Competing and contesting in a sport where you have to pay an entry fee seems to bring out the will to try harder in most people; the sport of rodeo — even more so as the competitors usually bear all of the expenses involved themselves.
That may include purchasing a truck and trailer, buying some pricey horses (top calibre competition-ready horses are very expensive), paying for the many litres of fuel needed to get the rig to the rodeo, paying entry fees and endless other costs.
With the cost of fuel skyrocketing, many of the rodeo-rigs are crammed with more people than usual (trying to ease travel costs) and there is an even stronger desire to win as most cowboys (girls) have to win or place to be able to afford to go to the next one.
The B.C. Rodeo Association (BCRA) season opened on the April 15-17 weekend with the Williams Lake Indoor Rodeo where several local cowboys and cowgirls started the season well.
The next stop was in Princeton from May 14-15 and Greg VanWinkle (Alkali Lake) was 73 points in the bareback riding for third ($263.34); Garrett Madley (Alexis Creek) marked 65 in the saddle bronc for third ($302.40).
Tie down roper Cody Braaten (150 Mile House) wrapped up his calf in 10.4 seconds for second ($570.96), Jerry Tucker of Springhouse snagged his in 11.4 seconds for fourth ($219.60) and Willee Twan (Alkali Lake) was sixth with 12.1 ($108.90).
Local steer wrestlers were led by Wade McNolty (150 Mile House), third with 5.6 seconds ($288.36), Rob Everett (150 Mile), fourth with seven seconds ($160.20) and Willee Twan (Alkali Lake) fifth in eight seconds flat ($112.14).
Breakaway roping saw Allison Everett of 150 Mile House take second spot with 3.6 ($388.44), Bailey Poffenroth of Riske Creek, fifth — 13.2 ($104.58) and Rayell Bremner of Williams Lake, sixth — 13.3($74.70).
The long weekend action was in Keromeos (May 22-23) with VanWinkle (Alkali Lake) marking a 64 in the bareback riding for sixth ($70.20), Madley (Alexis Creek), 76 points in saddle bronc riding for a four-way split of fourth ($91.08).
In the tie down roping, Poffenroth of Riske Creek was 11.7 seconds — fourth place ($174.60) and Keegan Smith of 150 Mile roped his calf in 12.6 seconds — fifth place ($122.22).
Steer wrestling was won by Twan (Alkali Lake) with a fast time of 4.5 seconds ($428.40), trailed by McNolty of 150 Mile House in 7.9 seconds — fifth place ($88.20).
Breakaway roping was won by Bobby Denner (Alkali Lake) with 3.5 seconds, the only catch in the event ($882.00).
In the ladies barrels, Denner raced to second place with a time of 17.695 seconds ($538.20).
Local team roper Poffenroth partnered with Alberta’s Brett Buss for a third-place split with a time of 5.6 seconds ($259.30 each).
