Competing in rodeos is a family affair for 18-year-old Brooke Elstob, who recently took home the New Zealand rookie barrel racing title after a top season on her horse Puddly. Rebecca Nadge reports.
The Wanaka rider was awarded the New Zealand rookie barrel racing title at the recent national finals in Wanaka last month.
She had accumulated points throughout the season by travelling to a series of events throughout the country, including the North Island where she rode a borrowed horse.
The win comes after several years of training and competitions, and she is quick to credit part of her success to her family's support.
She is coached by her father, who is a former team roping champion, and is also helped by Wanaka-based barrel racer Angie Meehan.
Within her family, her brother competes in both the bareback and team roping events and her sister has previously won the junior barrel race title, also riding Puddly.
''We're all there to support each other.''
Training between events involved keeping her horse fit, practising the clover-leaf pattern at slower speeds and groundwork basics to keep the horse listening to her.
She rides every day and also runs and plays rugby to stay fit.
Competing also required being mentally tough, she said.
''It's good to have friends supporting and helping you when it's busy.
''Dad always gives me a good pep talk before I go.''
She started in the discipline of eventing but an accident when she was younger left her with a broken pelvis and she instead turned her focus to barrel racing.
One of the best parts of the sport was the camaraderie between competitors, she said.
''I love the atmosphere. Some of your biggest rivals are also your best mates, which is awesome.''
The Te Anau rodeo grounds were her favourite, but nothing quite compared to the home crowd at Wanaka events, where she had friends and family cheering from the sidelines, she said.
''The Wanaka atmosphere is the best.''
Long term she hoped to compete in Australia, the United States and Canada, and she has also started team roping with her dad as her partner.
This season she will begin competing her younger horse, Sizzle, but Puddly is staying in the family for her dad to ride in the team roping.
''He's definitely special to the family. He's what got me and my sister to where we are in barrel racing.''
The Wanaka rider was awarded the New Zealand rookie barrel racing title at the recent national finals in Wanaka last month.
She had accumulated points throughout the season by travelling to a series of events throughout the country, including the North Island where she rode a borrowed horse.
The win comes after several years of training and competitions, and she is quick to credit part of her success to her family's support.
She is coached by her father, who is a former team roping champion, and is also helped by Wanaka-based barrel racer Angie Meehan.
Within her family, her brother competes in both the bareback and team roping events and her sister has previously won the junior barrel race title, also riding Puddly.
''We're all there to support each other.''
Training between events involved keeping her horse fit, practising the clover-leaf pattern at slower speeds and groundwork basics to keep the horse listening to her.
She rides every day and also runs and plays rugby to stay fit.
Competing also required being mentally tough, she said.
''It's good to have friends supporting and helping you when it's busy.
''Dad always gives me a good pep talk before I go.''
She started in the discipline of eventing but an accident when she was younger left her with a broken pelvis and she instead turned her focus to barrel racing.
One of the best parts of the sport was the camaraderie between competitors, she said.
''I love the atmosphere. Some of your biggest rivals are also your best mates, which is awesome.''
The Te Anau rodeo grounds were her favourite, but nothing quite compared to the home crowd at Wanaka events, where she had friends and family cheering from the sidelines, she said.
''The Wanaka atmosphere is the best.''
Long term she hoped to compete in Australia, the United States and Canada, and she has also started team roping with her dad as her partner.
This season she will begin competing her younger horse, Sizzle, but Puddly is staying in the family for her dad to ride in the team roping.
''He's definitely special to the family. He's what got me and my sister to where we are in barrel racing.''
