Shelby Boisjoli backed into the box of The Orleans Arena in Round 1 of the 2021 National Finals of Breakaway Roping as the No. 1 WPRA/PRCA World Standings leader and has proven she’s in Las Vegas to secure a gold buckle.
Boisjoli, originally from Canada, now residing in Stephenville, Texas, made a stellar showing in the first five rounds of the NFBR. She knocked down five head in 14.4 seconds to lead the average, adding $6,071.79 to her earnings after placing in Round 1, Round 3 and Round 5, moving her season earnings to $59,542.51 to remain in the lead.
Sawyer Gilbert is hanging on to No. 2 in the world standings with $54,185.56, and reigning World Champion Jackie Crawford jumped from seventh to third with $48,694.99, while Taylor Munsell is giving Boisjoli a run for her money in the aggregate after knocking down five head in 14.9 seconds.
“I’m really not trying to think about the end result and go one calf at a time,” Boisjoli said. “I don’t want to think about the average, who’s doing what and all of that. It’s really cool when people say it, but it also gives me a little bit of anxiety. I want to remain calm, stick to my game plan, use my horse and stick to what I know.”
Boisjoli’s quickest run was in Round 3, where she split the round win with breakaway roping veterans Lari Dee Guy and Jackie Crawford with a 2.1-second run, worth $3,510.25 each.
“That run was just easy,” Boisjoli said. “I took three swings and roped the calf and was 2.1. I always tell myself to use my horse, and smooth is fast. I just rode to the calf and roped the neck, and it was fast.”
The split win makes for Boisjoli’s first-ever round win after competing at the 2020 NFBR.
“Last year, I made the Finals and ran 10 calves, and I felt like I didn’t have anything to show for the 2020 National Finals of Breakaway. This year, I was like, ‘I’m not going to rope so reserved. I’m going to hit the barrier, let my horse work and take my first best shot.’ I knew that was going to win a couple go-rounds here, and I obviously did. I just need to stop being dumb and stick to my game plan.”
Unfortunately, Boisjoli has shied away from her original game plan going into the Finals, which was to hit the barrier on each run.
“I think I only got near the barrier on one calf. I would definitely like to get a little closer to the barrier—just give myself a better chance to win some money in the go-rounds and stay aggressive. I’d like to score a little bit better. I felt like I was being a little too reserved today. I just want to keep it easy tomorrow (for Rounds 6 through 10 on Dec. 7) and hit the barrier and give myself good layup shots.”
What makes her trip to Las Vegas even sweeter is having her boyfriend, Haven Meged, the 2019 Calf Roping World Champion, standing in the box with her each round before he heads to compete for a chance at a second calf roping world title in the Thomas & Mack.
“It’s really cool to have him here. He’s given me a lot of good advice. He really calms me down when I get anxious. He’s been my rock. I feel like everybody has to have that one person that’s their solid—somebody that they can stay grounded in. It’s really cool to be that for each other when everything gets crazy and emotions are running high. It’s nice to have somebody that brings you right back down to earth and keeps you grounded. He’s that for me and I’m that for him. We love having each other there.”
