The opportunity to seal a national senior title in her hometown later this month is driving Anna Crisp.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Tamworth teenager has grown into a rising star on the breakaway roping scene and leads the championship standings going into next week’s ABCRA National Finals at AELEC Arena.
Crisp, 17, holds sway in the overall and rookie categories of that event and is excited about the prospect of competing on home soil.
“This is the first time for me at senior finals, so I’m looking forward to getting out there,” Crisp said.
But Crisp is no stranger to performing at this event, having competed at junior level in the national finals at Tamworth every year since 2010.
“My junior commitments mean I am competing on the Tuesday and Wednesday, then the senior competition takes in Thursday, Friday and Saturday,” she said.
“It is great to have it (the finals) in Tamworth, the senior finals are bigger than the junior finals, but I get the chance to compete in front of my friends and the crowds at AELEC make it a great experience.”
Crisp attributes the bulk of her success to her trusty horse Harley, one of three steeds she rides in various events, although the McCarthy Catholic College student is a shining example of the results hard work deliver.
She practices three times a week and has competed at rodeos as far away as Western Australia and North Queensland during the past 12 months in addition to regular commitments right across the heart of this state.
“I’ve grown up being around and a part of rodeos,” Crisp said.
“Mum (Marie) and Dad (Rodney) won at the nationals, Mum in barrel racing and breakaway roping, and Dad was a bull rider.
“They’ve both given me great support to help me go away and compete every weekend.
“When it comes to roping, consistency and correct technique is important. So practice, practice and more practice.”
Success would add to the two junior breakaway averages triumphs Crisp secured in 2012 and 2014, and she has also qualified for the Juvenile (14-18 years) Barrel Racing event.
The Rodeo and Campdraft finals are from January 24-28.