After the 2009 ORA Year-end Championship Points were published on www.ORArodeo.com, a few inquiries were brought to the ORA Board of Directors' attention. These specifically were in regards to the All Around Champion Cowgirl Standings.

At the last teleconference, the Board of Directors conducted a full review of the Rulebook and precedent set.

Accepting that the 2009 ORA Rulebook States:

RULE VIII – CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

The Ontario Rodeo Association Championship Standings have been organized for the purpose of establishing a point awarding system to determine the Ontario champion cowboys and cowgirls.

2. The high point winner in each of the standard events and the optional events will be named the champions and the all-around champion will be named at the end of each year. The All-Around Champion will be the person winning the most points in two or more events, and must earn points at both ends of the arena. If a team roper places twice at one rodeo, only the highest placing will be counted towards the All-Around Standings.

and

RULE IV – OPTIONAL RODEO EVENTS

Points acquired in Optional Rodeo Events will count towards the All-Around Cowboy Award.

The following observances were made:

1) there is not a rule in the 2009 ORA Rulebook regarding All Around Cowgirl.

2) the Rulebook defines "All Around" as coming from "Both Ends of the Arena". It is accepted that this refers to a timed-event and a rough stock event.

3) There is no stipulation on where Barrel Racing Starts

4) Markham Rodeo in a previous season had Barrel Racers enter beside the Timed Event End, as did the 2009 Hillsburgh Timed Event Challenge

5) Barrel Racing is a Timed Event

A review of precedent was then made:

1) since the Award's inception, the winner is the Female Contestant accumulating points in Two or More Events, with not one of the previous recipients having competed and successfully earning points in a Rough Stock Event

2) this Award was introduced as a Cowgirl had accumulated the most points over any other contestant during a season in two or more events, however, her Breakaway Roping and Barrel Racing did not count as being "From Both Ends"

The following conclusion was then reached:

Based on the fact that the All Around Cowboy Award includes Optional Event Points and that precedent precedes that All Around Cowgirl Award Winners have not been required to compete in Roughstock Events, but in both cases the winner is required to acquire points in two or more events, the 2009 ORA Final Championship Points are accepted as previously presented. In short, the All Around Cowgirl will be the female contestant winning the most points in two or more events.