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Lacombe barrel racer wins big at CPRA Finning Pro Tour Finals

Justine Elliott will appear at her 2nd CFR later this year in Red Deer
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Justine Elliot/Barrel Racer (Submitted by the CPRA)

Lacombe barrel racer, Justine Elliott, is enjoying a fairy-tale year.

The 17-year-old-high school senior and her cow-bred mare, Blondie, are not only headed to their second CFR, but they’re doing so in style. With solid placings at both Armstrong (15.890 secs/7th/$997) and Merritt (16.254 secs/6th/$464), and a winning 15.844 sec run at the Finning Pro Tour Final ($4800), Elliott added an overall $6,261 to her bank account and is well placed to earn Season Leader barrel racing honours.

“I went into the Finning Pro Tour Finals just trying to have a good run, and let whatever happened, happen,” explained the young horsewoman. “I wasn’t one bit expecting to win it. The field was very tough. I tried to stay off Blondie until right before my run as I was nervous and didn’t want to make her worried. But Blondie likes the crowd and smoked a run,” Elliott said.

Elliott will enjoy a more limited schedule for the next month, then start preparing for CFR at the start of October. With a 2018 CFR appearance behind her, Elliott is heading to this year’s Finals with a better idea of what to expect.

2019 Finning Pro Tour Finals Champions are: Clint Laye (bareback), Jake Burwash (saddle bronc), Edgar Durazo (bull riding), Shane Hanchey (tie-down roping), Scott Guenthner and Curtis Cassidy (steer wrestling tie), Dawson and Dillon Graham (team roping) and Justine Elliott (ladies barrel racing).

This year’s Finning Pro Tour Final was particularly lucrative as it paid double the prize money of 2018.

-Submitted by the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association