Alysha Pastor is preparing for double rodeo duty.
The 17-year-old Silver Creek resident, who lives “two doors away from Falkland” and attended Grade 11 classes at Armstrong’s Pleasant Valley Secondary School, will compete inside the arena in barrel racing and pole bending, along with about 250 other girls, at the upcoming 66th annual National High School Finals Rodeo July 13-19 in Rock Springs, Wyo.
Outside the arena, as the current B.C. High School Rodeo Queen, Pastor will also compete in Wyoming against 50 others for the title of National High School Finals Rodeo (NHSFR) Queen.
“There are about 80 girl competitors in the province and only the top-12 make it to the B.C. finals,” said Pastor. “Top-five go to the Canadians and the top-four go to the nationals (Wyoming).”
Pastor was chosen provincial high school queen at the B.C. High School Rodeo Finals in Falkland, with Williams Lake’s Kaylee Billyboy selected as princess. Pastor qualified for Wyoming as a competitor by placing second overall in Falkland in both pole bending and barrel racing.
She’s been riding horses since she was six, but Pastor has only been competing in rodeo for three years.
The provincial finals in Falkland were her first, as was competing in the queen competition.
“It was all very cool,” said Pastor.
With the exception of a brother who doesn’t compete in rodeos, this season has been somewhat of a family affair for Pastor.
While she does have her N driver’s licence, Pastor’s parents, Lyle and Michelle, do the driving to and from rodeos, and help with the financial end of things.
Pastor qualified as a competitor for the national finals by using her sister Brianna’s horse, Meg, as her own horse – Bailey – was down and unable to compete.
She’ll be atop Meg in Wyoming.
“My family has been super supportive,” said Pastor. “They’ve helped me with the entry fees, grain fees, stall fees. They help me when I practise, they coach me. They’re always there for me.”
To prepare for the national finals rodeo, Pastor practises barrel racing and pole bending at home, or five minutes away at neighbours’ properties that are larger.
As for preparing for the queen competition, Pastor will mirror what she did in Falkland.
“I have to do a horsemanship pattern on my horse and a panel interview with about five people who ask questions on the spot,” said Pastor. “I’m judged on personality and appearance and there’s an association rule book so I have to study it and do a written test on it. Plus, I have to do a two-minute prepared speech and some modelling.”
The National High School Finals Rodeo will feature more than 1,500 contestants from 42 states, five Canadian provinces and Australia.
It is the world’s largest rodeo with competitors vying for more than $200,000 in prizes and more than $350,000 in college scholarships.
To win an NHSFR national championship buckle, athletes must finish in the top-20 based on their combined time/scores in the first two rounds to advance to the final round. National champions are determined based on their three-round combined time/scores.
