SUNDRE — Rodeo fans seemed to enjoy not only the return of this past weekend’s Broncs, Bulls and Wagons, but also the first-time addition of saddle bronc riding events.
“The attendance was really good,” said Dale Young, a director on the event’s organizing subcommittee of the Sundre Rodeo & Race Committee.
“This was the first year we did the broncs as part of the event,” said Young, who on Monday morning took a few moments break from cleaning up the Sundre Rodeo Grounds to speak with the Albertan during a phone interview.
“I think that added one new attraction for the crowd,” he said. “The horses were wild. The crowd was right into it enjoying it, that’s for sure.”
Although the weather on Saturday was touch-and-go with overcast skies constantly threatening rain, the clouds cleared up on Sunday.
While he did not immediately have available an estimate on attendance throughout the three-day event that ran Aug. 26-28, Young said, “I just know our gate receipts were up […] from three years ago.”
Last year, the Sundre Pro Rodeo made an August comeback after being cancelled in 2020 because of COVID-19, but there was no bulls and wagons.
“Being three years we haven’t had the event, I think people were excited to see the wagons and stuff again,” said Young.
Calling the rodeo a “last hoorah” before before classes resume and harvest season gets into full swing, Young – who was among the chuckwagon drivers – was glad to see everyone who came out.
“It was good to see the crowd. And the town and sponsors got behind the event very well,” he said. “It just doesn’t happen without the sponsors behind backing the event and without the volunteers that put in hours of time.”
Additionally, Sundre Petroleum Operators Group’s return of Neighbours’ Day on Aug. 26 along with a farmer’s market that same afternoon, “made for a good weekend,” he said.
The rodeo featured chariot as well as chuckwagon races sanctioned by Alberta Professional Chuckwagon & Chariot Association, mini chucks, kids wild pony race, wild cow milking, and of course novice and open saddle bronc riding as well as World Professional Bullriding events.
A Saturday night dance following the performances featured Glen Brown & Heading West.
Providing livestock for the bull riding event was Northcott Rodeo Inc., with Tim Welter coming out from Carstairs to offer his voice as announcer.
Results
Chuckwagons (three-day accumulative time):
First – Mike Cooke, 192.04 seconds
Second – Jack Stott, 194.21 seconds
Third – Dale Young, 195.08 seconds
Chariots (three-day accumulative time):
First – Wanda Hansen, 190.71 seconds
Second – Dwayne Debuc, 195.47 second
Third – Kaden Stott, 198.64 second
Bulls (average points):
First round:
Keaton Martz, Forestburg, 80 — $720
Riley Sibbet, Cremona, 79 — $430
Stefan Tonita, Saskatoon 75,5 — $290
Second round:
Tanner Henderson, Caroline, 82.5 — $865
Brahmer Gaering, Coutts 74 — $575
Average points:
Tanner Henderson, $580
Stefan Tonita, $430
Brahmer Gaering, $290
Keaton Martz, $140
Saddle bronc:
First round:
Jared Mercer, 74.0 points — $600
Briley Scott, 73.0 points — $400
Luke Shields, 71.5 points — $200
Second round:
Cody Lane, 67 points — $720
Jared Mercer, 65 points — $480
Average points:
Jared Mercer, 139.0 points — $700
Briley Scott, 73.0 points — $400
Luke Shields, 71.5 points — $300
Novice saddle bronc:
First round:
Jordan Cust, 62 points — $295
Second round:
Jordan Cust, 62 points — $185
Rigan Ouellette, 52 points — $110
Average points:
Jordan Cust, from Callahoo, 124.0 points — $190
Rigan Ouellette, from Meadow Lake, Sask., 52.0 points — $140
Jared Correia, from Calgary, 49.0 points
