It just keeps getting bigger and bigger.
The annual Cinch Spring Thaw timed-event Challenge literally took over the Calnash Ag Event Centre for three days, reaching a number of entries it has never seen before.
More than 750 barrel racing entries to go along with around 1,100 pairings competing in the team roping events put the event way over last year’s numbers.
“We have probably hit our maximum, maybe even exceeded it, this year. We’ve grown so much over the past six years,” explained Trevor Jones, one of the organizers.
“We are getting entries from all over B.C and Saskatchewan, it isn’t just Alberta anymore. It’s pretty humbling and really cool to see that kind of support.”
Jones added the excellently organized event would not be possible without all of the people that do their part to run the event along with all of the great sponsors.
With this year’s edition barely finished, Jones has already booked the dates for next year and noted that there will likely be a few changes made to the schedule.
“With so many entries, the thought is that we may have to start earlier on the first day since we weren’t done with the barrel racing until really late this year,” Jones said.
“Our hope though is to just keep the rhythm going.”
Winners
This year’s challenge handed out around $150,000 worth of cash and prizes. The following are the winners in the various events and categories:
Barrel Racing — Junior buckles: 1D Hannah Anderson, 2D Hannah Anderson, 3D Nicole Groeneveld, 4D Laura Wilson; Jackpot: 1D Hannah Anderson, 2D Janae McDougall, 3D Sierra Brown, 4D Tiffney Carr.
Open buckles: 1D Taylor Manning, 2D Celeste Montpellier, 3D Kallie Lamb, 4D Amy Naismith; Jackpot: 1D Sonya Dodginghorse, 2D Rene Leclercq, 3D Edesse Descoteaux, 4D kaycee Mandel.
Team roping — Average: Chase Skocdopole and Devin Wigemyr; Steer Wrestling — Cam Leeson; Tie-down roping — Keely Bonnett; Ladies breakaway — Bradi Whiteside.
Full results are available by heading to www.ponokaspringthaw.com.
