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Bikes and Bulls returns for more rodeo and motorsport excitement

One of Airdrie’s most-attended summer events promises to be “beefed-up” this year – in more ways than one.

The Airdrie Oilmens Association’s (AOA) annual Bikes and Bulls charity fundraiser – July 26 to 28 at the Airdrie Airpark – offers attendees a variety of high-fueled entertainment, including professional bull riding, wild cow milking, a motorcycle rodeo, a burnout competition, drag racing and freestyle motocross, among other attractions.

“It is one of the most unique events that you will ever come across – there’s nothing like it,” said AOA president Adrian Pruden. “It’s an event that pulls in a wide variety of people – everyone from motorsport enthusiasts to bull-riding enthusiasts – and then, of course, there is live music.”

The airpark runway, located five kilometres east of Airdrie, will be busy all weekend.

“We have the show and shine opening at 8 a.m. on Saturday morning…and then drag racing starts at 10 a.m. and goes until 5 p.m.,” Pruden said. “We have the same thing on Sunday [until 3 p.m.]”

A new feature of Bikes and Bulls, according to Pruden, will be two performances from professional freestyle motocross rider Billy Kohut.

“He’s just returned from Johannesburg, South Africa, representing Monster Jam,” he said. “He’ll be doing freestyle motocross, flipping over the stage at the event and doing jumps through the sky, so that’s exciting stuff.”

Wild cow milking is another event Pruden said will get fans on their feet, along with other rodeo events such as mutton busting, rank mini-ponies and bull-riding – all to be held on a portable rodeo arena.

For its first seven years, Bikes and Bulls was held at the Airdrie Rodeo Grounds, but in 2018 the event moved to the Airdrie Airpark runway. The new venue, according to Pruden, offered many advantages, and attendance in 2018 was nearly double that of the year before.

“Overall, throughout the entire three days, we were close to 7,000 people who came to and from the event at some point,” he said. “We had 25 C days last year. We’re hoping we can continue on with that trend, in light of the fact we’ve seen a fair bit of moisture in the last couple of weeks.”

Proceeds from the event will go to the Airdrie Food Bank, North Rocky View Community Links and Airdrie and District Victims Assistance Society. Last year, according to Pruden, Bikes and Bulls raised roughly $35,000, which was split between the charities.

In eight years, he added, the event has raised a combined total of approximately $185,000.

“[This event] is something that people should take a look at,” Pruden said. “And, of course, all the money raised goes towards local charities in Airdrie.”

Tickets for Bikes and Bulls are $20 for a day pass or $50 for a weekend pass. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit aoaalberta.com

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