CALGARY, ALTA. – The folks running the Daines Ranch Rodeo in Innisfail, Alta. thought last year’s entries were high.
“If you look at the numbers we’ve got [this year], it’s unbelievable,” touts Jack Daines who started the Daines Ranch Rodeo 49 years ago near Innisfail, Alta.
“It’s a lot of rodeo,” he continued, “Those bull riders might have to have flashlights on their helmets for Thursday night ’cause we’re bucking a lot of bulls, too,” he chuckled.
The fact that it was the third-richest professional rodeo in Canada in 2008 might have something to do with all the entries, but it’s also been voted the best rodeo in Canada nine of the last 13 years by the cowboys and cowgirls doing the competing.
For Daines, the real draw is the chance to watch all the talented rodeo athletes in action, including all the 2008 Canadian champions, six-time all-around world champion Trevor Brazile and a star-studded cast of stock, including the Calgary Stampede’s famous bucking horse Grated Coconut and the 2006 CFR bareback horse Pop A Top from the Franklin Rodeo outfit.
Everything gets underway at the Daines Ranch just four miles north of Innisfail this afternoon at 6 p.m. with a junior rodeo previewing the professional athletes that start at 7 p.m.
Another rodeo that’s drawing some big numbers and big names this weekend is the 41st annual Cold Lake Stampede in northern Alberta. It marks the first time the rodeo has been sanctioned by the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA) and rodeo chairman Shawn Metchewais has never seen so many entries.
“This is by far our largest entry. It’s created a lot of excitement amongst the board members,” Metchewais enthused, noting that they’re also expecting a large number of spectators, especially with the nice weather set to coincide with the rodeo, which runs Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.
“I’m hoping that we’ll be prepared for the traffic we have coming. It’ll be a pretty big learning curve for me and everyone else involved,” he said.
Metchewais added that they’re pretty lucky in Cold Lake, Alta. with the number of volunteers that help out make the rodeo happen each year, and to make sure the weekend runs smooth.
“It’s a pretty big undertaking and we’ve been really fortunate that we’ve got good help and I’ve had good help that’s made my job easier – or somewhat easier,” laughed Metchewais, who is also the vice president of the Cold Lake Agricultural Society.
About half a dozen volunteers helped get the Coronation Pro Rodeo ready for June 13’s action-packed rodeo, and by the time Saturday rolls around, the action is set to go off without a hitch.
“We’re going out tonight to finish putting up the signage and whatnot, cleaning up the booths and then we’re ready to go,” described Coronation Pro Rodeo secretary and committee member Marvin Tkach.
“We’ve got Guns of the Wild West for half time entertainment,” Tkach said, “and I guess you’d call this our sports day in town now. It’s the only main summer event [in Coronation, Alta.].”
The Coronation Pro Rodeo gets underway at 1 p.m. on June 13.
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