It was the perfect weekend for a rodeo.
The 46th annual Airdrie Pro Rodeo wrapped up its five-day 2013 contest July 1 and handed out more than $140,000 to the best cowboys and girls in the business.
“It was probably one of the most successful years we had yet,” said Airdrie Pro Rodeo president Aaron Braham. “We had new sponsors on board, new trade fair booths and amazing crowds.”
Braham estimates that between 10,000 and 15,000 patrons took in the rodeo, which has become a long weekend staple in Airdrie.
A few changes were made to this year’s event, including a charge for camping, which Braham said was to alleviate noise complaints. He said it was successful.
The association did not hand out a lifetime achievement award this year due to a lack of nominations.
Nate Baldwin of Blackfoot, Idaho was tops in the tie-down roping with a time of 8.1 seconds and a prize of more than $3,100. Brooks, Alta.’s Kyle Bowers scored an 88 to take the bareback title, while Jesse Torkelson of Warburg, Alta. and Dakota Buttar of Kindersley, Sask. tied to win the bull riding event with a score of 87.5.
Steven Turner of Cochrane tied Marwayne, Alta.’s Denton Edge for second with an 85.5-point ride.
Travis Reay of Mayerthorpe, Alta., Trevor Knowles of Mt. Vernon, Oregon and Coleman Kohorst of Okotoks each took home more than $3,200 after a three-way tie to win the steer wrestling competition. Justin Berg took home the saddle bronc title with a score of 87.5.
Marana, Arizona’s Sherry Cervi won the ladies barrel racing while the team of Cory Petska and Erich Rogers won the team roping with a time of 4.4 seconds. The Airdrie-based team of Jeff Robson and Klay Whyte split seventh and eighth place with Justin McCarroll/Matt Fawcett and Kyle Smith/Kassidty Cobbe.
Dalton Davis of Holcomb, Kansas won the novice saddle bronc event, while Cochrane’s Philippe Harvey rode to the novice bareback title with a 74-point riding. Brady Resch of Maple Creek, Sask. won the steer riding competition with 77.5 points.
“Overall, the cowboys and stock were amazing,” Braham said. “The crowds were amazing and I can’t say enough about our volunteers. They keep coming back year after year and they’re awesome.”
