High school rodeo stars shine

Andrea Roberts
Times Intern

 

Four High School Rodeo participants managed to score enough points this rodeo season to make it to the Alberta High School Rodeo Provincials.
Locals Jewel Bristor, Hayzes Stevens, Destiny Stevens and Marissa Boisjoli all qualified to showcase their skills for the event from June 3-5 in Grand Prairie.
Unfortunately, Boisjoli, who qualified for the breakaway and team roping, will be unable to go after injuring her knee playing in her basketball provincials.
“I have been practicing a little,” said Boisjoli. “This is also my first year out of the five years that I have been doing high school rodeo that I am not going to provincials so I’m very sad about that.”
Jewel Bristor, Hayzes Stevens and Destiny Stevens have spent the last two weeks honing their skills in the events they qualified for.
Destiny Stevens qualified for goat tying while Hayzes qualified for tie-down roping and team roping. The siblings made sure to be well prepared ahead of time ensuring their horses were shod, equipment packed up, and they are ready to give their best in their events.
“I’m not so much nervous just kind of excited,” said Hayzes.
Meanwhile Brister will be busy during the provincials weekend as she qualified for three events – barrel racing, pole bending and the queen contest. She ended up being season leader in pole bending.
“For the queen contest, I’ve been getting ready for all that all year,” she said. “You have to write a speech and have to write a test, you have to model and do impromptu and showmanship.”
During the contest Brister will be presented with a riding pattern and she will have to complete it on her horse in order for the judges to see what kind of rider she is.
Alberta High School Rodeo Provincials contestants will try to qualify for 2016 National High School Finals Rodeo, which will be held in Gillette, Wyoming July 17-23 and the Canadian High School Finals Rodeo, which will be held in Nanton July 28-30.