Border restrictions give Canadian barrel racers unexpected opportunity to compete in Calgary Stampede
The Calgary Stampede will be missing some of the top American barrel racers at this year's unconventional Stampede, which means an opportunity for five Alberta cowgirls.
Border restrictions and the fact the money they earn in Calgary won't go towards the world standings (helping them qualify for the National Finals Rodeo) is keeping some Americans south of the border this year.
But that doesn't mean the Stampede is over a barrel. Instead of American hotshots, the Stampede is filling open spots with Canadian barrel racers.
100 COWGIRLS TRY TO QUALIFY
The list isn't out yet but it's expected well over 100 cowgirls will head to Innisfail this weekend to try and qualify for the Stampede.
19-year-old Bradi Whiteside will be one of them. She grew up on a ranch near High River and has always been around horses.
She said it's always been her dream to compete at the Calgary Stampede.
"I've always wanted to compete with those girls. Being able to compete with them would be so cool."
Whiteside will hook up her horse Sis and try to get around the barrels as fast as she can in Innisfail.
Only five will qualify for the Stampede so she knows she'll have to be on top of her game.
"A lot of good people and there's going to be so many good horses run there and everybody has the same idea in mind." she told CTV.
"They want to be at Calgary at the end of it. Yeah it's going to be huge and it's not going to be easy. It's going to be tough."
Bradi's sister Kylie is also heading to Innisfail for the qualifier. The 21-year-old raced at the Calgary Stampede in 2019 and said it was a huge thrill for her.
"I would be so excited to go back again," she said.
"It was definitely one of my favourite rodeos to compete at. Just the atmosphere, it was super fun."
Kylie would love to compete against her sister at the Stampede. She said it would be cool to have the two of them there at the same time.
"It would be pretty special to run with your sister," Kylie said.
"We get to rodeo all year round but to run at a rodeo like that together would be even more special and fun."
Competing in Calgary is nothing new to the Whitesides. Their father Travis qualified multiple times at the greatest outdoor show on earth in the bareback.
Bradi said she'd love to add her name to the list.
"I mean it would be a huge opportunity after watching my sister and my dad compete there. My sister competed there when they had it last (2019) and my dad when I was a little girl. Such a great rodeo. The best that there is."
Qualifying in Innisfail will run on Sunday and Monday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn’t over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball’s highest scorer Caitlin Clark’s first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.
B.C.'s short-term rental regulations include $10K daily penalties for Airbnb, other platforms
Short-term rental platforms that violate B.C.'s pending regulations can face administrative penalties of up to $10,000 per day, officials announced Thursday.
Closing arguments heard in trial for Sask. dad accused of abducting daughter
Closing arguments were heard Thursday morning in the case of Michael Gordon Jackson, the Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter in 2021 to keep her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
Cat found on Toronto Pearson airport runway 3 days after going missing
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.