Shianne takes rookie cowgirl of the year
Bunyip cowgirl Shianne O’Donoghue-Kent will look to continue her strong rodeo form after taking out the Australian Professional Rodeo rookie cowgirl of the year title.
While just missing the barrel race title in a strong showing at the Australian championships in Warwick, Queensland recently, Shianne capped a big year in the sport by also taking out the all round cowgirl title.
Shianne, who has been competing since she was about 14 years of age, said she would now break into the open category after taking out the rookie title.
“Up until then I was competing against girls my own age and under the same criteria,” she said.
“I won that (rookie title), and the all round (title) as well which included roping.”
Leading the barrel race category heading into the Asutralian championships, Shianne placed in two of the three rounds before placing third in the final, missing the title by just 0.03.
“I had the most amount of (prize) money in the barrel race (leading into the final), and I placed in two of the three rounds,” Shianne said.
“I knocked down a drum in the final, which cost me the title.”
The titles capped a big year in the sport for Shianne, who also collected titles at the Victorian Rodeo Sports presentation night.
“My partner and I won five titles between us, so we’ve had a really good year,” she said.
Shianne competed in South Australia at the weekend and will now turn her attention to a roping event at a station near Echuca.
Shianne will then rest until Christmas ahead of a busy season.
“We compete from Boxing Day through to Easter with two rodeos each weekend,” Shianne said.