Strathmore Stampede

Tyler Lowey, Times Reporter

Another successful Strathmore Stampede is in the books. It will be remembered for the outstanding weather and great crowds, and one of their own took home some money.
Out of 10 local cowboys and cowgirls to compete over the four-day rodeo, Strathmore’s Riley Roy was the only one to leave with his pockets a little bit fatter than when he started.
Roy was riding with Moose Jaw’s Brady Chappel in the team roping Aug. 6 at the Strathmore and District Agricultural Society rodeo grounds, when they brought down the steer in 5.9 seconds.
Their time was strong enough to outlast the final group of riders Aug. 7, hanging onto the final spot in the money, winning $578.10.
“It’s great competing at home and not having to drive five hours to an event,” said Roy. “Any time you get to take home a little extra money is always a good thing, too.”
Roy and Chappel have been roping together for a year and a half now, and seem to be the perfect team.
Typically, before an event, teams will decide who will be the header and who will try to rope the steer’s feet. It just so happens that Roy always ropes the head and Chappel aims for the back hooves, leaving no doubt in each other’s roles.
“I really enjoy this rodeo because they always get a great turnout. It was also nice to see the better weather this year,” said Roy.
Roy and Chappel have hit the road now. They will compete in 12 more rodeos as they wrap up the season.
Other locals that geared up in the hometown Stampede were Denver Roy, Riley Sibbet, Tate Hartell, Kristen Gjerde, Denver Johnson, Scott Schiffner, Rebecca Miller and Marci Wilson.
In the slack Aug. 3, Wilson turned in a 18.412 in the ladies barrel racing.
The first day of actual competition saw Dalemead’s Denver Roy bulldog his way to a flat 7.0, placing him eighth on the day in steer wrestling.
Sibbet wrapped up the local scene Aug. 4 when he competed in the steer riding.
The first day of big crowds saw a couple of strong showings by local riders.
Hartell rode in the bareback, as Gjerde raced to a 18.133 and fourth on the day in ladies barrels. Denver Johnson teamed up with Spencer Rutherford of Merritt, B.C. to place second on the day with an unofficial 5.2 second run in team roping.
The crowd was anticipating a big run from local legend Schiffner Aug. 6 in the bull riding, but his bull Electric Avenue had other plans.
Dalemead’s Rebecca Miller ran to a time of 17.855 Aug. 6 in the barrel racing.
Of course, there was big money handed out to several other cowboys and cowgirls from around North America.
Richard Champion, the Calgary Stampede champion bareback rider, put on a show Aug. 6 when he rode the historic True Grit to a 87.75 score.
“That’s an awesome horse and he has the arena record here. I knew I had a solid chance today with her. The best thing about her is you know she’s going to do her job and she’ll give you a chance to go out and do your job,” said Champion.
It marked the first time the Dublin, Tex. product returned to the Strathmore Stampede since his rookie year in 2012.
“You come to Strathmore and some of the smaller rodeos around here and you get the fans that understand rodeo and live for this. It’s something you don’t get down in the states. Everybody is so nice, the hospitality is so nice, the horses buck and there’s lots of money to win. You can’t beat it,” said Champion.
On Aug. 5, the Stampede witnessed a retirement ceremony for one of the greatest bucking horses, American Trip. American Trip has been bucking for 20 years and has given five cowboys Canadian Final Rodeo wins and was last rode by Bowden’s Ky Marshall. Following the final ride, American Trip enjoyed a lengthy victory lap joined by other horses he’s related to.
Cochrane’s Baillie Milan edged out his brothers in the steer wrestling and took home $5,625.90 after his incredible time of 3.3 seconds Aug. 7.
“I saw that bull during the slack on Thursday and I thought that if I could handpick my steer, he would be the one I would take,” said Milan. “He didn’t run as hard as the rest. I also saw him down in Medicine Hat and he was good down there as well. He doesn’t run as fast and is good on the ground.”
In the saddle bronc, Nanton’s Clay Elliot walked away with a cheque for $5,854.32 following his 86.5 ride on Klondike.
The team of Rocky Dallyn and Clint Buhler tied the team of Justin and Clark McCarroll, who each finished with a time of 4.4 seconds, winning $3,224.08 each.
Blane Cox of Cameron, Tex. was the fastest tie-down roper, finishing in 8.0 seconds flat and winning $6,435.
The wind really picked up in time for the final barrel race, as no winning times were logged. Tiany Schuster of Krum, Tex. raced to the winning time of 17.277 and picked up $6,279.20.
The top bull rider won the money and the belt buckle for the second time in Strathmore, as Garrett Smith (Rexburg, Ida.) rode Sheep Creek to 88 points, winning $5,696.40.
Smith won Strathmore two years ago.
“This is an awesome rodeo. There is a fun vibe about the place, good crowd and they bring in phenomenal bulls,” said Smith.
In the novice events, Mason Helmeczi won the bareback, Dawson Hay took the saddle bronc and Dexter Patton picked up $1,367.70 in the steer riding.