Photos by Jordie Dwyer and Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye
Some of the highlights from the busy and action packed Ponoka Stampede
Steer wrestler and Ponoka cowboy Craig Weisgerber goes for the grab during the finals. Weisgerber made it to the showdown round but a broke the barrier putting him in third overall where he still earned $7,881 total. Airdrie resident Jake Vold (formerly of Ponoka) has a strong ride during the finals rodeo afternoon performance July 2. Vold scored 90 points on Yippi Kibitz, putting him in second place for the showdown where he would eventually score 90.75, just slightly behind bareback winner Richmond Champion. Ponoka barrel racer Shayna Weir had an outstanding week making it to the final four showdown. Here she goes for the finish line in the afternoon finals. A turned barrel dashed her hopes for a showdown win. Team ropers Tyrell Gordon (heeler) Tel Flewelling (header) made it to the finals in the afternoon but couldn’t quite make it to the final four. Bull fighter Brett Monea gets close and personal to a bull after a bull rider gets bucked off. The bull fighters were there and ready to help out any bull fighters who were bucked off, and there were a lot as only 11 qualified rides out of 12 possible made it to the finals. The Ponoka Stampede bulls were rank with only 11 qualified rides in the Monday afternoon finals, and then only one qualified ride making it in the showdown. Here a bull rider gets bucked off but made it out okay from the event. Cowboys ready themselves for some of the best rodeo stock in North America before one of the afternoon performances. A Ponoka Stampede week isn’t complete without the fun antics of rodeo entertainer CrAsh Cooper. Here he gives a fun “slow mo” rendition of speed skaters while Olympian Catriona Le May Doan watched on with her family. Cruising down the lane is a barrel racer looking for the fastest time. Ponoka’s barrel racing saw some seriously fast times with Stevi Hillman from Weatherford, TX, winning in the showdown with a time of 17.385 seconds. The grand entry of every Ponoka Stampede brings wild horses to the track and to the main infield. It’s a sight to see and gives attendees a taste of the wild west. One of the amazing infield acts this year was the presentation of a family of trick riders with Rae Lynn Armstrong Trick Riding. Galloping through the infield, this group of athletes showed the skills they have in front of thousands of fans. Ponoka Stampede had more than 87,000 tickets sold this year. Bull rider Trevor Lulua of British Columbia watches as he gets bucked off the bull, Lighting McQueen, during the June 29 performance. Swirling lights and a fun midway made for some fun entertainment and excitement for kids and families. This carousel appears UFO-like from the long shutter image taken. Some tough steers made for some head-over-heels flips for steer wrestlers as seen in this image during the June 30 performance. One thing is for certain, the wild horse races are indeed, wild. This cowboy smiles big after being bucked and flipped during the June 29 wild horse race. Ponoka’s Zane Lambert makes a solid ride on the Canada Day performance on Grey Eyes, landing him 84 points and a shot at the finals. Lambert was bucked off in the afternoon finals. Rimbey’s Dean Edge works quick to make the best time possible on June 28. The tie down roper was just one tenth of a second behind the 12th place spot, just missing out on the finals afternoon on July 2.