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Ponoka rings in New Year's Eve with annual Bull Bash event

This year there were 25 contestants in the open and four junior riders

The Ponoka New Year's Eve Bull Bash busted out of the bucking chutes at the Calnash Ag Event Centre, ringing in 2025 with adrenaline-packed action in true cowboy style.

The $5,000 added money open bull riding event by Vold Rodeo Company is organized by Jen and Nansen Vold of Ponoka each year. 

This year there were 25 contestants in the open and four junior riders.

"I think it was pretty successful," said Jen, adding somewhere between 1,200 to 1,400 spectators turned out for the event.

Vold Rodeo has held similar events in other locations but the event has been going strong in Ponoka for about nine years now. 

The doors opened at 5 and bull riding began at 7 p.m.

The premier bucking bulls didn't take it easy on the contestants, with no rides in the short round and a total of six rides all evening. 

Holden Atkinson from Black Diamond, Alta., the 2024 Bull Riders Canada national champion and season leader, was the winner of the night with an 82-point ride on Vold Rodeo's 'Star Eyes.'

Relatively new on the bull riding scene, young cowboys Jeremy Maisonneuve of Ontario and Kayden Budde (2024 Alberta High School Rodeo provincial bull riding champion) tied for second place with 80.5 point rides. 

Maisonneuve was on Day N Night owned by Shay Marks. 

"Kept one in between my legs for 80.5 for third in the Ponoka New Year’s Eve bull bash to end the new year off right," said Budde in a post on Instagram.

Placing third with a 76.5-point ride was Tristen Manning of Edson, Alta.

The winner in the juniors category was Kolton Ogilvie.

Stock contractors for the event were Vold Rodeo, Shay Marks and Wilson Rodeo.

The bull riding competition was followed by a cabaret with live music and mechanical bull riding.

"It looked like a pretty full house," said Jen adding the party was still going after midnight.

Performing was Justin Sutton and North of 49.

The country music band with a unique style inspired by traditional blues, southern rock and contemporary artists, performed at the Showdown Dance Hall during the 2024 Ponoka Stampede. 

The band is comprised of lead Sutton, Jason Berg on drums, Mat Patenaude on bass, Jordan Leden on guitar, Darla Daniels on the fiddle and Adam James on keyboard.

Vold Rodeo Company was founded by Harry Vold of Ponoka and is now based in southern Colorado. The company produces rodeos across the United States and provides bucking stock for over 100 rodeos annually. 



Emily Jaycox

About the Author: Emily Jaycox

I'm a reporter for Ponoka News and have lived in Ponoka since 2015.
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