Tara Sprickerhoff
Tribune Staff Writer
The 87th Annual Williams Lake Stampede was a roaring success, said Fred Thomas, Stampede Association president.
“It was another great year. We had great weather and good crowds,” he said.
The paid attendance at the Stampede was 15,559 people this year, which is down about 500 people from other years.
This could be for a variety of reasons, said Thomas.
“Our Monday performance was down a little bit, probably because there were other activities going on in our community like the Canada Day celebrations,” he said.
With final results in, the Stampede paid out $159,000 to 100 different cowboys and cowgirls who placed in the different Stampede events.
“Overall it was good for the cowboys. Everyone who came had an equal chance at winning the money,” said Thomas.
The rodeo this year had five performances rather than the normal four, with the added performance being held Friday at noon.
Also different this year was the lack of a barn dance.
“The barn dance has kind of run its cycle,” said Thomas. “Rather than try and run two events and split up our volunteers, we’re better off just to have one event.”
The Let R Buck Saloon, which ran Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, featuring bands Whiskey Jane and the Ken McCoy Band, was a great success this year, selling out Saturday night and coming close to selling out Friday night.
“I’d like to thank all the volunteers and all the people who made our 87th Annual Stampede a success,” Thomas said.