Big Time Paydays in Innisfail
Pro Rodeo Canada
For Immediate Release
Innisfail, Alberta (June 18, 2012)
“It’s a good day.”
That’s how Lundbreck, Alberta’s Kyle Thomson summarized his Sunday afternoon at the 52nd annual Daines Ranch Rodeo in Innisfail June 17. Thomson spurred his way to 87 points and the bronc riding title on the 2009 Canadian Champion saddle bronc, Lynx Mountain (Calgary Stampede) edging talented Iowa NFR cowboy Wade Sundell (86.5/$4586) for the victory.
The win netted the long, tall third generation hand $5792, a Ross Contway bronze and a champion’s buckle. Thomson was also crowned the All-around champ which sees his name added to the Snowden Daines bronze that resides in perpetuity at the Innisfail Auction Market.
“I’ve been coming here a long time,” Thomson told an appreciative final day crowd as he received the all-around accolade. “It feels good to finally be on that trophy with so many great names.”
Earlier in the day, three time and reigning Canadian champion bareback rider Dusty LaValley thrilled the crowd with a spectacular 88 point ride on another Calgary Stampede horse—Special Delivery—for the win, one of five titles that were decided in the final performance. LaValley, off to an uncharacteristically slow start to the Canadian side of his season, fit perfectly with the strong, athletic son of Grated Coconut and Zippy Delivery… pocketing a sizable $5476 cheque for the effort. Ponoka’s Jake Vold and Laramie, Wyoming cowboy, Seth Hardwick spilt 2/3 ($3993 each) with their 86 point performances.
Americans dominated the timed event end of the venerable Innisfail rodeo grounds. Sulphur, Louisiana roper Shane Hanchey continued his winning ways on the north side of the 49th parallel with a blazing 7.1 second run, again on Sunday, to take top honours in the tie-down roping and a tidy $6952 first place cheque. The win comes on the heels of Hanchey’s second place Innisfail finish one year ago and vaults the 22 year old into a commanding lead atop the Canadian standings with $12,939 already in the bank. Jared Kempker of Eugene, Missouri whose 7.9 had held up since Thursday night’s first performance, claimed second place to take home $6,220.
Cross Plains, Texas steer wrestler, Matt Reeves, bulldogged his way to the Innisfail title with a hard-earned 5.0 in a competition that proved to be anything but easy for a talented roster that found themselves tested by the fresh steer for every competitor feature that is an Innisfail trademark. Reeves, a three-time NFR qualifier, cashed a cheque for $8,278 and was 2/10 faster than fellow Texan, Hunter Cure’s 5.2, which paid $7,407; and three tenths quicker than top Canadian, Cody Cassidy (Donalda, AB) whose last-run-of-the-rodeo 5.3 was good for $6,535.
2011 NFR barrel racer, Carlee Pierce of Stephenville, Texas, blistered a 15.678 second run on Innisfail’s Championship Sunday to capture top prize of $10,481 with two time Canadian champion, Lisa Lockhart (Oelrichs, SD) next with a 15.756 for $8,385. The win vaulted the diminutive Pierce to number one in the world standings with over $96,000 won to date. Top Canadian in the elite field was Big Valley Alberta’s Kirsty White who posted a 15.965 for a sixth place cheque of $3,144.
The team roping title also went south of the border. Dustin Bird of Cutbank, MT teamed with Paul Eaves of Milsap, TX for a quick 4.4 second run to earn each man $3710. Spencer Mitchell and Broc Cresta, a pair of California ropers, were next with a 4.8 for $3320 apiece.
Other Innisfail winners were Gunnar Fuchs of Sangudo in the steer riding—69 points, $718; Calgary’s Jacob Stemo, in novice bareback riding–73, $706; and the second member of the Green family, this time Layton in the novice saddle bronc riding–76.5, $877.
Blue skies and big crowds were very much in evidence from Friday on and event producer Jack Daines, ever-present despite sporting the sling holding a shattered shoulder in place, was in fine form greeting sponsors, competitors and spectators from his perch in the announcers stand as he has for 52 consecutive years.
The second event of the weekend, Coronation Pro Rodeo, was cancelled due to virtually impossible weather conditions.
Next up on the Pro Rodeo Canada schedule—a trio of stops… Guy Weadick Days in High River, June 22-24, and the Sundre Pro Rodeo and Wainwright Stampede—both running from June 21-24.
Pro Rodeo Canada
Airdrie, Alberta
Phone: (403) 945-0903Email: cpra@rodeocanada.com
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