The final numbers have yet to be tallied, but organizers are confident that the 29th Calgary Police Rodeo was the most successful yet.
Det. Mike Cavilla of the Calgary Police Service, president of the police rodeo, said the Aug. 20 event at the Airdrie Pro Rodeo grounds drew in a record crowd.
He believes this will translate to a larger total donation to the Missing Children’s Society of Canada from the charity rodeo.
“Overall, the day was a huge success,” Cavilla said. “I think we’ll match or likely supercede – it’s too early to tell – last year’s $10,000 we raised. We had a record crowd of over 2,000 people, thanks in large part to the great weather and the inclusion of the Calgary Fire Department this year.”
Shawn Konschuk of the Calgary Police Service was crowned the rodeo’s all-around champion with performances in bareback, chute dogging and the steer scramble. It’s the third overall police rodeo title for Konschuk, who is also one the event’s directors.
“He’s quite the accomplished cowboy,” Cavilla said.
“He is proficient at both ends of the arena – and needs to be for the all-around title – with a timed event and a rough stock event.”
The police rodeo, the only one of its kind, brought in competitors from across Western Canada for events such as bull riding, bareback, saddle bronc, team roping and ladies’ barrel racing.
Officers from the Calgary Police Service, Calgary Fire Department, the RCMP, the Edmonton Police Service, Corrections Canada, the Regina RCMP and the Abbotsford Police Department competed in the event.
