‘Fantastic weekend’ comes to an end

Times Reporter  

 

There may have been last minute management changes, and a missing midway, but that didn’t stop this year’s Strathmore Stampede and rodeo from once again being a success. 

“We had a fantastic weekend, period,” said Pascal Del Guercio, rodeo and chuckwagon chairman for the Strathmore Stampede Rodeo Committee. 

Del Guercio said it was close to a record-breaking crowd on Saturday night, and the chuckwagon crowd on Monday had been even bigger than they had been anticipating. 

There are a number of reasons why he thinks Strathmore draws the competitors and spectators the way it does. One reason is, of course, the great the weather the August long weekend is usually known for. 

“Number two, if we put together the contestants and the best rodeo stock people in the industry, the spectators that go to rodeos recognize that and for sure that draws the spectators,” said Del Guercio. “There’s the Calgary Stampede, the Ponoka Stampede and then the Strathmore Stampede in that order, three of the top rodeos in Canada and definitely ranked in North America. Fred Whitfield who’s an eight time world champion was here yesterday (Aug. 6), Cody Ohl a six time world champion was here, Bobby Mote has won four world championships, and those guys are all here along with many others.”

Del Guercio said the prize money is also the highest in North America offered for the August long weekend, which helps draw in some of those big name competitors. 

For the last few weeks a rumour has been circulating that the rodeo will be moving to a new weekend in June. While Del Guercio does confirm research had been done about the possibility of switching weekends, the committee has decided against it. 

“We have done some homework and we have decided no, our weekend is good and we’re going to stay with our weekend. At this point there is absolutely no more research being done on moving it, we’re going to enjoy the weekend we have and this weekend proved that we have a good weekend,” said Del Guercio. 

“We were considering moving only for the reason that the midway and our local people sometimes are gone and they miss out on it. That’s off the table now and we’re staying where we’re at and we’re just going to build on what we have.”

The hope is to bring in more entertainment for next year. Finding a midway for the August long weekend can be a challenge but Del Guercio said the committee is looking into having a larger midway or possibly send part of their crew to Strathmore. 

The unofficial results have been posted. Jake Marshall got 85.25 points in bareback riding, taking first place. Chason Floyd with steer wrestling at 3.9 seconds, Dustin Bird and Paul Eaves grabbed the first place spot in team roping. For saddle bronc it was Rylan Geiger with 84.50, Hunter Herrin is in first at 7.4 seconds for tie-down roping. Kelli Tolbert grabbed the first place spot with her run in the ladies barrel racing. Skylar McBride took the top spot in bull riding. Lane Watt is taking home a first place victory in novice saddle bronc, and so is Jacob Stemo in the novice bareback. With a score of 82 Kagen Schmidt beat out his competitors in the junior steer riding. 

More results on how the weekend went can be found at www.rodeocanada.com.