Strathmore teen wins cow riding finals

Shannon LeClair

Times Reporter

 

The Canadian Girls Rodeo Association, CGRA, hosted the cow riding finals from Sept. 10 to 12. CGRA was formed in 1957 and was originally the Canadian Barrel Racing Association. In 1967 the association took on its current name. Some of the events they feature is barrel racing, goat tying, cow riding, calf roping, team roping and steer un-decorating. 

Kim Arbuthnott, who has been riding cows for six years, took part in the finals. 

“You ride the cow within eight seconds and then it’s like a score and your score is based on how good your cow bucks and how square you sit,” said Arbuthnott. 

She lasted the whole eight seconds, and out of the four performances, she rode one out of the four. She is also a member of the High School Rodeo Association along with her brother Jordan who is working on joining the pro rodeo circuit. Arbuthnott said she does not plan to go pro, but would definitely like the opportunity to go back the CGRA next year and try to win for the third year in a row. 

“I won it last year too,” said Arbuthnott. 

She was named the season leader this year, which won her a buckle and by winning the cow riding finals she won a saddle. 

It was her brother and the Johnson family, which helped peak her interest in the rodeo, and while she is not sure what she would like to do in the future she does know she is done competing after finishing with the High School Rodeo Association. In order for her to make it back to the CGRA next years 

There are rodeos throughout the summer and it is a point system used to determine who will get into the finals. The top five or so people with the most points head off to finals.