The Lakeland Rodeo Association’s Showdown 2011 roared into action Thursday night, honouring the association’s year-end champions and naming 20-year-old Casey Lawes of Provost as the 2011 Cowboy of the Year.
“I thought I was too young for this. I always thought the guys who were out here receiving this award did something special, so I guess someone thought I did,” Lawes said as he accepted the Cowboy Country buckle from LRA vice-president Steve Horricks.
“I first saw him when he was 10-years-old, team roping with his dad,” Horricks said as he introduced the three-time LRA finalist. “He’s a real timed-event cowboy.”
Lawes also received a Bible from Terry Lesley, director of the Fellowship of Christian Cowboys.
The 2011 season leaders were also honoured during the rodeo’s opening ceremonies, following the introduction of the full lineup of finalists.
The Miller Rodeo Co. buckle went to Bareback award winner Rob Johnson of Stony Plain, the Benoit Oilfield Construction buckle to top steer wrestler Scott Guenther of Consort, the Novice Horse buckle from Signs and Graphics by Foss and Sons to Kody Lamb of Sherwood Park, and the Trach Rodeo Ltd. buckle to Junior Bull rider Billy West of Cadogan, while Junior Steer Riding leader Gunnar Fuchs of Sangudo took home the Lawes Oilfield Services buckle. Carlee Jo Edge of Cochrane received the Ladies Barrel Racing buckle from Young’s Consulting and Valerie Frey of Athabasca the Junior Barrels buckle from CNRL. Riley Warren of Stettler accepted the St. Paul Journal’s Tie Down Roping award, Mark O’Dempsey of Mayerthorpe the Saddle Bronc award sponsored by Doubletree, and the team of header Tel Flewelling of Lacombe and Riley Warren qualified for the On Site Oil and Academy Fabrications Inc. Team Roping buckles. The Red Road Rodeo buckle went to Todd Chotowetz of Major, SK in the Bull Riding.
The first rodeo performance saw Rob Johnson continue his winning ways with a 79-point ride on Doubletree’s X-81 Oh Oh to sit atop the Bareback leader board, well ahead of Peter Dyck of Amisk with a score of 73.5 and a pair of 70.5 marks turned in by Ryan Glennon of Courtney, B.C. and Ryley Gilbertson of Hughenden.
Steer Wrestling saw a closer race, Wade Jober of Viking topping the pack with a time of 4.1 seconds, Troy Pollitt of Bentley and Jerry Stojan of Sexsmith both with 4.8 and Ben Ramey of Ponoka clocking in at 6.0.
Kody Lamb had the lone qualified ride in the Novice Horse, with a mark of 60 aboard Miller Rodeo’s Socks.
Brothers Billy and Lonnie West made the two qualified rides in Junior Bulls, Billy with a 79.5 and Lonnie with 71.5, while in the Junior Steers, Gunnar Fuchs led the way with 76.5, Bryce West of Cadogan second with 75.5 and Shane Peters of Delburne with 71.5.
Rebecca Paradis of Barrhead recorded the top time of 13.516 in the Ladies’ Barrels, with Rebecca Beebe of Islay close behind at 13.524, Stacy Lunde of Sundre with 13.550 and Kerri Babcock of Warburg with 13.682 also making the trip to the pay window. Topping the Junior Barrels were Erika Leveille of Innisfail with 13.524 and Valerie Frey with 13.648.
Jim Gunsch of Thorsby and Riley Warren split the lead in the Tie Down Roping with times of 9.2, Kyle Lucas of Carstairs was third with 9.8 and Todd Gallais of Olds clocked in at 10.9.
Mark O’Dempsey took a 73.5-point ride on Doubletree’s famed Blues Clues to edge out Beau Waters of Darwell, with a 73, the night’s other top scores recorded by Steed Cline of Olds with 70.5 and Kris Kremp of Didsbury with 69.5.
Dennis Johnson, who replaced an injured Tel Flewelling in the finals lineup, and Riley Warren roped up the lead in the Team Roping, with their 5.6 second run. Grady Branden of Rocky Rapids and Tyler Bachelor of Mayerthorpe were second with 6.3, Trey and Todd Gallais of Olds third with 7.3 and Clint and Taylor Brower of Stettler fourth with 11.2.
The score was Bulls 8, Cowboys 2 in the Bull Riding, with Jordan Hansen of Okotoks riding Doubletree’s Scruffy to mark a 74 and William Vanderleest of Tofield marking 71 on Red Rodeo’s Buffalo Kid.
For full coverage of the LRA finals, see the Journal on Tuesday.
