The top 6 cowboys/cowgirls in each high school rodeo event get to a chance to compete at Canadians. This year it was in Nanton again and Jill qualified in breakaway roping and goat tying. Hanna wasn't in the top six, but enough girls ahead of her didn't choose to go to Canadians, so she was able to roll up in the goat tying.
On the first day, Jill won the breakaway with a 3.3 seconds. She won spurs and $100 for winning the round. She gave us back the $100 since we had paid her entry fees, but she just wanted to hold the envelope for a little while to enjoy the moment.
On Jill's goat run the first day, the goat ran left and kind of fell down so the horse ran across the rope. So with the 10-second penalty, she was 19.5 seconds. Hanna had trouble with her tie and was 11.2 seconds.
Day 2 was ok. They both got average points.
Day 3 for breakaway, there were only 4 girls that had caught 2 calves. So Jill just needed to catch. And she did!!! She was actually pretty lucky she caught because her rope was sort of wadded up, then the rope only went over half the calf's head, but he turned just the right way so the rope went on and she got a time. She ended up to be the only girl who caught all 3 calves. She was the Canadian High School Breakaway Champion!
The goat tying on day 3 was really tough and exciting. Hanna was 8.7 seconds and wasn't even in the top 10. Jill tied her goat in 8.1 seconds. Going into the final round, the top two girls were tied going into the final round with 15 seconds on two runs. Then one of them was 7.0 seconds and the next one was 6.9 seconds. It couldn't have been any closer. It was very exciting. Go Jenna Dallyn and Simone Park!
Jill got a sweet collection of prizes. She got a buckle, a certificate for a new pair of boots, skid boots, a shirt, a hat, a giant chocolate bar, a bag, and a $500 scholarship to a school of her choice.
Between driving to Grande Prairie for Provincials, Gillette for Nationals, and Nanton (4 times) for Canadians, we spend A LOT of hours together in the truck. That's why we only had 4 kids so we could all fit in the truck to go to rodeos together.
