Local bull rider prevails

 

Laurence Heinen – Times Contributor

 

For the third year in a row, a local cowboy finished atop the standings in the bull riding competition at the Strathmore Heritage Days Stampede.

While two-time defending champion Scott Schiffner finished out of the money after being bucked off his bull on Sunday, Strathmore’s Mark Johansen took to the rodeo infield on Monday and successfully rode KinDeadly for 84.75 points.

“I feel pretty good because I think I’ve been bucked off every other year I’ve rode here,” said Johansen, who finished in a three-way tie for top spot with Jesse Torkelson of Winfield and Ty Pozzobon of Merritt, B.C.

For their efforts, Johansen, Torkelson and Pozzobon each took home $4325.88 in prize money and a shiny new belt buckle from the event sponsored by the Strathmore Times.

“For sure, it’s nice to win in front of the hometown crowd,” Johansen said.

After winning the steer wrestling competition with a time of 4.7, Cochrane’s Steven Turner also competed in the bull riding event and placed 10th with a ride of 81.25.

Turner, the top all-round cowboy on the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association circuit, said he looks forward to competing at the Heritage Days Stampede each year.

“This is one of the biggest rodeos of the year,” said Turner, who won $5500.88 for winning the steer wrestling competition to earn him a spot to compete at the Canadian Finals Rodeo in Edmonton from Nov. 10-14. “It’ll put me right at the top of the standings. I’ve got CFR made now, so it’s a great feeling.”

Fellow Cochrane cowboy Baillie Milan also had a great time of 5.0 on Monday to place second, while Ted Gollaher of Cascade, Montana placed third at 5.1.

Lisa Lockhart, of Oelrichs, South Dakota, set the pace with a time of 17.31 seconds in ladies’ barrel racing to earn $5664.80 in prize money. Ponoka’s Casey Crandell finished second at 17.50, while Brittany Pozzi of Victoria, Texas placed third at 17.65.

In saddle bronc, Cort Scheer of Elsmere, New England rode Get Smart for a score of 89.5 to place first and win $5594.88. Ponoka’s Luke Butterfield placed second with a score of 86.75, while Cody Taton of Corona, New Mexico had a ride of 84.5 on Monday to finish third.

Heading into the final day of competition on Monday, Jason Havens had the top ride of 86.25 in the bareback competition. His score held up to earn the cowboy from Prineville, Oregon a cheque of $4918.08. Ponoka’s Jake Vold and Steven Dent of Mullen, New England finished tied for second with rides of 84.

Hailing from Apache, Oklahoma, Hunter Herrin made a successful trip up north as he earned $4965.08 for finishing first in the tie-down roping event with a time of 7.3. Blair Burke, who hails from nearby Duncan, OK, placed second with a time of 7.5, while Adam Gray of Seymor, Texas and Jake Hannum of Ogden, Utah tied in third at 7.7 in an event dominated by the Americans.

“The competitors from the States definitely showed up and they shone,” said rodeo and chuckwagon chairman Pascal Del Guercio, who also commended the Canadian cowboys for putting on a great show for the fans. “They’re all trying their darndest, because it’s this kind of money that gives them the lift to go to the national finals or the Canadian finals in Edmonton.”

In the team roping competition, the team of Texans Patrick Smith and Trevor Brazile set a blazing time of 4.7 to win the top prize of $5608.04.

Murray Linthicum of Glentworth, Sask., and his partner Dustin Bird out of Cut Bank, Montana placed second with a time of 5.1, while Riley and Brady Minor from Ellensburg, Washington finished third at 5.4.

The Albertan threesome of Mark Sawchuk and Mark Trabysh, who hail from Harry Hill, and Steve Schlegel, of nearby Calmar, teamed up to win the wild horse race event on Monday.

“This is an awesome time in front of a great group of fans,” Sawchuk said afterwards. “There’s just nothing better you can ask for.”

In boys steer riding, Bryce West had a ride of 88 on Monday to finish atop the standings with a combined score of 88. The 13-year-old cowboy, who hails from Cadogan, said he knew he was going to have a good ride when he got on his steer.

“My brother Lonnie had that cow at Camrose and he was 92 on her,” West said. “I was really excited to get on her. I knew she was rank and the one to have.”

In novice saddle bronc, Casey Bertram and Coleman Watt tied for top spot with rides of 70, while Cole Goodine won the novice bareback event with a score of 71.5.

After another successful Heritage Days Stampede, Del Guercio said the rodeo committee and the Strathmore and District Agricultural Society have their sights set on making the event even bigger in the future.

“We’re setting a one-, three- and five-year plan in motion that we want to take this rodeo to another level,” Del Guercio said. “We’re hoping to culminate it and have something to announce in the very early part of the spring.”