What does it mean to rope in a dream? For two incredible athletes, it means blazing a trail all the way to the GMC Stadium.
For the first time in history, the Calgary Stampede Rodeo is debuting Ladies Breakaway Roping, presented by Imperial. This marks the first new rodeo event to be added in nearly 50 years, and only the second women’s event to join the Stampede Rodeo’s marquee lineup. It’s a thrilling, high-speed event where skill, timing and horsemanship collide, with winning times often clocking in under two seconds.
At the heart of this milestone are Shelby Boisjoli-Meged and Jackie Crawford, two of the fiercest competitors in the sport.
For Shelby, who grew up in Langdon, Alta., just outside Calgary, competing at the Stampede is a lifelong dream. “It’s crazy to think I get to compete here now,” says the 2023 WPRA Breakaway Roping world champion. “It’s just something I could never imagine happening.”
Since joining the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) in 2020, Shelby has quickly become a standout. For her, this moment marks a huge step forward for the sport and women in rodeo. “I can only imagine the impact this moment will have on the little girls watching us compete in the Stampede Rodeo for the first time and realizing that one day, they too could be in our place,” she says. “Knowing they have something to aspire to, to dream about and to work toward is truly amazing.”
A talented roper from Stephenville, Texas, Jackie Crawford holds 23 world titles across four categories, including three in Breakaway Roping. As she approached this season, she had been considering lightening her busy competition schedule. “But when Calgary made their announcement, I was like, ‘I’m back in!’” she says, laughing about how quickly she changed her mind. “For the first time in my rodeo career, my husband said, ‘I’m jealous of you,’” she reflects.
For Jackie, this is about the increasing visibility of women in rodeo. “I know this event is going to inspire a ton of little girls,” she says. “The more women who love the sport, the better it is for the entire industry.”
With prize money equal to the other six major rodeo events and a spot on the World’s Largest Outdoor Rodeo stage, the debut of Ladies Breakaway Roping is a landmark moment for the sport, for women and for generations to come.
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