Rivers rodeo athlete has cousins, alumni to thank for involvement
- Details
- Published on Friday, April 29, 2016
Photo by Darrell Nesbitt. Beau Bridgeman may have watched family members before him, however, he is the timed event competitor to set your eyes on today.
Submitted by Darrell Nesbitt
The Neepawa Banner
Like it or not, the rodeo lifestyle has been etched in the mind and soul of a Rivers grade 12 student for quite some time, thanks to cousins’ involvement prior to his sister joining the Junior Division of the Manitoba High School Rodeo Association (MHSRA) when that youngster was seven.
Sitting or standing along the rail of steel panels – sunshine or rain – Beau Bridgeman waited for his turn to compete, watching sister Halee and brother Logan, and now he is among the top high school athletes competing.
“I’m currently in my last year of high school rodeo. I have been in the MHSRA since grade 6, a total of seven years,” said Bridgeman. “Three years in the junior ranks and four years in the high school division, learning as I kept climbing the ladder one boot at a time.”
From being involved in the MHSRA, which was initiated in Manitoba back in 1995, the son of Kelly and Myra Bridgeman of Rivers feels it has provided great opportunities to make new friends, has kept him active, provided scholarships for his future and has given him the motivation to do something he cherishes.
Competing in the timed events of tie down roping, steer wrestling and team roping, Bridgeman likes all his events, but if he had to pick one as a favourite, it would be tie down (calf) roping. He said it takes many things to work together in posting an awesome run and it’s richness when it does.
“Rodeo is a sport that instills teamwork, sportsmanship, tenacity and hard work for success,” stated Bridgeman, who does lots of riding and roping throughout the winter to keep the skills up. Other sports Bridgeman is involved in include curling, for the past three years in the Brandon Jr. Super League, local men’s league and this year winning silver at the High School Provincials.
Going above and beyond for every high school rodeo competitor, parents are fully involved and it’s been no different for the Bridgeman clan over the years. True, a hearty chunk of change is required for entries, clinics and practice time, but assistance and commitment goes far deeper.
“My parents are involved, like many other parents, by helping with the various jobs and committees it takes to run a high school rodeo, with Rapid City considered as my hometown rodeo,” stressed Bridgeman. “My dad has been an event director, and has also acted as MHSRA vice-president and a director. Mom has been active on the scholarship committee – acquiring and distributing – plus assisting with the Cowboy Prom held as part of the Finals Weekend.”
Manitoba heroes
When he was asked “Who is your favourite rodeo competitor – local or national”, it was not one professional cowboy but two who rose through the ranks of the MHSRA and College down south one eight second ride at a time.
The Larsen brothers of Inglis – Orin (bareback) and Tyrel (saddle bronc) – were penciled in. Bridgeman said cheering on some of our own at this level is pretty darn exciting. Other Manitobans have gone on to Canadian or U.S. colleges, achieving degrees and now are employed, married with family or back on the farm.
Like the Larsens, and hundreds of others, Bridgeman has attended the Canadian Finals over the past two years, and will be gunning for a third trip this summer. “At Nanton, AB in 2014, I team roped with Cassidy Gardiner of Lenore and last year, partnered up with Clay Bergeson of Onanole.”
While his cousin Kristy Bridgeman Gilchrist now lives in Saskatchewan, she along with fellow cousin Justin Bridgeman of Binscarth, and other MHSRA alumni including Justin Miller of Neepawa, and Devon Porter of Solsgirth, all have played an important role in the development of his rodeo skills. Other cousins involved in the MHSRA have been Karalyn Bridgeman Main of Russell, Kassidy Bridgeman of Calgary, and Kelsey Lane and Kacee Gee, both of Virden, which lends the possibility of another generation of Bridgeman bloodlines to be enriched by rodeo.
“I can remember when Kristy, formerly of Moline, first started myself by swinging a rope and roping her dummy! Citing I’m a lefty, it was pretty hard (and comical) at first, but eventually it started to feel more natural.”
Today, the 17-year-old, turning 18 in September, truly knows how to handle a lariat and is confident when he backs his horse into the box, tipping his hat for another draw and a competitive run. Heading into the second half of the present season, Bridgeman sits in the seventh spot in the HS Boys All Around.
His future plans upon graduation this summer will fall back on the horse and cattle industry through an initiative of taking Veterinary Medicine. Starting this fall at Brandon University taking Pre-Veterinary Studies for two to three years, prior to applying to finish at the University of Saskatoon for the final four years.
Looking back over the years, Bridgeman feels the friendships and connections that the MHSRA allows is very special and has an impact on a youth or teenager’s life. By competing against them and in the end having fun with them, has blossomed into true life-long friends that will continue to be a vital part of his future too.
Finding the MHSRA to be ‘cowboy strong’, should one be thinking of joining, Bridgeman shares that one has to be very committed and it takes more than simply saddling up a horse and competing in one, two, three events. One needs the drive and determination to succeed, and Bridgeman is very thankful for the ups and downs he has faced as a competitor.
In saying that, Bridgeman has found a cowboy is simply a man or woman with guts and a horse.
Darrell Nesbitt is a staff writer with Crossroads This Week in Shoal Lake.
