Lily Plass
30 January 2025, 8:20 PM
Coonabarabran's Shawn Robin Chape set a new arena record and took home the ABCRA Breakaway Roping Champion 2024 title at the National Rodeo Finals in Tamworth from 23 to 25 January.Â
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Shawn finished first place in the first and third rounds with a time of 1.9 and 1.69 seconds respectively and fourth in the second round with a time of 3.4 seconds on her horse Rio.Â
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"Rio is just sensational. He's very confident and such a natural."
Shawn and her husband, Glen, posing with Shawn's national title. Photo: supplied.
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The champion's roots however lie over 12,000 kilometres away in a small town called Rozet in the northeast corner of  Wyoming where she grew up on a ranch.Â
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"Horses and rodeo were always a way of life," Shawn said.Â
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She competed in rodeos throughout her school time and later in college as well.Â
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While attending college in Texas, Shawn happened to meet a cowboy called Glenn from Walgett and the two hit it off.Â
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Unfortunately, Glen got injured in a rodeo and had to return home but Shawn decided to follow him back to Australia. Â
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Her boots first touched the ground in Australia in 2013 and since then she has been at home in country NSW.Â
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The couple initially lived in Carinda before moving to Coonabarabran in October 2022.Â
Shawn with her husband Glen and son Kyle. Photo: supplied.
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Coming to Australia, was a bit of a shock for Shawn at first.Â
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"The United States is a country of convenience.
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"If you walk into a gas station in the States, there is the Taj Mahal of snacks. I remember the first time I walked in and there were only five kinds of candy bars and I was like, 'Wow that's not what I'm used to.'"
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"But you learn to adapt and now, I don't even really notice it anymore."
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There are also some differences between American and Aussie rodeo culture that stuck out to Shawn.Â
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"It's a lot more family-oriented here," Shawn said.Â
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Rodeos in Australia usually only last a weekend whereas in the States they can go on for a week.
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"Here, you can see parents and children competing the same weekend, and in some instances together," Shawn said.Â
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But just because the events are shorter doesn't mean they aren't easier.Â
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"It's still tough at the top. It's very competitive," Shawn said.Â
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Shawn's husband Glen, who is a two-time Australian rodeo champion, has been her rock during her training.Â
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"For the past 11 years since I have been here, he has been a constant source of support for me, morally, mentally, or even just helping me practice. If it wasn't for him, none of this would have happened."Â