Kuranui College cowgirl lassoes NZ title

Kuranui College cowgirl Bridget Kershaw is blazing barrel-racing trails nationwide after roping in the 2010 New Zealand Rookie of the Year title. Ms Kershaw, 17, is rapt after taking the title in only her second year as a barrel-racer by amassing 3304 points over the 2009 season _ with each point worth a dollar in prize money _ at rodeo events throughout New Zealand. The young rider also won selection in the 13-strong New Zealand High School Rodeo team and will battle transtasman rivals at three rodeo events in Australia later this year.
The college cowgirl is trail-weary but toughing out the constant need to ride the Kiwi range alongside parents Karen and Richard _ with favourite mount Vinnie the quarterhorse in tow _ to rodeo events spread from Kaitaia to Southland.
She said she must have been spotted by a high school team scout while spurring her way to overall victory at one of the more than 25 events she contested through the year. Wairarapa Machinery has climbed aboard as sponsors of herself and a teammate, she says, although she remains on the hunt for further sponsors as ''prize-money always seems to go as fast as you get it on travel costs''.
''The closest rodeo venue to Wairarapa is at Manfeild Park, so every weekend there's a 10-hour trip somewhere. That may seem a long way to go for some people for the 17 seconds it takes to race but I love it. I'll do whatever it takes.''
She said most of her times were around the 17-second mark, although she has posted a sub-17 second barrel race, in which a horse and rider attempt to complete a clover-leaf pattern around pre-set barrels in the fastest time. Though boys and girls compete at the rookie level and men compete at some amateur venues, it is primarily a rodeo event for women.
Other rodeo events for younger rodeo competitors included saddle bronc, bareback, rope and tie, bull riding and steer wrestling, she said.
This is the final season Ms Kershaw is able to compete in the rookie ranks and next year she will test her mettle in the adult grades.
There were 10 other horses roaming the Kershaw family property and she had competed in mounted games and eventing in the past, she said.
But her focus is now on rodeo and from next year making the Top Eight barrel-racers in the country as an adult rider.
''The more bruises you get as a barrel racer the better actually _ it means you're cutting things real close. But the bruises are the least of it and hopefully I'm going to be black and blue after every race next year as well.''
The New Zealand Rodeo Cowboys Association All-Round Rookie title went to former Wairarapa rodeo athlete Stuart de Ridder.