Central Okanagan

Peachland Rodeo rider preview - Oct. 5-7, 2012

Photo: Contributed

Tori Cheyne

Photo: Contributed

Keira Smith

Photo: Contributed

Raija McLean

Photo: Contributed

Courtney DeMattos

Photo: Contributed

From left to right: Courtney DeMattos, Tori Cheynem Keira Smith, and Allie Sorenson of the Mount Boucherie Secondary School Rodeo Club.

1 2 3 4 5

 

Photo: Contributed - Bernie Hudyma

Allie Sorenson of West Kelowna will compete in this weekend's Peachland High School and Junior High Rodeo.

About a half dozen local high school cowgirls will compete in a Peachland rodeo this weekend.

Kelowna’s Darby Ensign, Keira Smith, and Raija McLean will compete in various rodeo events at the fifth annual Peachland High School and Junior High Rodeo, which runs Oct. 5-7.

The girls will join over 80 other riders from BC communities between Houston and Vancouver Island who will compete in rodeo events, like barrel racing, saddle bronc riding, and bull riding.

“In the junior high level, we have 15 kids competing, and in the high school we have 72 competing,” says Sandy Chevallier, rodeo director for the Peachland Riding Club.

Boys and girls from Grades 9-12 will compete at the high school level, with boys and girls from Grades 6-8 competing at the junior high level.

“We’ve got some girls that are competing pro,” adds Chevallier.

Kamloops’ Vanessa Legett, a pro rider who won the national high school rodeo title in barrel racing in July, is a favourite going into this weekend’s events.

Ensign, a Grade 9 student at Constable Neil Bruce Middle School in West Kelowna, will compete in barrel racing and pole bending.

Other local competitors include: Tori Cheyne, Allie Sorenson, and Courtney DeMattos.

Sorenson, a Grade 12 student at Mount Boucherie Senior Secondary, was the club's highest finishing local competitor last season. She qualified for the National High School Rodeo Finals in Pole Bending and travelled to Rock Springs, Wyoming in July to compete; however, a lame horse forced her to ride a leased her, on which she didn't find much success.

“We have a full slate of rodeo events…most of them we will run throughout the morning,” says Chavellier.

Admission is free, and there will be a concession running throughout the weekend.

Friday’s events start at 4 p.m., with a 9 a.m. start time on both Saturday and Sunday.

“For us, it’s more about family setting…it’s an all-day affair.”

The Peachland Rodeo will be held at the Peachland Riding Club at 5380 Princeton Avenue.