Barrel riders Larissa Stremouchiw and Natalie Cole have barreled their way to impressive scores at the Barrell Racing world championships, held in Georgia, USA from October 28 to November 4.
Both riders qualified for the championships in various divisions in Australia only to out perform their personal bests in the American arena.
Cole, 36, of Logan Village came 11th in the second division in the qualifying round, then came 17th overall out of 850 riders, coming in .3 seconds off the winner.
To qualify for the championship, Cole placed third in third division in 2016, winning the second division in 2017 and coming third in first division on another horse. Cole ridestwo quarter horses riding Crack the Cash in first division and Charismatic Cabaret in second. She said she was considering riding in rodeos in the future.
Stremouchiw, 22, of North Maclean ran at 15.5 seconds, with the winner in her division running at 14.6 seconds, placing her second fastest in the second division.
Stremouchiw qualified for the event two seconds off the fastest time in Australia in the whole division, riding her eight year old horse Fergie.
She said she was proud of her achievements having had to make some major adjustments and do some training on her horse for hire, who was not shod and she felt was in a poor condition. Early in the competition, she fell off the horse when the stirrup broke on the saddle.
“I was lucky I wasn’t injured. It was terrifying, but it made me think I can do this and I have to do it myself. The whole thing made me a stronger person and I made the best of the situation. As a result I met some amazing people. I wouldn’t change a thing,” Stremouchiw said.
Cole said she participated in the sport for the thrill of the run.
“This is about speed. It’s a real adreniline rush. If you hit the wall, you break some bones. I like barrel racing due to the speed and power the horse runs at – 500kg animal trusting you to run them flat out usually towards a wall and asking them to turn on a dime or crash,” she said.
Cole said she started riding horses at age eight, riding predominately in the English disciplines of eventing, show jumping and dressage. Now a mother of four children aged two to seven and full time worker, she said barrel racing better accommodated her lifestyle and was more exciting then jumping. She tries to train several times a week.
“I find the horse a great companion and I find riding and being around them relaxing and rewarding. I would love to say thank you to my husband Simon Cole for pushing me to follow the dream, my mother Denise Perkins for caring for my children and allowing me to train and compete and Melissa Kattenberg from NBHA Australia for believing in me and assisting me through my times of need.”
Barrel racing involves three barrels set in a triangle pattern with riders negotiating the circuit in a set clover leaf pattern. This is a timed event and winners are judged on speed. Riders compete for buckles, saddles and cash prizes.
