The Lacombe Ringette Association wants Lacombe to have a rip-snorting good time with a Canadian Pro Rodeo Association Bull Riding event during the 2019 Lacombe Days.
Lacombe Council approved the use of the Gary Moe Auto Group Sportsplex and bull riding will come to Lacombe days.
“We want to bring a Canadian Professional Rodeo Association bull riding event to town and we are requesting rental of the Gary Moe Auto group Sportsplex,” Colleen Shippelt, Lacombe Ringette Association secretary, said.
“We are in a bit of standstill. We have been going back and forth with the City on whether we can rent the facility for almost seven months.”
The event promises to raise a considerable amount for the Association and would be done in conjunction with Sawyer Pro Rodeos, owned by Curtis and Corrie Sawyer who have raised Canadian Finals Rodeo and National Finals Rodeo bulls.
“We were discussing it one day and they have always wanted to bring bull riding to Lacombe,” Shippelt said. “They said they needed a user group to run it and I told him that my daughter plays ringette and I think the Lacombe Ringette Association would be able to run it. It grew from there.”
The city worked with the association to ensure that the newly renovated Gary Moe Auto Group Sportsplex would not be damaged by the event
“Their concerns are damage to that facility but the Sawyers do these events in many facilities throughout Alberta and they have assured us that when they host an event — you don’t even know that they have been there,” Shippelt said.
Monies raised from the event will go to support over 100 athletes — both male and female — ranging between the ages of four and 16.
“Ice costs, referee costs and other costs all add up to a lot of money and we want to keep the Association going and also keep fees down so people can keep their kids in the sport,” Shippelt said.
Additionally, Shippelt feels this will help raise awareness of Lacombe Days.
“I think it would bring people to the city and it would help get our name out. We hope to make it an annual event if it goes well and I think it would be really good for Lacombe,” she said.
todd.vaughan@lacombeexpress.com
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