Photo supplied by Jennifer Neudorf.

By Curtis Galbraith

Rodeo

Grande Prairie barrel racer heading to CFR

Oct 17, 2022 | 6:00 AM

A barrel racer from Grande Prairie has qualified for the Canadian Finals Rodeo in just her second year on the Rodeo Canada circuit.

Jennifer Neudorf finished ninth in the Canadian standings.

“I’m so excited. I think it’s a really good opportunity. It’s so cool and it’s for sure worth all the hours driving and going to all the rodeos.”

Neudorf says she travels with a partner to keep expenses down but also says it is fun to travel with someone and does not think she could do it by herself.

Neudorf adds she tried to qualify for CFR last year, but her horse got hurt and she ended up using younger horses instead.

She was just outside of a qualifying spot before a late season win in Langley, BC.

“It was really hard for a bit. I was in and out of the bubble and I was battling a lot of people for it.”

“I really needed to place in a few rodeos and Langley had a lot of money added and I managed to win that one and that really solidified my spot in going to CFR.”

Neudorf says she and her horse, palomino mare Big Z, are doing some sprinting to stay ready to run.

“What my logic behind that is because it is a smaller arena, I have been sprinting my horses at home.”

“It’s really hard in small areas. There are only two or three strides between each barrel and the horse needs a lot of torque to turn really sharp and be able to still push off and run really hard but only for two or three strides, then turn again.”

Lane Wills of Pouce Coupe has also qualified for the CFR in barrel racing after finishing fifth overall.

Some BC Peace cowboys are also headed to Red Deer November 2 to 6. That includes saddle bronc rider Jake Watson, bull rider Jacob Gardner, and steer wrestler Stephen Culling.

Culling finished second in his event, Watson seventh, and Gardner ninth.

Fox Creek’s Hunter Sawley is also going to the CFR after finishing ninth in saddle broncs.

In the novice standings, Chase Siemens of Chetwynd finished second in barebacks, Tyrel Roberts of Charlie Lake second in saddle broncs, and Grady Ruecker of Worsley came in ninth in steer riding.