Princess takes reins | Noosa Sport | Local Sports in Noosa

CHELSEA Bartlett is headed to Mississippi.

Contributed

FIFTEEN-year-old Cooroibah student Chelsea Bartlett is a princess.

She wasn’t born into royalty, but her passion and skill for riding horses has been rewarded with the title of National Rodeo Association (NRA) Princess 2010.

And just as this dream came true, so did another. This month, Chelsea’s accrued accomplishments entitled her to compete at the National Barrel Horse Association (NBHA) World Youth Championships in Jackson, Mississippi in July.

She won the privilege after the presentation of two medallions at the National Barrel Horse Association finals – one for the Junior 1st Division Champion and one for the 2nd Division Champion.

Judging included a 12-month accumulated points tally.

“To qualify for this you have to compete every month at the NBHA, winning and placing to get points. The junior with the highest points qualifies to represent Australia,” Chelsea said.

“My main horse is Kakadu Dundee, but I still do team penning and roping off with my 24-year-old horse Palleo doc.”

At school, Chelsea has also been able to extend her passion. Besides her core Year 10 school work, she is undertaking a traineeship through the Emerald Agricultural College that leads to certificates in high level horse care.

Together with this she is working towards attending the World Youth Rodeo Championships in America.

“I have already raised $1600 from my winnings last year toward this trip,” Chelsea said.

But the trip is expensive and Chelsea is hoping her dream will inspire sponsorships.

If anyone would like to sponsor Chelsea, please contact her mother Sue Bartlett on 0419 889 082.