Hosted by the South Cariboo Rodeo Club (SCRC), the two-day BCRA rodeo in 100 Mile House on May 19-20 was “absolutely awesome.”
Those are the words from SCRC president Randy Brodoway.
“We didn't get a complaint from one competitor. We got nothing but compliments on how [the rodeo] was run and how it was put together.”
Brodoway says they were very lucky with the weather this year.
“Last year, it was so cold everyone was wearing parkas. This year, Sunday was so nice and sunny and hot, and Monday wasn’t quite as warm but it was still really good."
He adds the crowds were great both days, but especially on Sunday.
“We were shoulder to shoulder; it was packed. Monday wasn’t quite as busy, but that's OK because we had a good crowd.”
Noting the sponsors were great, he says the club couldn’t have been able to put on the great show without the help of the sponsors. “They were all awesome.”
The VIP tent, which Brodoway initiated last year when the club hooked up with the BCRA, is the club’s unique way of looking after the sponsors, he says, adding they gave the main sponsors jackets as a way to thank them for the support.
There were a couple of injuries on Sunday and both happened one after the other in Junior Steer Riding.
“One girl had her kidneys stepped on and she was pretty sore, but she came back and rode in the barrels during the slack that evening.
“There was one young guy got his leg stepped on and suffered several breaks. We shipped him off to Kamloops where he had an operation and got his leg put back in place.”
As far as the financial side of the rodeo went, Brodoway says the club barely broke even.
“We just held our own. We’re going to have to work a little harder; we lost a couple of sponsors, so we have to work on getting a few more.
He adds the club is going to have to raise its admission prices next year.
“Every other rodeo raised their prices this year, but we didn’t. So instead of $10 per person and $5 for seniors and youth, we’re going to go to $12.50 and $7.50.
“We have to keep up with everyone else – stock contractors’ price went up, BCRA’s prices went up and everybody’s prices went up – so we have to do the same.”
Brodoway notes it’s still a good value for four to five hours of entertainment.
Stock contractor happy
Dave Atkinson of Diamond D Bulls, who provided most of the bulls and the bucking cows for the rodeo, says he was happy with his rough stock.
“Some the stock did good and some of the riders did good - it was a great rodeo. It was entertaining and that’s what the main thing is for us.”
Atkinson also did the bull fighting along with Earl Call of C+ Rodeos who provided some bulls and all of the bucking horses.
“We [Atkinson and Earl and Roy Call] work together all summer going to various rodeos.”
One of the great stories of the weekend was 150 Mile House cowboy Colton Manuel riding a bull named Ralph to a third-place marking on Saturday.
Atkinson says it was Ralph’s first trip back to the arena after breaking his leg two years ago when he was fighting with a bunch of bulls.
“It was his first rodeo back as a bucking bull and I was pretty impressed with him. I guess all of the vet work we did on him and all the money we spent fixing him up worked out.”
The winners
Following are winners from first through third place.
It was a big weekend for 100 Mile House roper Ty Lytton who teamed up with Tim Terepocki of Kamloops to take third place in team roping for an eight-second run to take home $273.55 each.
Lytton also placed third in tie-down roping with a 13.6-second time for $171.08 in winnings.
Brad Thomas of Williams Lake (WL) won the event in 10.8 seconds for $342.16, and Steve Lloyd of Quesnel (Ques) was second in 11.3 for $256.62.
Bareback Broncs
No qualified rides
Saddle Broncs
No qualified rides
Steer Wrestling
Logan Wharry, Langley, 7.6 seconds, $356.72; Riley Isnardy, Cache Creek (CC) 14.7; and Joel Isnardy, CC, 16.1.
Breakaway roping
Richard Glassford, Ques, 2.5 seconds, $352.72; Kyle Bell, Houston (Hou), 2.6, $269.73; and a third/fourth tie between Troy Gerard (Sav) and Katrina Ilnicki, WL, 3.7.
Ladies Barrel Racing
Colleen Duggan, CC, 15.967 seconds, $773.50; Judy Hyde, Prince George, (PG), 16.001, $591.50; and Melanie Beeton, PG, 16.113, $409,50.
Junior Barrel Racing
Callie Hume, WL, 16.012 seconds, $170.17; McKenzie Wills, Ques, 16.215, $130.13; and Brett Wills, Ques, 16.219, $90.09.
Junior Steer Riding
K. Bell, 74 points, $170.17; Wendell William, WL, 74 points, $130.13; and Rikki LaViolette, 150, 73, $90.09.
Team Roping
Neal Antoine, CC, and Mark Pozzobon, Sav, 6.8 seconds, $576.70 each; Terepocki and Jeff Wills, Ques, 6.9, $395.13 each.
Bull Riding
Lane Cork, Ques, on Mr. Mr., 81 points, $464.10; Matt O’Flynn, Ques, on Formula 51, 76.
Peewee Barrel Racing
Elly Farmer, Sav, 17.077 seconds, $116; Brianna Billy, WL, 17.658, $87; and Sydney Schuk, Tatla Lake, 18.042, $58.
Junior Breakaway Roping
Taylor Cherry, Ques, 3.7 seconds, $120.67; T. Gerard, 3.8, $92.28; and Cole Spiers, Ques, 6.0, 63.88.