NUGENT THRILLED AFTER WIN IN COLEMAN
It’s been a long time since Randa Nugent (Water Valley, Alta.) stood on the podium, symbolically so to speak, shook the bottle of champagne and squirted the foam on her audience.
You know, a traditional Formula One car racing style victory celebration?
“I think the last time was 17 years ago, Kamloops (B.C.) in 1990,” Nugent recalled, somewhat dimly.
Her maiden name was Wilson and she was just 13 years of age.
Cowgirls and cowboys, then, as now, didn’t get a gratis bottle of champagne for winning first—and surely wouldn’t have wasted it on their supporters that way anyway.
But, symbolism aside, when Randa won first in the barrel racing at this year’s closing April rodeo in Coleman in the Rocky Mountain foothills Kananaskis country, it basically blew her away.
She covered the cloverleaf pattern in 13.27 seconds, nearly two-tenths quicker than her closest pursuer. And the run paid $1,624.
Making the day even more satisfying was that husband Mark split second in the tie-down roping with an 8.6-second run for a $1,052 return.
“The first time we both placed at a rodeo was last year at Falkland,” Randa recalled.
Mark won first for $1,240; Randa cashed eighth to collect $223.
But, back to Randa and her moment of glory at Coleman.
“It may seem like a small thing to win first at a rodeo, but I’m just so excited,” she bubbled. “I set a goal this year to just win one rodeo. I didn’t care how my entire year went I just wanted to win first once. Now that I’ve done it this early in the season I have to change my goal. I don’t want to quit, I got to make a new one.”
She’s already struggling with those thoughts.
“I’m thinking now about maybe trying to win more money than I did last year,” she whispered.
That might not be so tough. She already collected two cheques from four starts for a total of nearly $1,800. A year ago she went to 47 of them to earn $5,156.
“I don’t want to set my expectations too high,” Randa responded. “I’m still getting used to my horse.”
She’s riding a nine-year-old sorrel gelding called Chachi, the same horse that Buffy Romeo piloted to the Canadian Finals Rodeo in 2005.
“I bought him in mid-year, but I wanted Buffy to stay on him, qualify for the CFR and she did. So I rode him for the first time last year and it’s just a case of my learning how to ride him right, being a good jockey,
“He’s a super, super nice horse and I know he can do what he needs to do. I’m just hoping I can get everything together this year. I’m used to riding colts and it’s a little different for me handling a seasoned horse.”
Complete results from the Kananaskis Pro Rodeo as well as up-to-date Canadian and Canadian Rodeo Tour standings are included in this release.
SADDLE BRONC CHAMPION STILL HOT
The reigning Canadian champion saddle bronc rider is on some kind of a roll.
Ross Kreutzer (Maple Creek, Sask.) cashed fourth at Coleman and has placed on every bucking horse he’s crawled on since the opening round of the CFR last November with the exception of his draw at Medicine Hat.
He’s turned 10 of his last 11 bucking horses into money-making rides.
2007 CPRA BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTIONS
The following positions were decided by acclamation at the CPRA's annual general meeting, held February 24, 2007 in Calgary, Alta.:
• Stock contractor representative, Duane Kesler
• Bareback representative, Davey Shields Jr.
• Tie-down roping representative, Bruce H. Robinson
• Team roping representative, Rocky Dallyn
The following positions were put to a vote, with the winners being:
• Committee representative, Tim Thompson
• Saddle bronc representative, Rod Hay
Unofficial CPRA Rodeo Results
Kananaskis Pro Rodeo
Coleman, AB
April 27-29, 2007
SADDLE BRONC
1-2 Justin Berg, Marwayne, AB 81.0 $1,228
Kesler Championship Rodeo's Three Leaves
1-2 Justin Meston, Tees, AB 81.0 1,153
Kesler Rodeo Co.'s Instant Request
3 Jeremy Russell, Nanton, AB 79.5 708
4 Ross Kreutzer, Maple Creek, SK 77.0 469
BAREBACK
1 Luke Creasy, Brownfield, AB 80.0 $1,065
Kesler Rodeo Co.'s Dark Shadow
2 Denny Phipps, Cochrane, AB 78.0 780
3 Luke Walker, Vanderhoof, BC 77.0 520
4 Russ Hallaby, Hanna, AB 73.0 285
BULL RIDING
1 Matt Shaw, Penhold, AB 83.0 $1,203
Kesler Championship Rodeo's Coast To Coast
2 Jory Vine, Strathmore, AB 80.5 1,024
3 Jesse Torkelson, Winfield, AB 80.0 979
4 Tyler Thomson, Black Diamond, AB 79.0 800
5 Brock Matejka, Enderby, BC 76.0 488
TIE-DOWN ROPING
1 Logan Hofer, Magrath, AB 8.4 $1,308
2-3 Mark Nugent, Water Valley, AB 8.6 1,052
2-3 Blair Stroh, Elkwater, AB 8.6 1,052
4 Clark Hughson, Foremost, AB 8.9 796
5 Alwin Bouchard, Scandia, AB 9.1 626
6 Chad Bouchard, Rolling Hills, AB 9.4 455
7 Dustin McKean, Cremona, AB 10.1 284
8 Marty Becker, Edmonton, AB 10.2 114
STEER WRESTLING
1 Jeremy Harden, Big Valley, AB 4.1 $1,649
2-4 Straws Milan, Cochrane, AB 4.4 1,218
2-4 Troy Maclean, Carseland, AB 4.4 1,218
2-4 Wayne Resch, Maple Creek, SK 4.4 1,218
5 Clint Maddox, Eckville, AB 4.5 788
6 Chancey Woods, Spruce Grove, AB 4.7 358
6 Jessie Heggie, Raymond, AB 4.7 358
6 Bart Doan, Calgary, AB 4.7 358
LADIES BARREL RACING
1 Randa Nugent, Water Valley, AB 13.27 $1,624
2 Janet Moen, Stewart Valley, SK 13.45 1,392
3 Crystal Shaw, Daysland, AB 13.48 1,160
4 Janet Bjornson, Killam, AB 13.49 1,005
5-6 Raylee Edwards, Lethbridge, AB 13.52 696
5-6 Kelley Sheehan, Cremona, AB 13.52 696
7 Lacey Stanton, Exshaw, AB 13.53 464
8-9 Stacie Chisholm, Didsbury, AB 13.55 271
8-9 Traci Dawson, Erskine, AB 13.55 271
10 Jolien Rogers, Stony Plain, AB 13.57 155
TEAM ROPING
1 Brian Larson, Medicine Hat, AB 5.5 $2,074
Casey Weerstra, Brooks, AB
2 Marty Becker, Edmonton, AB 6.1 1,717
Shane Schwenke, Harlem, MT
3 Todd Gallais, Sundre, AB 6.2 1,359
Blair Stroh, Elkwater, AB
4 Cody McCarroll, Edmonton, AB 6.3 1,001
Murray Linthicum, Glentworth, SK
5 Jeffrey Quam, Airdrie, AB 6.4 644
Jonathan Drake, Brooks, AB
6 Tyler Cornet, Fiske, SK 7.1 358
Malcolm Brost, Rosemary, AB
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