Cowboy hats were a must at the 64th Annual Bridge Lake Stampede where the sun beat down all day on competitors and the spectators who came out for some good, old rodeo thrills and spills on June 29.
The early morning saw a sprinkle, but it was just enough to keep the dust down for the rest of the day, says Jaime Law, Bridge Lake Community Club president.
“It worked out perfect. It turned around into a beautiful day.”
There wasn’t much empty seating space, but Law says the attendance was down slightly compared to previous years, most likely due to a couple of celebrations of life taking place in the community that day.
During the rodeo grand entry, a tribute was also paid to members of the cowboy community who had passed during the preceding year and it included Jake Scheepbouwer, formerly of 70 Mile House.
In the arena, only one qualifying ride was made all day in any of the senior rough-stock divisions. Mt. Currie’s Marlon Williams successfully rode Nightlife in the bull-riding event to make himself the solitary money-winner among 13 riders.
In junior steer riding, Emmett Beeds of Williams Lake made the only clean ride to take the prize money.
The lively stock was provided by WWE Rodeo Company out of Kamloops. While few could hang on for the ride, Law says on any other day, all could have made it.
“It comes and goes. You never know.”
Clinton’s Kailey Dube won the junior steer daubing event and Breanne Birch of Salmon Arm was the winner in senior steer daubing. Birch also placed fourth with Jack Verbeeton in team roping, which was enough to win her the All Around Cowgirl award.
Joel Isnardy of Cache Creek was All Around Cowboy, with a win in tie-down roping and a win with partner Archie Williams in team roping.
The peewee barrel racing champ was Erika Ignace of Savona, and junior barrels winner was Paris Schneider of Princeton. Marisa Peter of Walhachin won senior barrels and Raven Gentry of Lone Butte was second.
Curtis Zimmerlee and Jim McColl of Clinton partnered up to place third in team roping.
Much to the delight of the crowd, rodeo organizers resurrected the tug-of-war event, which was last done many years ago, says Law. It drew five or six teams for the preliminaries, with the winner Mt. Currie, digging heels in with the 70 Mile House Cunningham boys in the final. Neither team was willing to give and inch, but Mt. Currie eventually wore out the hefty Cunningham bunch and succeeded in taking them down.
The greased pig scramble also drew many laughs, as children chased a pig around the arena, tackling it in the dust to grab the ribbon from around its neck, and claim a cash prize. It took a while, but the pig tired out before the children did and a winner, whose name is unavailable, was declared.
Law says it was a great day, with the credit going to many people.
“We had lots of volunteer help from the community and that’s what really makes it happen.”
