The 2016 Cloverdale Rodeo saw a huge turnout, with more than 100,000 visitors descending on the Cloverdale Fairgrounds over the Victoria Day long weekend.
The 70th annual rodeo and 128th country fair kicked off with a rodeo performance and fireworks display May 20.
Over the four-day event, the Stetson Bowl played host to 20,000 spectators who watched the world’s top cowboys and cowgirls compete for more than $325,000 in prize money.
Canadian Jake Vold of Ponoka, AB, took the top prize in the bareback riding event at Monday’s rodeo finals, earning a 92.5 score and $20,000.
Jim Berry of Rocky Mountain House, another Albertan took the top prize in Saddle Bronc, scoring 87.5 for his ride on Kesler Rodeo’s Spring Tunes.
Merrit, B.C.’s Katie Garthwaite enjoyed the biggest win of her career, with a speedy time of 15.96 seconds in ladies’ barrel racing.
Chase Outlaw of Arkansas was the lone competitor to stay on for the full eight seconds in bull riding. He scored 89 on Kesler Rodeo bull Shot of Wiskey, earning top prize in the event, $44,000.
The country fair hosted the fifth annual World Freestyle Round-up skateboarding competition, a four-day event at the Cloverdale Curling Rink on the fairgrounds.
White Rock’s Andy Anderson won the top prize in the amateur division, scoring 280 points. Diego Pires Afonso of Sao Paulo, Brazil placed second, and Kaue Araujo, also of Brazil, placed third.
[Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner, centre, on stage with Twin Kennedy performing the national anthem – Boaz Joseph Photo]
American Connor Burke of Richmond took the top prize in the pro division, scoring 283 points, putting him just ahead of 13-year-old Isamu Yanamoto of Japan (281), with Mike Osterman of Yorkville, Illinois in third place with 270 points.
Other attractions included the West Coast Lumberjack Show, The Cone Zone, and live country music performances, along with the West Fine Art Show, which set a new sales record. Part proceeds from the art show go to support the Cloverdale Rodeo Youth Initiative Foundation, which offers scholarships to students who have volunteered with the Cloverdale Rodeo.
The Cloverdale Rodeo and Exhibition Association is a non-profit organization that manages the world famous rodeo and country fair, and is responsible for managing the fairgrounds, hosting more than 1,000 events each year.
Rodeo winners:
Bareback Riding
1. Jake Vold, Ponoka, AB – 92.5 points ($20,000 Finals)
2. Caleb Bennett, Tremonton, UT – 91.5 points ($10,000 Finals)
3. JR Vezain, Cowley, WY – 89 points ($5,000 Finals)
4. Wyatt Bloom, Bend, OR – 88.5 points ($3,500 Finals) (TIED)
4. Colin Adams, Deloraine, MB – 88.5 points ($3,500 Finals) (TIED)
6Jessy Davis, Power, MT – 88 points ($2,000 Finals)
Saddle Bronc Riding
1. Jim Berry, Rocky Mountain House, AB – 87.5 points ($23,000 Finals) 2. Clayton Brum, Twin Falls, AB – 86.5 points ($13,000 Finals) 3. Lane Cust, Bluffton, AB – 82 points ($8,000 Finals)
Ladies Barrel Riding
1. Katie Garthwaite, Merritt, BC – 15.96 seconds ($20,000 Finals)
2. Kali Parker, Wendall, ID – 15.98 seconds ($10,000 Finals) 3. Julie Leggett, Kamloops, BC – 16.10 seconds ($5,000 Finals)
4) Sammi Bessert, Loma, CO – 16.11 seconds ($4,000 Finals)
5) Kirsty White, Big Valley, AB – 16.114 seconds ($3,000 Finals)
6) Sydney Daines, Innisfail, AB – 16.12 seconds ($2,000 Finals)
Bull Riding
1) Chase Outlaw, Hamber, AR – 89 points ($44,000 Finals)
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