SUNDRE – The 43rd edition of the Sundre Pro Rodeo set plenty of records over the past weekend.
“Every year I say we have our best rodeo,” said Shane Crouch, Sundre Rodeo & Race Association president.
“But I honestly think that this year’s was by far the best rodeo we’ve ever had; the calibre of contestants, the stock – everything was just phenomenal. I’m just very, very pleased with the whole weekend.”
This year, the rodeo joined the SMS Equipment pro circuit tour, which ended up anteing up cash prizes that in turn drew out more contestants from around the world, including Mexico’s Edgar Durazo, who blew away the crowd with an impressive bull ride that earned him the top prize payout of $3,369 in the discipline.
“We’ve always had good competitors here, don’t get me wrong,” said Crouch.
It’s just that there were even more of them this year. In 2022, there at the time had been a record of about 550. But this year, there were nearly 650 competitors, he said.
“We were pushing 100 more contestants this year,” he said, adding followed by laughter, “My body’s telling me we were that busy!”
And when a pro rodeo entices top international talent to compete in town, rodeo fans are going to want to come see the thrills and spills.
“We broke attendance records again this year, which we seem to keep doing year after year,” he said. “But this year was no exception; our gate sales were through the roof.”
When Crouch spoke with the Albertan yesterday morning before press deadline, the association’s board had not yet had an opportunity to compile an estimated head count.
But as some people were arriving later on Saturday during the afternoon performances, they were informed at the gates that there was only standing room left available. But that did not deter anybody from entering.
Crouch said there throughout the whole weekend would have been more than 10,000 people coming out to the grounds.
“That’s pretty impressive for a community our size,” he said.
And despite a massive deluge of rain that all but drowned the rodeo grounds on Sunday morning, all hands were mustered on deck to ensure the show would go on.
“We got about an inch of rain probably in three hours,” said Crouch.
“We were up at 7:30 (a.m.) working in pouring rain,” he said, adding that by 10 a.m., the crew was hard at work pumping water out of the arena.
However, the rain eventually subsided, the arena was prepared, and the show went on as scheduled, paving the way forward for another record.
“We had an arena record in the barrel racing this year,” he said, adding there has never before been a barrel racing time under 17 seconds clocked at Sundre Rodeo Grounds.
But Jennifer Neudorf, who also won last year, returned to wow the crowd again with a local record of 16.93 seconds on a regulation pattern, which put her in first place to earn $5,123.
“We have never run a 16-second time in the Sundre arena, so we have a new arena record holder,” said Crouch.
“That’s one of the best times you’ll get in the world actually,” he said, adding that Neudorf’s achievement was all the more impressive given the muddy conditions at the time.
“I’m really proud of that; that’s probably one of the coolest things of the weekend for me,” he said.
Looking ahead to next year, Crouch said the Sundre Pro Rodeo will likely remain part of the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association’s SMS circuit.
“As of right now, we are one of the stops on the SMS tour for 2024,” he said, expressing gratitude to the record 130-plus sponsors as well as appreciation for all of the volunteers who helped make the rodeo possible.
“I got complimented that we’ve got one of the best crews in pro rodeo,” he said. “So that makes me very proud of our people, for sure.”
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Sundre Pro Rodeo 2023 results:
Bareback riding: 1. Orin Larsen, 89.5 points on Calgary Stampede’s Agent Lynx, $2,606; 2. (tie) Rocker Steiner and Wyatt Maines, 87, $1,908 each; 4. (tie) Kody Lamb and Michael Solberg, 86.5, $977 each; 6. Ty Taypotat, 86, $465; 7. Dallas Hay, 85, $279; 8. Strawbs Jones, 84.5, $186.
Steer wrestling: 1. Cody Devers, 4.0 seconds, $3,308; 2. Logan Kenline, 4.2, $3,033; 3. Dakota Eldridge, 4.3, $2,665; 4. Stephen Culling, 4.4, $2,297; 5. (tie) Tee McLeod and Jace Bleil, 4.8, $1,746 each; 7. (tie) Straws Milan, Chance Butterfield and Dalton Massey, 4.9, $1,011 each; 10. Clay Guthrie, 5.0, $551.
Team roping: 1. (tie) Chase Simpson/Travis Speer and Dawson Graham/Dillon Graham, 4.3 seconds, $2,915 each; 3. Brody Groves/Logan Grover, 4.4, $2,450; 4. Kolton Schmidt/Logan Spady, 4.6, $2,112; 5. Thomas Kaiser/Ty Johnson, 4.8, $1,774; 6. Brady Tryan/Calgary Smith, 4.9, $1,436; 7. Try Gallais/Tristin Woolsey, 5.0, $1,098; 8. Brett McCarroll/Clint Buhler, 5.1, $929; 9. (tie) Clay Ullery/Jake Edwards, Roland McFadden/Tyrel Flewelling and Chase Skocdopole/Stran Pollitt, 5.2, $422 each.
Saddle bronc riding: 1. Leon Fountain, 87 points on Macza Rodeo’s Honeymoon, $3,264; 2. (tie) Dawson Dahm, Hayden Cole, Ben Andersen, Kolby Wanchuk, Jake Watson and Lachlan Miller, 84.5, $1,360 each; 8. Call Marr, 84, $233.
Tie down roping: 1. Jesse Popescul, 7.8 seconds, $3,515; 2. (tie) Beau Cooper and Ryan Thibodeaux, 8.0, $3,027 each; 4. Hunter Herrin, 8.1, $2,441; 5. Erik Dublanko, 8.2, $2,051; 6. Shane Smith, 8.3, $1,660; 7. Ty Harris, 8.6, $1,269; 8. Austin Hines, 8.7, $1,074; 9. Haven Meged, 8.8, $879; 10. Wyatt Hayes, 8.9, $586.
Barrel racing: 1. Jennifer Neudorf, 16.93 seconds, $5,123; 2. (tie) Shelby Spielman and Paige Jones, 17.23, $3,971 each; 4. Presley Smith, 17.32, $3,074; 5. Blake Molle, 17.34, $2,562; 6. Brooke Wills, 17.39, $1,793; 7. Austyn Tobey, 17.43, $1,281; 8. Rainy Robinson, 17.48, $1,025; 9. Kerilee Noval, 17.52, $897; 10. Halle Bedwell, 17.54, $769; 11. (tie) Nancy Leischner and Taycie Matthews, 17.56, $576 each.
Bull riding: 1. Edgar Durazo, 87.5 points on Calgary Stampede’s Armed and Dangerous, $3,369; 2. Jordan Hansen, 87, $2,768; 3. Brock Radford, 84, $2,166; 4. Jared Parsonage, 83.5, $1,564; 5. Fabian Dueck, 80.5, $963; 6. William Barrows, 69, $602.
Stock contractor: Calgary Stampede. Sub-contractor: Macza Pro Rodeo. Rodeo secretary: Deb Northcott. Officials: Terry Cooke, Bernie Rivet and Cam Morris. Timers: Brenda Vold and Corrine Alstatt. Announcers: Wes Cummings and Doug Young. Specialty acts: Shelby Pierson and Piper Yule. Bullfighters: Monty Phillips and Connor Larrivee. Pickup men: Jeff Resch and Tyler Kraft. Music director: Shawn Morton.
