| NEXT RODEO: |
| VICTORIAN BULL RIDING TITLES | DECEMBER 15 | ENTRY DATES: December 6/7 |
| BAROSSA TIMED EVENT RODEO, SA | DECEMBER 16 | ENTRY DATES: December 6/7 |
| MYRTLEFORD RODEO | DECEMBER 26 | ENTRY DATES: December 6/7 |
| BUNDALONG TAVERN RODEO CANCELLED | DECEMBER 29 | ENTRY DATES: |
| CARRIETON RODEO, SA | DECEMBER 31 | ENTRY DATES: December 13/14 |
| TUMBARUMBA NEW YEARS DAY RODEO, NSW | JANUARY 01 | ENTRY DATES: December 13/14 |
| KATAMATITE LIONS RODEO, VIC | JANUARY 06 | ENTRY DATES: December 13/14 |
| ALEXANDRA RODEO, VIC | JANUARY 13 | ENTRY DATES: January 20/21 |
| PETERBOROUGH RODEO | JANUARY 13 | ENTRY DATES: December 20/21 |
| CARRICK BULL RIDE, TAS | JANUARY 13 | ENTRY DATES: December 20/21 |
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
