| NEXT RODEO: |
| JULIA CREEK XTREME BULLS DIRT AND DUST FESTIVAL, QLD | APRIL 19 | ENTRY DATES: 10/11 April |
| FESTIVAL OF FALLING LEAF TUMUT RODEO 2024 NSW | APRIL 20 | ENTRY DATES: 10/11 April |
| MOREE SHOW RODEO | APRIL 26 | ENTRY DATES: 17/04/2023-18/08/2024 |
| HOMEBUSH RODEO, BALRANALD NSW | APRIL 27 | ENTRY DATES: 17/18 April |
| GARGETT RODEO, QLD | APRIL 27 | ENTRY DATES: 17/18 April |
| ALPHA RODEO QLD | APRIL 27 | ENTRY DATES: 17/04-18/04 |
| HUGHENDEN RODEO, FESTIVAL OF THE OUTBACK SKIES QLD | MAY 03 | ENTRY DATES: 23/24 April |
| NARRABRI RODEO, NSW | MAY 03 | ENTRY DATES: 23/04-24/04 |
| BLACKWATER MEU MAY DAY RODEO - QLD | MAY 04 | ENTRY DATES: April 23/24 |
| M5 MELBOURNE MUSTER PRO RODEO | MAY 04 | ENTRY DATES: 23/04-24/04 |
Photo of Ellysa Kenny by Dave Ethell – www.dephotos.com.au
AT 14 years of age, Ellysa Kenny is eyeing off her first National Finals in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association.
The Emerald rider was one of the youngest in history to win at Mt Isa when she won round 1 of the Barrel Race this year.
With the top 15 set to qualify for next year’s Warwick Rodeo National Finals on the last weekend in October, Ellysa is perfectly placed in the standings leading up to the Christmas Run.
She is fifth in the Barrel Race, sixth in Breakaway Roping and sixth in the All Around cowgirl standings.
Ellysa said her favourite event was the Barrel Race.
“It is more of an adrenaline rush,” she said.
“I want to make a career out of rodeo. My goal is to compete in America one day.”
Behind every good rider is a good horse and that is definitely the case with Ellysa.
She rides Jellybean in Breakaway Roping, a horse used for the Rope and Tie by her father Shane Kenny, the most successful cowboy in APRA history.
Ellysa Barrel Races on her horse Rebel and competes in both events on Ted.
“Ted is my favourite as I compete in my two events on him,” she said.
Ellysa has a great chance to move up the rankings in the APRA as her family will be competing in the New South Wales and Victorian rodeos on the Christmas Run starting at Myrtleford on Boxing Day.
While Ellysa and Shane feature in the open rankings and will compete in open events, her brothers Tyler, 11, and Jayden, 9, will compete in junior events and their mother Leanne will be working behind the scenes with the cattle for the timed events.
Shane and Leanne operate Destiny Downs Cattle Company at Emerald and travel to many parts of the nation with timed event cattle. This year, their cattle are being used at many of the Christmas Run Rodeos.
The next APRA rodeo’s are at Rosewood in New South Wales and Trafalgar in Victoria on December 17.
The Mt Isa New Year’s Eve Rodeo is the next in Queensland on December 31 at the Buchanan Park complex
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