The Lakeland Rodeo Association named its 2014 champions after a wild and western weekend of competition at the showdown finals in St. Paul, Aug. 28 to 31.
The Lakeland Rodeo Association named its 2014 champions after a wild and western weekend of competition at the showdown finals in St. Paul, Aug. 28 to 31.
The finals proved challenging for all the contestants, with only three season leaders in the champion lineup. One of these was steer wrestler Glen Allen Nash, who placed first in three performances to take the Jones Boys Western Wear award as well as the Trach Rodeo Ltd. season leader buckle home to Drayton Valley.
Dustin Shaver of Crooked Creek led the Novice Horse Riding coming into the finals, and won all five go-rounds to win the LRA championship and the season leader buckle from Signs and Graphics by Foss.
The third season leader to win a championship was one of the rodeo's youngest contestants, Peewee Barrel Racer Kalli Beebe of Islay, who also won all five go-rounds to take home the Lincoln County Oilfield Services award and the championship buckle from Susan Early.
Three other champions came into the finals in second place for the season.
Bryce West of Cadogan was sitting second in the Junior Bull Riding, behind season leader Colton Kidner of Yellowhead County, but had the top scores in two performances and placed second in another to win the championship sponsored by the LRA, who also sponsored Kidner's season leader buckle.
Valerie Frey of Athabasca came into the Ladies' Barrel Racing in second, right behind Carolyn Knapp of Mayerthorpe, winner of the Salix Management Resource buckle. However, Frey won the Thursday and Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon performances and added a second, as compared to Knapp's second, third and fourth place runs, to win the Welsh's Saddlery and Western Wear award. She was also the Finals Trailer winner.
Mayerthorpe team ropers Troy Fischer and Tyler Batchelor also came into the finals placing second, behind season leaders Dennis Johnson of Strathmore and Colin Robertson of Okotoks, and picked up first, second, third and fourth prize money during the weekend to win championship awards from Denmax Energy Service and B & R Eckels. Season leader buckles from Bearing Oilfield Services Ltd and the LRA went to Johnson and Robertson, who had two first place runs and a third during the weekend, with one of their runs the fastest of the weekend at 4.0 seconds.
Being midway down the standings was no barrier to a win in the other events, however. Bareback winner Tate Hartell, originally from New Zealand, came into the finals in sixth spot, and double grabbed at Thursday's performance, but placed third on Friday, won both Saturday shows and won the final go-round on Sunday with a tremendous 79.25 score to qualify for the Xtreme Oilfield Technology championship buckle. Season leader Brandon Stewart of Innisfail, whose only win of the weekend was on Thursday, took home the Miller Rodeo buckle.
Coy Robbins of Camrose came into the Junior Steer Riding in third spot, but wins on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night earned him the championship sponsored by Vision Credit Union. Season leader Paul Wanchuk of Boyne Lake, recipient of the X6 Ranch buckle, won the other two and placed second on Thursday.
Shaylee McMann of Donalda also came in to the finals in third spot in the Junior Barrels, and won the Thursday night, Saturday afternoon and evening and Sunday performances to claim the St. Paul Dodge championship. Elk Point's Spencer Young won Friday's performance, placed fourth on Sunday, third on Saturday and second on Friday, while season leader Paige Manning of Edson claimed two seconds and a third on the weekend and took home the Troy Fischer Silverworks buckle.
The St. Paul Journal's Tie Down Roping buckle went to Blair Smith of Wimborne, who placed fifth coming into Showdown, and added a first place time, a third and a fourth to win the championship, Season leader Jim Gunsch of Thorsby took home another buckle sponsored by the Journal, along with a first and second paycheque for the weekend.
Tyler Kampjes of Bon Accord came to the finals sitting fifth, but added up a first place score and three thirds to win the CFCW championship. Season leader Tyler Wilson of Meadow Lake, Sask., won the first go-round and placed second and third later in the weekend, taking home the John Duffy Rodeo buckle.
Bull Riding champion Tyrell Ward of Three Hills was way down in eighth place at the end of the season, but proved his skills by winning both Thursday's and Friday's go rounds for the Bearing Oilfield Services championship. Season leader Jordan Wasieczko of Fawcett had a disappointing weekend with no trips to the pay window, taking home the Read Road/IncrediBull buckle for the season win.
