Rodeo girl’s still in the saddle

Sharni Collins is aiming for her second buckjumping win in a row at this year's Warwick Rodeo.

By Jeremy Sollars

SHARNI Collins has no real preparation regime for the Ladies’ Poley Buckjump at this year’s Warwick Rodeo – she just plans to “hop on and have a crack”.
Last year’s winner of the event is hoping to repeat her success in 2016, perhaps minus the broken wrist she sustained after her winning effort in 2015.
Sharni said she had no recollection of putting her hand out as she fell backwards from her ride last year on the Friday night of rodeo competition but the result was six weeks in a cast.
She’s also lining up for her first shot at the Ladies Steer Ride at the 2016 Rodeo.
The former barrel racer in her high school years, now aged 27, is the youngest of the five daughters of Karara’s Ray and Del Collins.
Sharni said while her dad had always strongly encouraged her rodeo competitiveness he also had the safety of the youngest of his offspring at the front of his mind.
“He refused to let me go in the buckjump for years until he finally gave in,” Sharni said.
“Before I first competed in 2014 he bought an Eddie Fisher rough-ride vest and pretended he’d bought it for himself, but it was actually for me.
“He’s a real trooper – the poor old boy has no sons so I try and fly the Collins flag.
“Dad taught me to ride, there’s a photo of me on the back of a horse two days after I was born.”
While Sharni – a travel consultant for Helloworld Warwick – lives in town these days she spends most of her free time riding out at her parents’ hobby farm at Karara.
She’s mourning the loss a month ago of her favourite barrel racing mount Flash, who passed away at 22, and who was partly the source of inspiration for having a go at the buckjump.
“He bucked once during the barrel racing, the crowd were cheering for me to stay on which I managed to do,” Sharni said.
Sharni’s cousin, saddle bronc competitor Mark Collins of Wheatvale, will be on hand again at the rodeo this year to assist.
“Mark helps me with preparation before the event, I use his reins and other gear, and he gives me some last minute advice,” she said.
“I’m feeling good about my chances, I’m reasonably confident.
“I’m just going to hop on and have a crack.”
The Ladies Stock Saddle (Poly) Buckjump will be held at 5.30pm on the night of Friday 28 October, of the 2016 Rodeo weekend, ahead of the Grand Entry to the showgrounds arena and more night-time rodeo competition.
Action in the 2016 Carlton Dry Warwick Rodeo National Finals and Pryde’s EasiFeed Warwick Gold Cup Campdraft kicks off this Monday 24 October with the first round of the Black Toyota Canning Downs Campdraft.
See next week’s Free Times and website for more rodeo and campdraft previews and for more information and the full program visit www.warwickshowandrodeo.com.au.