It’s rodeo season once again, so folks can get the family gussied up in their cowboy duds and head out to the 62nd Annual Bridge Lake Stampede.
The rodeo will take place July 2 at the Bridge Lake Stampede Grounds and offers everything from good grub and bucking broncs to a cabaret dance.
Bridge Lake Community Association (BLCA) president Jaime Law says it’s a “great family fun day”, with intermission events including the crowd-pleasing pig scramble for children from seven to 12 years, and a stick horse race for the wee ones.
“There’s a [refreshment] garden for adults who want to do that, but we also have merchants who sell hats and [western gear], so it’s lots of fun for the family.”
It all kicks off at 8 a.m. with a hearty pancake breakfast, he notes, and then the “slack” starts at 9 a.m. with overflow team roping all morning.
He notes the rodeo draws team ropers from all over British Columbia, and as the most popular of the roping competitions, the slack features the competitors they can’t fit into the main afternoon schedule.
New this year is a covered viewing platform for disabled folks and seniors with impaired mobility, which Law says is in a “great spot” to watch the competitions.
“It’s hard for people to get around the rodeo grounds, and especially up into the bleachers, if you’re in a wheelchair.”
The main events get underway at noon, with some bonus prizes sponsored by the BLCA, including $1,500 for boys steer riding, the featured event this year.
The idea is to get more youths involved in the stampede and increase the interest in junior events, Law explains.
There are $500 bonuses bareback and saddle bronc, $400 for bull riding, and $200 for calf roping team roping.
This is in addition to the regular prize money divvied up from the admission sales, that also goes to both senior and junior event winners for cow riding and breakaway roping, as well as to the winners of barrel racing and steer daubing.
The rodeo winds up around 5 p.m., and a cabaret dance is slated for 8 p.m. at the Bridge Lake Community Hall, adjacent to the stampede grounds. The cabaret will once again feature live music by The Skid Marks and tickets are available at the door for $15 each.
Stampede admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children and seniors, and free to youngsters up to five years.
The Bridge Lake Stampede Grounds are located on the Bridge Lake Business Route just off Highway 24, and signs will be posted.
