The Eskèt Rodeo held this past weekend at Alkali Lake was the latest stop on the BCRA circuit and several local competitors made the best runs of the weekend to win their event in front of friends and family members watching from the grandstand.
Willee Twan of Alkali Lake, was one of them.
Twan was the last tie-down roper of the day on Saturday, roping in the rain he threw out a solid loop, then pulled his slack and waited for the rope to settle for a secure catch before dismounting to wrestle and tie the calf.
The calf he encountered once he reached the end of the rope was a feisty, kicking critter that challenged the capable cowboy, who stopped the clock at 12.7 seconds to take the lead.
During the Sunday rodeo performance, eight more ropers tried to best that clocking (six of them presently in the top-ten of the 2015 BCRA standings) but it was not to be as the wily calves either eluded capture or once caught, were a challenge to conquer.
Twan won the rodeo, Steve Lloyd of Quesnel finished second with a 15.2 second-time.
Norma MacDonald of Williams Lake made a good solid run in the Open Breakaway Roping event on Sunday afternoon stopping the clock at the 3.7 second mark to win the event.
At many stops on the rodeo circuit the winning breakaway time is more often in the 2-3 second range, which MacDonald is more than capable of posting, but getting out from behind the barrier (which gives the cattle a head-start) without incurring a 10-second penalty proved a little tricky for many of the competitors at Eskèt. MacDonald, the last roper of the day had the luxury of knowing just what she had to do to take the win and she executed perfectly.
Four-year old Paisley McNolty of 150 Mile House clocked a time of 36.53 in the Peewee Barrel Racing event Saturday which wasn’t going to win her any money, but money doesn’t mean anything at this stage of her rodeo career. The big smile on her face, however, was worth millions and said it all. She was just thrilled to be in the saddle and happy to participate in the race — priceless. The following are B.C. Rodeo Association scores following the Esk’et Rodeo at Alkali Lake July 25/26 with rider, town, score, and payout to the top three positions.
Bareback
Cash Kerner, Savona, 71, $534.11; Cash Kerner, Savona, 68, $430.73; Christoph Muigg, Hazelton, 66, $327.36.
Tie Down Roping
Willee Twan, Alkali Lake, 12.7, $690.23; Steve Lloyd, Quesnel, 15.2, $540.99; Logan Wlarry, Langley, 17.4, $391.75.
Saddle Bronc
Clint Quesnel, Lumby, 63, $1,164.80.
Steer
Wrestling
Riley Isnardy, Cache Creek, 18.9, 732.19; Colton Wardrop, Houston, 19.9, 569.71.
Breakaway Roping
Norma MacDonald, Williams Lake, 3.7, $627.01; Kristin Bell, Houston, 5.5, $499.79; Taylor Cherry, Quesnel, 12.3, $411.37.
Jr. Breakaway Roping
Dipon Leneve, Quesnel, 2.1, $364.
Ladies Barrel Racing
Deana Lloyd, Vanderhoof, 15.52, $891.88; Odessa Gerard, Savona, 15.65, $707.43; Cheyenne Betz, 150 Mile House, 15.74, $492.13.
Junior Barrel Racing
Taylor Cherry, Quesnel, 15.91, $216.58; Katie Holland, Barriere, 16.38, $165.62; Tosha Seitz, Savona, 16.38, $114.66.
Junior Steer Riding
Lane Paley, Quesnel, 72, $241.33; Elijah Gordon, Quesnel, 70 tie, $156.15; Tyler Cherry, Quesnel, 70 tie, $156.15.
Team Roping
Jason Beier and Luke Muehlen, Vanderhoof, 5.9, $840.87; Ryan MacNaughton of Quesnel and Dustin Shields of Vanderhoof, 6.6, $690.69; Richard Glassford and Steve Lloyd of Quesnel, 8 tie, $374; Rike Wieth and Jonah Antoine, Cache Creek, 8 tie, $374.
Bull Riding
Lane Cork, Quesnel, 79, $569.30; Levi Lawlor, Quesnel, 70, $435.34.
Pee Wee Barrel Racing
Kali Atkings, Fort St. John, 16.45, $105.40; Riley Beier, Vanderhoof, 16.65 tie, $68,20; Kira Stowell, Quesnel, 16.65 tie, $68.20.