Twenty-five brave bull riders fared fairly well against a stacked pen of premier bucking bulls at the fourth annual New Year’s Eve Bull Bash Dec. 31 at the Calnash Ag Event Centre.
“The guys came to ride, and they did,” said Nansen Vold, adding he was impressed as many stayed on as they did, with 10 making it to the championship round.
The Bull Bash is a Vold Rodeo Company event and is organized by Vold and his wife Jennifer.
This year’s bragging rights go to Jake Gardner of Strathmore in first place, Cody Coverchuk from Meadow Lake, Sask. in second, and Brock Radford, hailing from Okotoks, Alta.
Gardner put up 87.5 points in the long go on Happy Camper of Two Bit Bucking Bulls, and an 86.5 in the short go on Swagger of Vold Rodeo.
Coverchuk had a non-too-shabby 84.25 in the long run and an 84 in the championship round.
Radford held on for a score of 84.5 in the long go and 83 in the short go.
Carter Sahli came out on top of the novice riders, winning the junior bull riding champion title.
The Wild Hoggs bull team from Nanton, Alta. won the bull team event.
There were no local bull riders entered in the event.
The bull riding was followed by a cabaret.
With a visibly packed house, Vold says attendance at this year’s event was even a bit lower than last year, with an estimated 1,300 to 1,500 spectators, but the event has remained “very steady.”
Stock contractors included X6 Bucking Bulls, Wild Hoggs Bucking Bulls, Skori Bucking Bulls, Two Bit Bucking Bulls, Foley Bucking Bulls and Hy-Kik Ranch /CS Bucking Bulls, as well as Vold Rodeo.
Vold Rodeo appreciates all the community sponsors that made the event possible.
