
following all the rodeos in the Christmas circuit.
An overcast day did not deter a large crowd attending the
rodeo at the Waimate A and P showgrounds.
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