DIDSBURY - Thanks in no small part to the great weather, the Didsbury Fair and Rodeo were a big success this past weekend, says officials.
More than 1,200 people attended the rodeo, which saw some great competition among the many competitors from around Alberta.
There was also a pancake breakfast and parade put on by the Elks, and fireworks on Friday.
"This was one of our top attendance years," said Shari Wareman, director on the rodeo committee. "I was in the office most of it but from I didn't hear anything bad. I think the mutton busting and the new pony races were highlights because the kids do that. Everybody loves that."
Wareman said that the rodeo as well as the always popular Friday night fireworks are both put on by the Didsbury Agricultural Society.
"We have a great pyrotechnician that does that and we always get great feedback for the fireworks," she said.
Wareman said the fair and the rodeo are a success because of the number of volunteers.
"It's a good group effort," she said.
Local athletes who did well included Didsbury's Brandon Tetz in boys steer riding with a 69 score, Tanner Charles of Carstairs in boys steer riding with a 63 score, Tanner Kelley of Sundre and Brayden Roch of Madden in team roping with a 5.8 second time, Amanda Harder of Carstairs with a 17.435 second time in junior barrel racing, Emma-Jayne Peters of Sundre with a 19.295 second time in junior barrel racing, Jasey Barnett of Sundre with a 23.369 second time in junior barrel racing, Jessica Anderson of Water Valley with a 16.932 second time in ladies barrel racing, Sundre's Lisa Tebb with a 17.257 time in ladies barrel racing, and Cremona's Dusty Mckean with an 11.2 second time in calf roping.
Top finishers on the weekend were (unofficially): Allen Fletcher of Airdrie won the bareback, Logan Spady of Alliance won the calf roping, Owen Berreth of Airdrie captured the junior bull riding, Jerry Stojan of Sexsmith in steer wrestling, Taylor Giles of Cochrane first in ladies barrel racing, Reagan Tebb of Sundre first in junior barrel racing, Dexter Patton of Worsley came first in boys steer riding, and Colby Charteris of Calgary in bull riding.
