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Calgary Herald

RODEO NOTES: Langdon cowgirl wins historic first run of breakaway roping at Calgary Stampede

Day 1 of the 2025 Calgary Stampede rodeo welcomed the stars of breakaway roping to the main stage. Article content And the brightest in the much-ballyhooed debut was a home-town cowgirl. Article content Shelby Boisjoli-Meged, of Langdon, Alta., was all smiles after winning Friday's event and forever etching her name in the rodeo's record books. Article content 'I didn't really think about (making history),' said the smiling Boisjoli-Meged. 'But that is really cool to think about. And in terms of just having an event here … yeah … it's extra special for me. Article content Article content 'This is my hometown rodeo.' Article content Article content After decades of being featured at other rodeos across the continent and years of lobbying for it to become a staple here in Calgary, the news in March of its inclusion brought on a big hurrah. Article content It also came with the thumbs up it would pay out the same as the other events — a total prize purse of $310,250 — in the main rodeo. Article content 'It's unbelievable that Calgary added breakaway this year for us, and they went ahead and just added equal money at the very first one,' said Boisjoli-Meged, the reigning world champion of breakaway roping and wife of 2024 Stampede tie-down champ Haven Meged. 'Honestly, we didn't hear anything or know anything, and then all of a sudden, it was just like a phone call and then an announcement. Article content 'So they kept it really quiet, and then they surprised us with it. So we didn't hear we didn't know anything about it, and they just dropped it on us like a bomb. So it was crazy.' Article content Article content Boisjoli-Meged was the first call made by the Stampede when it officially became a main-rodeo event because she's the local talent. Article content Article content And obviously, the 27-year-old Albertan squeezed every ounce of being that hometown favourite with her winning run — 2.3 seconds for $7,000 aboard her 'good mare' Onna — in breakaway roping's historic call to 'The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.' Article content 'The nerves are kind of the same (as any other rodeo), because we do this all the time, but I think moreso just excitement and having my family here watching me is just a different kind of pressure,' said Boisjoli-Meged, who was cheered on by a bevy of loved ones, including mom Sherry — a once-upon-a-time Stampede princess — and dad Garth. Article content 'I fed off it, for sure. You know … whenever my family's watching me, I feel like I'm 10-foot tall and bulletproof. So having them all there backing me was just unbelievable.