It was a full house for the Saturday performance of the 92nd annual Williams Lake Stampede.
With competitors coming from across Canada and U.S. to compete, and more than 400 Stampede volunteers helping out, the rodeo did not disappoint.
Even when a thunderstorm swept over the city during the wild cowgirl race, the weather only seemed to excite the fans and athletes, who competed in the rain and wind.
Saturday saw bull rider Brock Radford of Dewinton, Alberta take the top spot on the leader board with a ride of 89 on Pig. Garrett Green of Meeting Creek, Alberta also had a great ride, scoring 86.5 on Winchester.
Darren Sulin won the mountain race on Saturday, leaving it anyone’s game for who will be the overall winner.
Competitors, volunteers and fans are set to do it all over again Sunday and Monday for the final two performances of the rodeo — undeniably the biggest event of the year in Williams Lake.
Read more: 2018 Daybreak Rotary Stampede Parade bigger and Better than ever
Read more: Outgoing Stampede Queen crowns new one during Williams Lake Stampede
See slide show above, photographs by Angie Mindus, and an interview with Saturday’s mountain race winner Darren Sulin.