Dynamic duo's passion for rodeo
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Talk about the leading lights of the fast-paced and hotly-contested sport of rodeo in Australia and it's near impossible not to mention the Kennys.The couple, who call their Emerald property 'Destiny Downs' home, have won an enviable number of trophies and titles between them, with Leanne adding to their trophy cabinet again on the weekend, taking out the 2008 All Round Cowgirl title at the Central Rodeo Cowboys Association Bullzye Rodeo Finals at Gracemere.
Leanne clinched the champion's title after winning the last round of the barrel race on Saturday night, on board her handy seven-year-old quarter horse, Dice. Second place in the All Round title went to another Emerald competitor, Angela Simpson, who took out the Ladies Breakaway Roping title for 2008.
Leanne's win on the weekend has capped off a busy year for the couple, who have continued to compete on both the CRCA and Australian Professional Rodeo Association (APRA) circuits. They now look forward to a short break from the rodeo circuit before hopefully heading to Victoria in late December to compete at a number of rodeos. The trip to Victoria will provide the Kennys with some timely preparation for the holy grail of the Australian rodeo scene - the APRA
National Finals Rodeo at the Gold Coast from January 8 to 11.
Both Shane and Leanne are going in to the APRA finals at the top of their respective tables. Shane is leading the Rope and Tie and Steer Wrestling standings, as well as the Team Roping table as heeler with his roping partner, Jeff Miller, who has also recently moved to Emerald. Leanne is leading the APRA Breakaway Roping standings, and is third in the Barrel Race standings. Shane still holds the Australian and NFR Rope and Tie record of 7.2 seconds which he set in Rockhampton in 2000, and he is also on the APRA Board of Directors.
And while Shane has already won more than 20 APRA titles in his rodeo career to date and Leanne has an APRA Rookie title under her belt, they downplay their achievements and say they still get a thrill from doing well at any rodeo, regardless of size."We often say we wouldn't know what to do with ourselves on a weekend if we didn't go to the rodeos," Leanne said.
"It is exciting when you're competing and we all love it. "The kids are funny now - because they've been around us at the rodeos and seen us compete, if we don't win or something happens, our little girl Ellysa is always like, 'It's all right you didn't win, you might win next weekend'."
The Kennys balance their passion for rodeo with their three children - Ellysa, 6, Tyler 3, and Jayden, 1 - as well as Shane's hectic work schedule at nearby Ensham mine.
Keeping it in the family, Shane's mother Kerry continues to compete on the rodeo circuit in breakaway roping, while Shane and Leanne's daughter Ellysa has started competing in junior barrel racing. Meanwhile little Tyler has just scored his first horse, a Shetland pony, and hopes to emulate the feats of his parents.
Earlier this year Shane and Leanne also travelled to the United States for a stint of international competition. "We went to the United States in April for five weeks, and Shane competed on the pro rodeo circuit while I competed in a few amateur rodeos," Leanne said. "It was a great experience to say you've done it. It was my first time to the States but Shane had competed there before about 10 years ago in roping and steer wrestling."
The couple visited California before travelling to Texas to spend time with renowned US rodeo competitor, Joe Beaver, who has won three World Champion All Round Cowboy titles, and five World Champion Tie-Down Roping titles.
At home at Destiny Downs, Shane and Leanne have developed their own herd of 150 Texas Longhorn cattle which they practise on, and also contract out for rodeos. Besides their Longhorns, the Kennys' quarter horses also received special attention.
While Leanne will compete in the APRA finals on Dice, an Acres Destiny (Imp) gelding, Shane will compete on buckskin quarter horse Jelly Bean, which is by Ten Bucks An Acre.
"We're passionate about Acres Destiny horses - we've got a few of them and we believe they do the job for us."
Article provided by Queensland Country Life