Despite having only entered the world of barrel racing two years ago, Owensboro natives and cousins Allie and Nora Camp have qualified for the National Barrel Horse Association (NBHA) Youth & Teen World Championships scheduled for this week at the Georgia National Fairgrounds. Allie qualified in the 3D division, while Nora qualified in 4D, but due to scoring, the duo will be able to advance to the Championship on Saturday in any of the five divisions.
“It’s fun and challenging to have to ride a thousand-pound animal that is quite dangerous,” Nora said. “I am really nervous but also really excited to compete in a big show like this.”
To battle the nerves, both Allie and Nora have leaned on each other for support, helping each other in the process.
“It’s a lot of fun just showing how much we have both improved through the year since we started,” Allie said.
The cousins are both set to race today and then again on Thursday in the youth age group, competing against around 3,000 other riders. For the youth age group, over 205 riders will advance to Friday, where the group will once again be cut down for the championship on Saturday.
Having already arrived in Georgia, the two have had time to practice and familiarize themselves with the course and are eyeing finishing around the 16-17 second mark.
Nora and Allie’s entry into the world of barrel racing started three years ago after Nora and Allie both received their first horses. Nora entered a for-fun competition almost a year later, which Allie attended – snowballing the girls’ love for barrel racing.
“I was watching a lot of big rodeos, and I started really enjoying some barrel racers,” Allie said. “I was surprised with some horses and then shortly after, Nora got her own horses. I started riding barrels on them and really liked it.”
While both girls have their eyes on winning, Nora acknowledged the importance of having a clean run.
“Obviously, I want to win, but I just want to have a good clean run and not knock any barrels,” Nora said. “If I have a clean run and I don’t win, I will be happy because I had a clean run. I would love to place, but I would rather have a clean run than knock a barrel and not have a time at all that could have a chance at placing.”
