Rachelle Boyes has tasted rodeo success.
She won the Canadian Cowboys’ Association barrel racing championships in 2002 and 2004.
In 2006, she went pro and tied for fifth at the Canadian Finals Rodeo.
“That was my dream and I lived my dream,” she said.
But real life has a habit of getting in the way.
With two young daughters and a husband who works in Ontario, the Hartney, Man., competitor returned to the more manageable CCA circuit.
She entered this year’s finals atop the regular season standings and turned in the combined fastest time over the five performances.
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Unfortunately, her worst time came at precisely the worst time, when she finished out of the points in the last go-round. Dannielle Dinius of Stewart Valley, Sask., took home the championship buckle.
But Boyes has been around long enough to know there will be another day.
When she isn’t competing, she trains horses for other barrel racers.
“A good horse needs speed,” she explained. “It has to have athletics and heart.
“You need horsemanship and you’ve got to know your horse. It’s all about trust. You have to be a team.”
Her own horse was voted the 2008 barrel horse of the year by the top 15 riders. Boyes takes special pride in that because she trained the 17-year-old horse that she bought when he was three.
“He’s getting up there,” she said. “I may move him on to my daughters.”
Jenel, 8, and Jacey, 5, ride and attend many of the more than 20 rodeos their mom competes in during a season. Jenel has already competed in some small events.
“That’s a whole different set of nerves,” Boyes said.
She’s learned to handle competition pressure over the years. Although she’s only 33, she isn’t among the youngest on the circuit. A look at the 10 finalists shows an age range from 44 to 17.
“That’s the nice thing about the sport,” Boyes said. “The young girls ask for advice. You get to know everyone.”
The top junior barrel rider was Colby Anderson of Jenner, Alta.
In other events, CCA president Jonathan Kmita, of Weyburn, Sask., repeated as bareback champ.
Agribition chief executive officer Jason Pollock of Qu’Appelle, Sask., won the steer wrestling title for the second time and Mark O’Dempsey of Mayerthorpe, Alta., won his third consecutive saddle bronc championship.
Delisle, Sask., team ropers Vince Traynor and Kevin Larson won that event. Both are previous winners with different partners.
Jarid Berglund of Kennedy, Sask., won the tie down roping event, and Dakota Buttar of Kindersley, Sask., repeated as the junior bull riding champion.
Kory Ginnis won the bull riding title. The Grenfell, Sask. competitor also won it in 2006.
