Team roping partners Rike Wieth from Lone Butte and Kelly Buhler from Princeton got off to a good start at last week’s Canadian High School Rodeo Finals in Virden, Manitoba, but what started as a possible shot at the top three ended in a 14th place finish.
They completed their first-round run in 9.74 seconds, which was good for third place, but on day two, Wieth ran into technical trouble on the header end and day three saw Buhler, the team heeler, unable to complete on his end.
The pair was one of five roping teams who represented B.C. at the finals and Wieth says that it was satisfying just to have made it there.
“It would have been nice to have been higher up, but things happen and you can’t change it. It was definitely a tougher competition but it was really exciting and something new for me,” she says.
Wieth had a particularly rocky start when two days prior to leaving home for Manitoba, her horse injured itself. A family friend lent her a horse which she had previously competed with in barrel racing.
“She’s a roping horse too, so she worked out really well,” says Wieth.
Team BC finished in second place overall at the finals, which also included Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
Wieth says she takes pride in having been a member.
“Everyone has their own events to compete in, but at the end, we’re all part of the team.”
September will mark the beginning of the new B.C. High School Rodeo season, which for Wieth, will be her last as she is entering Grade 12.
She’ll be roping with a new partner, Cole Churchill from Westwold, as Buhler graduated from high school in June.
“He’s a pretty good heeler,” she says of Churchill, who also competes in tie-down roping and steer wrestling.
“I’m looking forward to next season and hope to do as well as this year. I’ll have some fun and see how it pans out.”
Wieth also competes in the breakaway roping event.
