Stevens comes up short in Vegas

Tyler Lowey
Times Reporter

 

Destiny Stevens returned from Las Vegas last week without any new shiny belt buckles from the Indian National Finals Rodeo (INFR) that took place Nov. 8-12.
It was her second-straight berth in the INFR where she competed in the breakaway roping and barrel racing, following a dominating season in the Indian Rodeo Cowboys Association and the Northern Alberta Native Cowboys Association.
“I didn’t have the results I wanted in the arena this year,” said Stevens. “I hit a barrel and missed the roping in the breakaway, which took me out of the short go Saturday.”
The competition took place at the South Point Equestrian Center, where Stevens finished with a time of 21:029 and 20.948 seconds, which added up to 41.977 seconds, good enough for 29th in the barrels.
Stevens logged a ‘no time’ in the breakaway, which was tough considering it was her favourite of the two events.
“I left Vegas proud of myself for making the finals and learning a lot about competition under pressure,” said Stevens. “I have now completed my junior career in rodeo and move on to the ladies events next year. I have competed against the best from across North America and have made some amazing friends along the way.”
She didn’t leave Vegas completely empty handed: she managed to haul in $250 for winning a breakaway jackpot competition at Horseman’s Park in Las Vegas just prior to the INFR.
Stevens made the two-and-a-half day, 20-hour trek accompanied by her parents, brother Hayze and horses Tom Tom and Becca.
She would like to thank everyone for supporting and following her rodeo career.
This winter, she will be competing in the Wheatland Cowboys and Cowgirls Rodeo Association out of the Lausen Indoor Arena, with the finals running in March.
She will also be competing in jackpot roping events until the snow melts, when she returns to the rodeo trail with the goal of heading back to Vegas a year from now in the ladies breakaway.