Â鶹ÊÓƵ

One of the many attractions at the Estevan Fair galloped into the rodeo grounds, on June 20, 21 and 22. Over the course of three days, the Calamity Cowgirls performed three of many performances they anticipate having this season, showcasing high-adrenaline stunt riding, earning the “calamity’ in their name from the intensity of their skills.

The team of consists of four riders: Carlee and Cassidy Ross, and Marci LeBlanc, all from the Estevan area, and Noonan ND’s Cashlyn Krecklau, have been training hard since they started riding last fall, to perform the impressive acrobatic maneuvers with which they wowed audiences. 

The young riders swung, stood in the stirrups, dangled, and balanced in an assortment of precarious, daring manners, much to the delight of crowds that filled the bleachers for their performances.  They took turns performing a gauntlet of different moves, keeping the variety fresh, all while their horses kicked up dust and dirt, because they were galloping so quickly.

"It definitely takes a lot of dedication on their part, to practice and perfect their tricks," said coach Laura Melle. "It also takes a lot of dedication from their parents, too, to support them in a sport that's pretty dangerous. It really helps to have them on board for this."

Melle noted she is proud of how hard the girls trained. Training for the cowgirls entails a great deal of rehearsing patterns of movement with their horses, and exercises to get comfortable doing the dangerous maneuvers they perform. The role of a cowgirl is a physically demanding one, requiring the girls to work to keep physically fit.

"A couple of the girls actually go work out to train at Encompass Fitness, while the others play a lot of sports and that's how they get in shape. There's a lot of stretching involved, to do their tricks properly," said Sherrill LeBlanc, mother of cowgirl Marci Leblanc.

Leblanc noted that a major contributor to the skills of the girls is that  they all have country roots, having grown up on farms and ranches, adding, "That's part of their deal. They're always working, and doing chores, and that's why they work so hard at it. They're a dynamic group, because they're such good workers."

Melle said the girls ride at least once every week, noting that it took two to three years of training to get to the point where they were ready to perform.

"It's not like they just became trick riders overnight," said Melle." It took a lot of patience and training to get their horses to where they are now."

LeBlanc said the cowgirls have a busy schedule of performances, which includes the North Dakota Rodeo Association (NDRA) rodeo, and the Calgary Police Association (CPA) rodeo, later this summer. She added that the girls were excited to perform in Estevan, because "they feel like this is where they come from," and that they appreciate the support of the community. 

"People come out in droves to see them, and it's so great for them," said LeBlanc. "It's so nice to see so many people supporting them."