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Big scores highlight Day Two at Ponoka Stampede

Nearly every event saw leaderboard changes Wednesday, plus it marked the start of the chuckwagons
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The second day of the Ponoka Stampede saw a bit of everything — from the weather to what took place on the infield.

Wednesday saw some big scores and low times put by the both the cowboys and cowgirls despite the gloomy skies, gusty wind and the occasional rain drop.

When the chutes flew open and the dust cleared in the bareback, it was the aptly named Richmond Champion from Dublin, Texas, that held the lead after posting an 87 on Street Dance.

In the tie down roping, the top is getting awfully crowed with five cowboys under 20 seconds on two runs. Clint Nyegaard of Cuera, Texas didn’t have the fast time in yesterday’s afternoon performance, but his 7.7 second run has him in the lead with a 16.5 total. The fastest run of the day was turned in by Jason Schaffer from Broadus, Montana at 7.3, leaving him in second with a 17.1.

The race for the finals in steer wrestling will likely tighten up, as through two days there are only seven cowboys with times on two runs. And, it will be tough to beat the performance Hunter Cure of Holliday, Texas put up Wednesday — turning in a 5.0 second run in the morning slack and following up with a 4.8 second run in the afternoon to grab top spot in the standings.

For the saddle bronc riders, who got rained on a bit more than anyone else, it seemed to inspire them as several 80-plus point rides were put up. Among them was Meeting Creek’s Layton Green, who wowed the crowd with an 85.25 ride on Gone Country to take the lead right after former world champion Taos Muncy of Corona, New Mexico scored an 85.

In spite of some excellent times yesterday, the pairing of Ponoka’s Levi Simpson and Jeremy Buhler of Arrowwood remain atop the team roping with a two run time of 12.9 seconds. Four teams from Wednesday got close though, with the pair of Rhen Richard of Roosevelt, Texas and Rich Skelton of Llano, Texas doing the best with a two run time of 13.2.

The ladies barrel racing got started yesterday with Sherry Cervi of Marana, Arizona putting up a 17.610 second time to hold the lead over Big Valley’s Kirsty White with a 17.701.

And so far, the bulls have had their way at the Stampede as just two cowboys have hung on for the eight second ride. Yesterday, Joe Frost from Randlett, Utah earned an 84.5 on Spitt N Image.

Chucks open up

Wednesday night saw the four wheel rigs hit the track for the first time at the Ponoka Stampede.

In the World Professional Chuckwagon Association races, veteran driver Gary Gorst established the top time of the night — one minute, 13.73 seconds — to put himself in the early running for the Dash for Cash on Monday.

Six other drivers — Chanse Vigen, Layne Bremner, Kurt Bensmiller, Rick Fraser, Codey McCurrach and Colt Cosgrave — are all within one second of Gorst.

The results from the All Pro Canadian pony chuckwagon heats were not available.

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