Stock contractors are calling 100 Mile House’s first professional bull riding event a great addition to the South Cariboo Community Fall Fair, and they’re hoping to make it a future, annual attraction.
The British Columbia Professional Bullriders (BCPB) 2013 finals drew hundreds of spectators to the Outriders Arena in 100 Mile House, Sept. 7-8. They saw 15 of British Columbia’s best bull riders trying to stay atop some of Canada’s best bucking bulls.
Roy Call’s C-Plus Rodeos of 150 Mile House supplied a majority of the bulls. Call says he thought there was a good mix of guys hitting the dirt and guys making the eight-second whistle.
“All in all, I was pretty happy with the quality of the kids we had riding the bulls. I thought they did really good and it shows, too.
“In the four rounds, there were probably eight or nine different guys who made the whistle and that’s a pretty good sign. In the rodeo business, even in the pros, the riding percentage is well below 50 per cent.
“In the amateur rodeo, it’s in the 20 per cent range for qualified rides. This was similar to that. When those better bulls are out and the guys are beat up at the end of the year, it’s a real challenge.”
Ryan Jasper of Riske Creek won the event, while Colton Manuel from 150 Mile House finished second and Levi Lawlor of Quesnel finished third.
“Usually, the best guys win and that was the case this week. The guys that were one, two and three have been riding well all year….
“Ryan Jasper was just a little bit short of 84 points on Sunday. That was actually the one ride that put him over the hump.”
Local stock contractor Dave Atkinson of Diamond D Rodeo Bulls says he – along with Randy Brodoway of the South Cariboo Rodeo Association (SCRA) – want to hear feedback from the community with respect to what folks want from any future bull-riding events.
“The people in 100 Mile are the people buying the tickets to come and watch, so we want to put on a show they’re going to enjoy. If they want to see more bull riding, something at half time, or change the format and go to an evening performance instead of a day performance, we’re open ears.
“We’re willing to work with the town of 100 Mile to make this the biggest event it can be and draw people from out of town to come watch it. We want to be put on the map as one of the best bull-riding [events] in B.C.”
Organizers had difficulty attracting sponsors for the inaugural event, and it’s something Call says he believes was to be expected.
“You have to educate people on what it’s going to be and you have to find the right group to make it work. When you’re trying to get something off the ground, there are a lot of people who want to see what it looks like and see how it works and if they want to be part of it.
“I think the people who came here and invested their money this year and allowed the event to precede, they need to be commended.”
Noting he was pleased with the overall outcome, Atkinson says improving the rodeo facility in the near future is on the agenda and they’re working with the Cariboo Regional District to do it.
They’ve kind of been let go the last couple of years, he says of the rodeo grounds behind the South Cariboo Recreation Centre.
“You can only make so much old stuff look good. It’s a better atmosphere for the crowd too, seeing a better facility and better arena set up.
“We want to make it bigger. We need the businesses that get the benefit of this to step up and help a bit [with sponsorship].”
Call and Atkinson provided the stock for the British Columbia Rodeo Association Championship Finals in Quesnel on Sept. 13-15.
Then it’s off to the Canadian Finals Rodeo in Edmonton in November.
