Rodeo rider has Queen sized ambitions

Growing up on a riding school in Dubbo, Monaghan spent her childhood competing in equestrian, specialising in show jumping and eventing.

While those interests remain, the 31-year-old has increasingly turned her attention in recent years to another of her riding passions – rodeo.

It’s a passion that first developed in her mid-teens. Monaghan and a group mates would hit the road travelling from rodeo to rodeo, spectating and competing.

‘‘Most of my friends out west were rough stock riders,’’ Monaghan recalls. ‘‘A group of about 10 of us used to take time off work and drive around the state doing rodeo runs.

"The boys would compete and we followed them around for the thrill of it.’’

While Monaghan’s early involvement in rodeo was purely in the role of spectator, the mother of two recently stepped out of the stands and into the arena for the first time.

Competing in the novice barrel racing at the Cooma Rodeo last month, Monaghan and horse Peridot managed a mid-field finish.

Despite finishing several seconds off the pace, the ride was enough to convince Monaghan of her future in the sport.

‘‘For a first run it was really good,’’ she said. ‘‘Watching the video I can see where I could ride a bit better to put [Peridot] in contention.

‘‘Warming up in an arena with bobcats and tractors and cows wandering around was something different for Peri. I think it was the first time he’d ever seen cows so it took some getting used to but I was stoked with how he went.’’

Monaghan had been planning to follow up on her competitive debut in the Queanbeyan Rodeo this weekend before the heavy recent rain scuppered her plans.

The wet and decidedly muddy conditions on her Bywong property meant Monaghan was unable to get Peridot ready in time for Saturday.

While she won’t be competing, Monaghan will still play a major role assisting the rodeo committee tomorrow. She’ll also be fundraising as part of her quest to be crowned as the next Australian Rodeo Queen. Rodeo Queen entrants are required to raise $5000 to be eligible for the title which will be judged during a weeklong event on the Gold Coast in October.

That money is channelled back into the Rodeo Queen competition which Monaghan said was an important way to help encourage women to become more involved in the sport.

‘‘It’s not the sort of sport where a lot of women are going to get up one day and say, ‘I’m going to try rodeo’,’’ she said.

‘‘If I can do something to promote the idea of women in rodeo, I’m happy to do it. Hopefully it will help encourage other young women to have a go and to chase their dreams.’’