If the Williams Lake Indoor Rodeo was any indication, Williams Lake and area cowboys and cowgirls are primed for a B.C. Rodeo Association season filled with successes.
Multiple local cowboys and cowgirls made their marks in multiple events last weekend at the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex — the first rodeo of the BCRA season — bringing home accolades and cash, along with putting themselves in great positions to kick off the BRCA schedule.
Around $7,500 was awarded to local competitors over the weekend’s three rodeo performances, which began Friday night and stretched until Sunday.
Additionally, local bull riders dominated the leaderboard in their event with Ryan Jasper (Riske Creek), Evan Fuller (Riske Creek) and Colton Manuel (150 Mile House), taking home a large chunk of the prize money.
Jasper scored an 88-point ride to win first place and $843.03, while Fuller composed a 76-point ride for second and $668.61. In fourth place was Manuel with a 73-point score to win $290.70.
In tie down roping, Riske Creek’s Virgil Poffenroth put together a 10.7-second run to win $769.95. Right behind him was Williams Lake’s Brad Thomas, in 11.1 seconds, winning $610.65.
Steer Wrestler Mike Hurst of 150 Mile House finished fourth in 5.9 seconds, winning $221.40.
In breakaway roping Williams Lake and area cowboys and cowgirls dominated the leaderboard. In second was 150 Mile House’s Allison Everett (3.6 seconds), taking home $625.14. Third place went to Riske Creek’s Keely Durrell (3.8 seconds, $434.88), while fourth place went to Williams Lake’s Jaime Macdonald (3.8 seconds, $271.80) and sixth place went to Williams Lake’s Denise Swampy (4.5 seconds, $163.08).
Alkali Lake’s Devon Robbins took the nod in the junior steer riding event with a 75-point ride to bring home $275.40. Fourth place went to 150 Mile House’s Blaine Manuel (71 points, $81), while Alexis Creek’s Reagan Charleyboy and Hanceville’s Ty Myers tied for sixth (64 points, $40.50).
In saddle bronc riding Gang Ranch’s Dan Gorman held on for a 58-point ride and a fourth-place result, netting him $202.50.
Williams Lake’s Callie Hume, in the junior barrel racing event, claimed the top spot with a 14.33-second time, winning $275.40. In sixth place was 150 Mile House’s Rikki Laviolette in 14.976 seconds, to win $40.50.
In ladies’ barrel racing Williams Lake’s Madison Smith and Bridge Lake’s Claire Myers finished eighth and 10th, respectively. Smith put together a 14.557-second time ($199.44), while Myers finished just a tenth of a second behind in 14.654 seconds ($99.72).
The peewee barrel racing event was dominated by locals, with Williams Lake’s Brianna Billy, Tatla Lake’s Sydney Schuk and 150 Mile House’s Brock Everett taking first, second and third, respectively. Billy raced to a 15.864-second time, winning $172, while Schuk (16.512 seconds) and Everett (18.189 seconds) won $129 and $86 for their efforts.
In junior breakaway roping Tatla Lake’s Jennifer Schuk was the lone Cariboo-Chilcotin winner, putting together a 5.5-second run — good for $398.52.
Team ropers Aaron Palmer (Kamloops) and Myles King (150 Mile House) earned $350.65 each and fifth place for their 7.7-second run. Ralph Myers (Williams Lake) and Gary Nicholson (Quesnel) teamed up for a 11.9-second run to win $13.49 each.
The Williams Lake Indoor Rodeo opened each performance with an opening act featuring the Young Gunz trick riders and the West Coast Thunder Drill Team.
Visiting rodeo royalty including Ginelle Talarico (Ashcroft queen), Harley Antoine (Ashcroft princess), Carolyn Cook (high school rodeo ambassador), Kassie Vipond (Miss Kispiox Princess) and Miss Rodeo Canada Gillian Shields (Didsbury, Alta.) joined Williams Lake Stampede Queen Alexis Forseille, Williams Lake Stampede Princess Terris Billyboy and this year’s Williams Lake Stampede royalty contestants Rachel Abrahamse (Miss Daybreak Rotary), Kyra Stuart (Miss M.H. King Excavating) and Karina Sukert (Miss Rotary Club) to help out around the rodeo throughout the weekend.
Longtime rodeo announcer Brett Gardiner and clown and barrel man Dennis Halstead helped keep the rodeo action flowing smoothly.
On Sunday this year’s crop of BC Cowboy Hall of Fame inductees were introduced to the audience. Archie Williams (Cache Creek), Larry Ramstad (Gang Ranch), John Dodd (Riske Creek, post humous) and Frank Teer (Houston) were honoured for their achievements in ranching and rodeoing with their inductions.
For complete results from the Williams Lake Indoor Rodeo check www.rodeobc.com.