I’ve been around horses for as long as I can remember. I started barrel racing when I was four years old. Both my parents competed—my mom in barrels and my dad in team roping. It was simply part of what we did. Barrel racing is a high-speed rodeo event where horse and rider complete a cloverleaf pattern around three preset barrels. The clock starts and stops as they cross the line, and the fastest time wins.
What I remember most from my early years wasn’t the competition itself, but the atmosphere and the people. A lot was happening on the Island back then—rodeos, gymkhanas, barrel races, ropings, winter series at Norwood Equestrian Center and Arbutus Meadows, and spring and summer events at Coombs Rodeo Grounds and at my parents’ place, Innes Arena. There were lots of kids my age, and our parents were just as involved. It felt like its own little world—a community built around horses, hard work, families, and friendships.
The decline of the Vancouver Island rodeo
Before my time, Vancouver Island had a rodeo association affiliated with the BC Rodeo Association. When I first started competing, four rodeos were still running: Norwood, Coombs, Mill Bay, and Luxton Pro Rodeo. But rising ferry costs and fuel prices made it harder for off-Island competitors to travel here, and entries began to decline. By 2009, Island rodeos had largely disappeared, with Luxton hosting a final rodeo in 2014.
What had once been a thriving western community began to shrink.
Barrel races still happened, but they were fewer and smaller. In 2010, the Island Barrel Racing Club formed and helped rebuild opportunity. I competed locally, but, like many others, I travelled off-Island for larger races and bigger payouts. For more than a decade, that was my reality: hauling to the mainland and investing in ferry fees (often $500 or more just to cross).
During that time, I paid attention.
Building Something New at Innes Arena
I saw how larger races were run. I noticed what made competitors feel valued. I studied sponsorship, marketing, payouts, and atmosphere, and noted what made an event worth the trip and financially viable.
I had built experience in event hosting, sponsorship development, and marketing in my professional life. I had a strong local network. And so, in 2021, I decided to establish a winter series at Innes Arena. It began as something to do in our off-season, but I approached it intentionally. I reached out to my network, secured sponsorship, promoted both races and partners, and created a welcoming atmosphere
I witnessed barrel racing grow tremendously across the Island. Participation and sponsorship have more than tripled over the past four years
Our first Winter Series exceeded anything I imagined. We secured $10,000 in cash and prizes over five races. Entries grew from 40 to nearly 100. The road was lined with trucks and trailers.
The energy was back; I knew we had to continue. By spring 2022, momentum was building. And I introduced something deeply personal: a Calcutta fundraiser in support of BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, a cause very close to my heart. That first year, we raised $3,370.
I held the volunteer position of president of the Island Barrel Racing Club consecutively from 2022 to 2024, and witnessed barrel racing grow tremendously across the Island. Participation and sponsorship have more than tripled over the past four years. What once felt like a burden—travelling elsewhere to access larger races—has shifted. Now we have those opportunities right here on the Island. As a result, our competitors are improving, and more horsepower joins us each season.
To date, we have raised more than $27,000 for the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, and our races have cumulatively paid out just under $190,000 to competitors
Expanding the Series with Breakaway Roping
One of my biggest goals has always been inclusivity. I want first-time riders to feel just as welcome as seasoned competitors. I love seeing personal bests celebrated as loudly as winning runs. I love the family atmosphere— parents cheering, kids helping, friendships forming. In 2025, we partnered with Punchy Pistol Productions to introduce breakaway roping to our series for the first time, bringing a new energy and audience to our events. Breakaway roping is a fast-paced event where a rider ropes a calf around the neck, and the rope—tied to the saddle horn—breaks free to signal the end of the run and stop the clock. It’s an exciting display of speed, precision, and horsemanship.
The addition was a tremendous success, and, thanks to Punchy Pistol Productions leading the charge on breakaway events in 2025, we’ve seen a whole new wave of participation emerge across the Island.
2026 is our fifth annual Spring Series at Innes Arena. To date, we have raised more than $27,000 for the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, and our races have cumulatively paid out just under $190,000 to competitors. None of this happens alone.
Our sponsors are the backbone of what we do. Many have supported us since the beginning. One longtime sponsor is Sayward’s Vergenoeg Ranch. The Postma family (Siobhan, Adele, and Lenus) have been incredible supporters for the past three years, sponsoring and attending every event with encouragement and contagious positivity. And their ranch, home to a beautiful herd of horses, offers lessons and trail rides, and continues to be an important part of our regional horse community.
And then there are the volunteers—the quiet heroes who keep everything running smoothly and professionally. I am endlessly grateful for them.
For me, this journey feels full circle.
I grew up running barrels at Innes Arena. Now I produce the races. And my daughter gets to grow up surrounded by that same kind of community.
The revival of barrel racing and roping on the Island isn’t just about sport. It’s about rebuilding something that once felt like it was fading; proving that with intention, partnership, and heart, it can thrive again.
Our 2026 Spring Barrel Racing and Breakaway Roping Series (in collaboration with Punchy Pistol Productions) runs April 4, April 18, April 25, May 9, and May 10. On May 9, we’ll host our Calcutta Competition in support of BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. Races begin at noon, with covered grandstands thanks to High Calibre Solutions and a on-site food truck.
Everyone is welcome to come cheer, connect, and experience the energy for themselves.
Because, at its core, this has never just been about racing barrels. It’s about a community coming back to life.
