Three of Quesnel’s High School Rodeo riders are sitting a little taller in the saddle. After strong showings at provincials in Kamloops June 13-15, Nicole Heppner, Clayton Honeybourn and Tim Gilson are off to Canadian finals in Williams Lake Aug. 8-10.
“I was just looking for a clean run,”
Heppner said.
The 17-year-old placed fourth in Kamloops after strong second-place finishes in pole bending and fifth- and six-place results in barrel racing.
“My horse ran honest and consistent,”
Heppner said.
Heppner said she has developed a close relationship with her horse, Sweety. She has rode the 10-year-old female quarter-horse through five years with B.C. Rodeo Association and one successful season with B.C. High School Rodeo Association.
“I wanted to compete against people my own age,”
Heppner said of the decision to take advantage of her last year of BCHSRA eligibility.
Heppner’s result in Kamloops was enough to qualify her for National Finals, in New Mexico later this summer. But Heppner decided the cost of travel and the risk to Sweety was too great.
“I didn’t want to put her through that. Some horses have actually died in the heat.”
But the disappointment at passing up on Nationals is tempered by having Canadian finals practically next door. This is Heppner’s last year with High School Rodeo, who graduates from Quesnel secondary this week. But she plans to carry on with BCRA next year.
“I love to compete. And rodeo is like a family,”
she said.