The 41st annual Tees Rodeo went off without a hitch with a full selection of rodeo activities to keep folks entertained.
Held over the weekend of July 30 and 31, the two days featured a large assortment of rodeo events that included the favourites of bull riding and saddlebronc, but also tons of fun with the kids’ events. Among those was the fun sheep riding, calf scramble and barrel racing for kids 12 and under, up to the ladies’ barrels.
“Our weather held off really good,” said Cody Meston, president of the Tees Agricultural Society.
What he enjoys the most from the rodeo is the kids’ events. Part of the Central Alberta Rodeo Association, Meston says with more youths taking part in the rodeo activities, the better it is for the future of rodeo. As an example Meston said that professional bull rider Scott Schiffner got his start with rodeos like Tees.
Former rodeo champ Rod Warren enjoys the rodeo too and he brings his family with him, said Meston. “And then there’s a lot of people that don’t want to travel hard for the pro rodeos,” he added.
In an effort to get more saddlebronc and bareback riders — rodeos have a challenge getting athletes for these events — the Tees Rodeo uses a two-head average, giving athletes more chances at money. The benefits are twofold; a better chance at placing and, “it puts more rough stock in the rodeo to make it more entertaining.”
A special invitational steer riding and barrel racing event was held Monday, Aug. 1 at the Tees rodeo grounds as a fundraiser with money going to the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation in care of the Rotary Flames House. Organizers say most of the money the young athletes won was donated back to the foundation.
Top three in each event:
BAREBACK (two head average)
1 John Hughes - 144
2 Dusty Patapoff - 67
3 Carter McLeod - 58
SADDLEBRONC (two head average)
1 Hayden Cole - 135
2 Tyrell Simpson - 127
3 Nick Patterson - 65
BULL RIDING
1 Bryan Batt - 78
2 Austin Nash - 68
3 Ashton Sahli - 66
TIE DOWN ROPING
1 David Bunney - 9.55
2 Hayden Warren - 10.64
3 Robert Saunders - 11.17
13-15 years BREAKAWAY
1 Cole Warren - 2.14
2 Chase Schatschneider - 2.65
3 Mikenna Schauer - 3.29
13-15 years STEERS
1 Tyan Mailer - 69
2 Zach Sabon - 68
3 Chase Schatschneider - 66
7-12 STEERS
1 Rhett Tattrie - 75
2 John Verbeek - 72
3 Keston Loewen - 69
LADIES COW RIDING
1 Megan Bergsveinson - 69
7-12 BREAKAWAY
1 Randon Ross - 3.13
2 Kyla Kelly - 3.89
3 Denim Ross - 4.55
LADIES BARRELS
1 Amanda Harder - 16.425
2 Morgan Chodzicki - 16.550
3 Kim Gerwatoski - 16.707
TEAM ROPING
1 Melissa Grover Logan Kary 6.77
2 Randon Ross Denim Ross 7.76
3 Kelly Strandquist Carson Rock 8.04
13-15 BARRELS
1 Jessy Armstrong - 16.553
2 Mikenna Schauer - 16.625
3 Sage Turner - 16.672
7-12 BARRELS
1 Jewel Pollock - 16.331
2 Amanda Harder - 16.745
3 Taylor Cholach - 16.936