Breakaway, barrel racing queens crowned at Calgary Stampede

Breakaway roper Cheyanne McCartney, barrel racer's Hailey Kinsel crowned queens at 2026 Calgary Stampede rodeo

Crowned as the top barrel racer at the 2018 Calgary Stampede rodeo, Hailey Kinsel was hankering to experience that glorious feeling once again. The Texan accomplished her goal on Showdown Sunday as she and her horse Sister posted a time of 16.802 seconds to edge out California cowgirl Hayle Gibson-Stillwell by 17/1000ths of a second in the championship round. “Doing it once, and that was my first year here, kind of set the bar high,” said Kinsel of winning the $50,000 top prize to go with the $100,000 payday she had eight years ago.

“I knew my horse was capable. I felt like I’ve been capable before. I’ve been second in the shootout round twice since then and so being that close just kind of makes you a little more hungry to come back and do it again.

“The horses these days, anyone has a chance to win first on any given day. And so today was my day, and I’m just thankful that it was here on Sunday.” Gibson-Stillwell started out the afternoon by setting an arena record of 16.56s to make it to the championship round along with Texan Carlee Otero (16.67), Minnesota’s Heide Gunderson and Kinsel (16.75), who narrowly beat out 2022 Calgary Stampede champion Kassie Mowry by 8/100ths of a second to qualify for the final four.

Kinsel credited Sister for staying calm under pressure and helping advance to the finale. “I don’t know what it is, but I get her on the infield here and she looks up at the stands like, I like this place,” she said. Kinsel praised Gibson-Stillwell for posting one of the fastest runs ever on a standard pattern that’s used at big rodeos like the Stampede.

“Incredible,” Kinsel said, while also commending Gibson-Stillwell’s horse Piper. “That horse is by the same sire as my horse. Those two horses are gamers.

They come back in a second run, tougher and stronger. I knew she was going to go lay down an outstanding run. “I’m going to go give her a hug, but I’m also thankful it went my way this time.

I’m sure she’ll have more chances.” Gibson-Stillwell took home $15,000 for her second-place showing, while Otero earned $10,000 for placing third in a time of 16.833s. Like Kinsel, Oklahoma’s Cheyanne McCartney earned the last spot in the final-four round on Sunday and wound up making her way on stage in front of the GMC Stadium crowd to accept a cheque for $50,000.

“This is incredible,” said McCartney, who posted a time of 3.2s in the earlier round of nine before improving to a quicker clocking of 2.7 in the showdown finale. “I can’t even put it into words right now. Just to be a breakaway roper and get to rope at an amazing place like this, Greatest Outdoor Show On Earth, I just feel so blessed.

“This is definitely a career highlight win for me.” McCartney also qualified to compete on Showdown Sunday last year, but didn’t advance out of the preliminary round. “I won the qualifier on a borrowed horse and roped here,” McCartney recalled.

“I made it to the short round, didn’t make it to the final four, but left with about $15,000, so hard to complain about that. Even when you don’t win first, you make it to the short round and you leave with great money.” Montana’s Cadee Williams won $20,000 for finishing second in a time of 3.4s, while California’s Rylee George earned $10,000 for her third-place showing despite a 12.4s clocking after breaking the barrier.

“I didn’t know if I would win it,” admitted McCartney, who was able to consistently get good starts on her horse Lexus. “I knew that there was three other very good calves and three very good ropers after me, but I knew that I would be getting some good money.”