Edmonton, Alberta, Canada-Trula Churchill did not set out to win the Canadian title in 2011. In fact, the WPRA cowgirl who hails from Oklahoma by way of Nebraska wasn't even trying to earn a berth at the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR), held annually at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta in November.

After a successful half season aboard her then 5-year old gelding, A Streak of Rita, in 2010, Churchill was eyeing a chance to compete in Las Vegas at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. At the urging of her husband, Linn, himself a former competitor in Vegas, Churchill quit her job teaching school to chase her Wrangler NFR dreams.

Her partner is the tough little blue roan she calls Worm. The Churchills raised the colt out of a bulldogging mare that made a trip to the Wrangler NFR too. Trula named the gelding Worm because he was brown and dirty looking, like a worm, when he was a newborn foal. Churchill trained him and has won money consistently since first entering him in futurity competitions two years ago.

The berth at the Canadian Finals was serendipity.

"I was just planning to go to the good rodeos up there," Churchill says. "After Innisfail and Ponoka [where she won nearly $16,000], we figured I had the finals made, based on what it took last year to qualify. So then it was just a matter of getting my count in."

A few years ago the Canadian Pro Rodeo Association changed their rules to allow up to 5 Americans per event to qualify and compete at the CFR. The only requirement is that the contestant must compete at a minimum of 15 rodeos.

Since the change several Americans have taken advantage of the opportunity to compete for Canadian Championships including 2011 Wrangler NFR qualifier Lisa Lockhart. Lockhart has won two Canadian titles (2006 & 2008) and made another trip to Edmonton in 2011 along with fellow Americans Churchill, 2011 Wrangler NFR qualifier Jane Melby and 2011 WPRA Rookie of the Year Lee Ann Rust.

Churchill had a fabulous season, just missing out on a berth to the NFR after winning $50,000 on both sides of the border. Far from a consolation prize, the Canadian Finals is a very lucrative and sought after event for contestants with six go rounds and paying over $11,000 a round to the winner.

For Churchill the opening rounds click off with no problems. She placed second behind Lindsey Sears and Ima Guy of Honor on opening night and second again in the second round behind Lockhart and An Okie with Cash. She placed third in the third round, the first of two straight rounds won by 2009 Canadian Champion and WPRA member Gaylene Buff and Dat Blue Moon. In the fourth round, Churchill was second. Staying consistent, Churchill ran between a 14.600 and 14.727 on all four runs.

The only misstep of the weekend for Churchill came in the fifth round, the second of two performances on Saturday, November 12.

"I bumped the first barrel in the afternoon," Churchill recalls. "That night, I let him go and he broke so hard. I half chickened out and bumped him. He turned back and we were right on top of the barrel. I had to move him over which made my time longer that round."

Churchill led the field entering the finals but soon found herself in a dogfight, a three-way horse race to the championship that came down to the final run on Sunday, November 13. After failing to place Saturday night, Churchill lost her lead for the title by $500 to Buff. Lockhart was not far behind and led the average by a wide margin after posting the fastest time of the rodeo during Saturday night's performance.

With the average paying the same as the rounds and the three contenders sitting 1-2-3 in that average, the title would be decided by the round money on the final day.

Buff got the action started with a strong showing and Churchill knew she would have to be fast to win it all.

The resilient cowgirl let all the cards fly onto the table, posting her fastest run of the weekend and the second best overall at 14.508. Lockhart ran next and was just five one-hundredths of a second slower, giving Churchill her first go round win. It would prove to be the difference maker.

When officials tallied up the damages, Lockhart had won the most of any barrel racer at $44,860 for the weekend. Churchill and Buff each won $40,910 for their six rounds of work. In the chase for the Canadian Championship, it was the new gal, Churchill, who took home the win by a slim $1,500 over Lockhart.

"Linn was there and his mom and dad came up; my mom and dad came up too, so everybody was there on Sunday," says Churchill. "It was pretty neat."

The icing on the cake for Churchill is the automatic berth into the Calgary Stampede, an invitational only rodeo that reserves one position for the reigning Canadian champ each year.

"I'm pretty excited about it. It's the 100th anniversary of Calgary next year so I'm excited to be a part of that too."

As for the still just 6-year old Worm, Churchill was thrilled with his performance.

"He's a pretty good boy," she laughs. "He seemed like he got free-er in that pen. It suited us just fine."

The cowgirl is headed home for some well-earned R&R.

"I'm pretty pleased with the year I had," she says.

For more information on the Canadian Pro Rodeo Association and the Canadian Finals Rodeo, please visit them on-line at www.rodeocanada.com.