Good news cowboys and cowgirls, the rodeo’s back.
Last weekend an array of riders gathered in Williams Lake to kick off the rodeo season and compete in the first rodeo of the year.
Americans came in and took over in bareback, capturing both first and third in the event.
Dan Ketter, of Olympia, Washington, got the best of the bareback riders, on the back of The Graduate. Jared Marshall, from P.G., riding on Simon’s Bear and Orlan McGuffin, of Ellensburg, Washington, riding Smokin’ Gun, tied for a split 2/3 finish.
Virgil Poffenroth, riding out of Riske Creek, took the top slot in tie-down roping, followed by Brad Thomas from Williams Lake and Logan Wharry out of Langley.
Kaila Mussel dominated the saddle bronc ranks, taking first on the aptly named Pay Day and second on the back of Starbucks. Quesnel’s own Steve Hohman stepped into third off the back of Step’n Stone.
Wharry also wrestled well, taking first in steer wrestling, followed by Mike Gill, from Merritt and Luke Simonin, out of Naramata.
In breakaway roping, Charlie Soffel out of Vanderhoof, took the big purse. Allison Everett out to 150 Mile House came in second, followed by Keely Dunrell, from Riske Creek.
Savona’s Troy Gerard took the top spot in jr. breakaway roping, followed by Jennifer Schuk, riding out of Tatla Lake.
In ladies barrel racing, Julie Leggett from Kamloops took first, followed by Cathy Bueckert from Vanderhoof and Joleen Seitz out of Savona.
Callie Hume, riding out of Williams Lake, took first in junior barrel racing. Cache Creek’s Sofeya Smith took second followed by a tie between Mariah Mannering of Quesnel and Tosha Seitz of Savona, for third.
Devon Robbins sat atop the junior steer riding heap. Under him was Jackson Scott from Kamloops, and Kyle Bell from Houston rounding out the top three.
The Gold Pan team of Russell Glassford and Steve Lloyd found themselves on top in team roping. Glassford followed himself with team mate Richard Glassford to take second as well. Keri Mikkelson out of Pritchard and Troy Eli out of Kamloops, took third.
Ryan Jasper out of Riske Creek, rode out a trip on Oxycontin to take first in bull riding. Evan Fuller, also of Riske Creek, took second on Hokey Pokey, while Hohman ended up in third after Super Trooper took him for a ride.
Williams Lake’s Brianna Billy took the honours in pee wee barrel racing. Sydney Schuk of Tatla Lake, took second, with 150 Mile House’s Brock Everett rounding out the top three.
Rodeo action continues this weekend at the new-this-year Nechako Valley Indoor Rodeo in Vanderhoof.
