Local girls to represent Canada in trick riding competition

Melissa Strle
Times Reporter

 

Eleven-year-old Jayna Hale from Dorothy, Alta. is one of 15 girls training to represent Canada at the North American Trick Riding Championships to be held in Las Vegas this December.
The 15 girls belong to the Canadian Trick Riding Association (CTRA) and have all been declared 2015-2016 Canadian champions. As such, they have earned top spots to go to Las Vegas and compete for the North American title.
The girls attended six competitions this year, including a final in Lloydminster, Sask. in August that determined year end champions in each age category. Hale was declared the 2016 CTRA junior champion in her age category.
“I am very excited and nervous to represent Canada and compete in Las Vegas this December,” she said. The competition takes place Dec. 5-7 in the Outdoor Huntsman Hall at the Convention Centre in Las Vegas, during the National Finals Rodeo (NFR).
Five of the girls train together in the Bassano area: Hale, Mackenzie Jensen from Rockyford, Shelby Burns from Bassano, Piper Yule from Wardlow and Bella Da Costa from Stony Plain.
Hale and Jensen have also been riding together once a week to try to keep their horses in shape and perfect their tricks.
“It is a lot of hard work,” said Jensen. “I train every night on two different horses because my main horse is out with an injury. But I’m super excited to go and compete in Vegas on an international level.”
On Nov. 9, the group of five will appear at the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR) in Edmonton where they will perform a trick riding demonstration and show to help raise funds for the trip to Las Vegas. They will be selling raffle tickets and looking for sponsorship or donations to help cover costs.
The CTRA was formed two years ago, and since that time, top trick riders in the world – including Rae-Lynn Armstrong, Niki Cammaert Flundra, Madison MacDonald, Ginger Duke and Tad Griffith – have been offering clinics and coaching the girls.