BOWDEN - The inaugural Mountain View Senior Pro Rodeo drew contestants from around Alberta and Saskatchewan as well as the U.S.
The Aug. 6-7 event at the Bowden Agricultural Society grounds was sanctioned by the Canadian Senior Pro Rodeo Association (CSPRA).
Rodeo enthusiasts aged 40 and over competed in various age categories in barrel racing, calf roping, men’s breakaway, ladies' breakaway, ribbon roping, steer wrestling, team roping, and bull riding during the two separate rodeos on the two days.
Results, including points and payouts were not posted by press time.
The Bowden event featured two of CSPRA’s 26 sanctioned rodeos this year held across Alberta and the U.S.
Competitors hailed from around Alberta, Saskatchewan and the states of Oregon and Montana.
Locals taking part in the Bowden event included Olds-area resident Val Leibel in 50-59 barrel racing and ladies' breakaway. As of July 24, Leibel was sitting in eighth place in barrel racing 50-59 standings with an accumulated 206 points and sitting in 17th place in ladies' breakaway.
Olds-area resident Roy Braybrook competed in the 40-49 bull riding age category during the Bowden event.
He started riding bulls in 1995 at high school rodeos and has competed in the Foothills Cowboys Association, Chinook Rodeo Association, Canadian Bullriders Association and World Professional Bullriding.
Being 41, Braybrook’s age restricts him to only competing in Canadian Senior Pro Rodeo Association rodeos, National Senior Professional rodeos in the U.S., as well as some World Professional Bullriding events.
“After over 20 years of riding bulls I still do it for the love of the sport and the camaraderie of all the contestants. Being able to go to senior rodeos lets us keep living the dream and competing at a level where we can be competitive and have fun,” said Braybrook.
As roughstock director of the CSPRA he has been working with stock contractor Ty Northcott to bring senior calibre stock to the senior rodeos.
“Right now I believe we have a great program with his stock and helping promote roughstock in the Canadian Senior Pro Rodeo,” he said.
Ken Lepp of the Olds area is also a CSPRA member and as of July 24, was in 11th place in calf roping aged 50 - 59 standings. He was also in 14th place in ribbon roping (roper) aged 50 - 59 and 19th place in team roping 50-59 (heeler).
Competitors earn points during the rodeos, with the top 10 in each event qualifying for the CSPRA finals Oct. 11 -14.
