makayla-boisjoli

Boisjoli Wins Bill Collins Scholarship Showcase At Calgary Stampede

makayla-boisjoliMakayla Boisjoli & Stylish TracksMakayla Boisjoli, 18, of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, rode Stylish Tracks to a score of 222 to win the Bill Collins Youth Scholarship Showcase cutting, held July 7 at the Calgary Stampede. Bill Collins’ widow, Pearl Collins, was on hand to present the scholarship awards in the new Agrium Western Events Center in Stampede Park.

Boisjoli’s grandmother, Bev Martin, and Art Schooley own the 2003 mare (DJ Tracker x Styling O Lena x Docs Stylish Oak) who bred by EE Ranches of Texas Inc., of Whitesboro, Texas. Stylish Tracks has an Equi-Stat record of more than $10,000.

Kassidy Williamson, of Mankota, Saskatchewan, Canada, rode Catty Midget (Little Oakie Cat x Biscas Instant Jewel x SR Instant Choice), to the Reserve Championship with a 217 score. The 2008 mare was bred by Theresal and Tim Dykes, of Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada, and is owned by Les and Coreen Jack, of Rocanville, Saskatchewan.

Youth cutters had to qualify for the Bill Collins Youth Scholarship Showcase. Senior and Junior Youth competed at a weekend show in Staley, Alberta, with the top five qualifying to show at the Calgary Stampede. For their efforts in Calgary, Boisjoli received a $2,000 scholarship, Williamson received a $1,500 scholarship and the remaining three riders received $500 scholarship awards.

Both Boisjoli and Williamson had previously qualified for the National High School Rodeo Finals and are scheduled to compete in Wyoming later this month.

The Bill Collins Youth Scholarship Showcase is named in honor of veteran Canadian horseman Bill Collins of Sherwood Park, Alberta, who passed away in 2013 at age 89. Collins was known for his talent with cutting horses and was the first Canadian inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2007. His incredibly successful competitive career included many accolades and championship titles in calf roping, cutting, and numerous other disciplines. He even spent time participating in show jumping in order to better coach his English-riding students, and was the Safeway Jumpers Sweepstakes winner at the 1966 Edmonton Rodeo after clearing fences more than five-feet high in the jump-off. Collins was an invaluable industry advocate, acting as a Director of Equine Canada (then known as the Canadian Equestrian Federation) in the 1960s and President of the Canadian Cutting Horse Association (CCHA) from 1979 to 1981.

The scholarship cutting followed the first go of the Mercuria/National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) World Series of Cutting Open, which was topped by Matt Gaines and Special Nu Baby with a 225. Stylish Bet and Lindy Burch turned in a score of 223 to finish second in the go-round, followed by reigning NCHA Open World Champion One Time Choice and Chubby Turner with a 222.5. It took a score of 219 to make the July 8 Open finals.