It was the final rodeo of the season for Little Britches Rodeo (LBR) in Peachland last month. The event saw seniors compete in their final LBR and young talent establish themselves within the rodeo circuit.
From September 24 to September 25, Peachland hosted its Little Britches Rodeo, marking the final rodeo of the season. The event saw both a senior and junior girl from Merritt win the All Around Buckle.
Kelsey Starrs and Sadie Stewart receiving the senior and junior girls all around buckle, respectively, shows that Merritt Little Britches has talent in all age groups.
Being in her senior year, Starrs had lofty ambitions to cap off her riding days with LBR.
“This year was a different year for me because I entered in steer riding because I wanted to gather up as many points as I could to win the year end all around saddle for the season,” the 15 year-old explained. “It was pretty exciting to make my first qualified ride at Williams lake LBR and I won it!”
Kelsey Starrs in Little Britches Rodeo Peachland. Photo/Tanya Starrs
After tabulating all the cumulative points throughout the season, Starrs has successfully scored the most points for all events in her division. In doing so, she has earned herself the coveted Year End Saddle.
Starrs will receive her saddle later on November 5, at the Little Britches Awards Banquet in Kamloops.
For the younger rider, Stewart, her days with Little Britches are in its early stages with her only starting in June of 2021.
“When she first started rodeoing in Kamloops last year, she actually was so nervous and so afraid to go,” Shelly Stewart recalled.
Stewart is the mother of Sadie. She said that rodeoing has been a family tradition with both her and husband, Rob riding in their youth.
Sadie Stewart in the Peachland Little Britches Rodeo. Photo/Shelley Stewart
“It’s really neat to watch her and the other kids grow as competitors. To see where they start and see how much they can grow and develop just in a matter of months or weeks is just amazing.”
Stewart notes that her 10 year-old’s confidence drastically improved after training with the Starrs sisters, Kelsey and Maya.
“They are girls that she looks up to because they compete at the higher level.”
Other riders from the Merritt Little Britches also gave impressive performances in Peachland. The following are their results:
Junior girls
Sadie Stewart: 3rd place – goat tail tying, 3rd place – dummy roping, 5th place – poles, 3rd place – barrels
Stella Elliott: 1st place – dummy roping, 8th place – poles,
Maiya Anderson: 4th place – goat tail tying,
Junior Boys
Timber Mobbs: 6th place – stakes, 6th place – goat tail tying,
Senior Girls
Kelsey Starrs: 9th place – barrels, 2nd place – poles, 1st place – goat tying, 8th place – breakaway roping, 4th place – coed steer riding
Myra Goss: 8th place – poles, 8th place – breakaway roping
Senior Boys
Keaton Antoine-McRae: 9th place – stakes, 6th place – breakaway roping, 7th place – coed steer riding
With the season coming to a conclusion, Little Britches will have its awards ceremony at a banquet in Kamloops on November 5, and will begin their new season next year.
