50TH ANNUAL HIGH PRAIRIE ELKS PRO RODEO A WRAP
August 5, 2010

The results from the 50th annual High Prairie Elks Pro Rodeo, which ran Aug. 3 and 4 in High Prairie, Alta., are in.

Jim Berry of Rocky Mountain House and Kyle Thomson of Lundbreck, Alta. split first in the saddle bronc riding event. Each cowboy earned $1,308 after scoring an 80-point ride aboard Kesler Rodeo Co. horses, Berry with the tan and white stallion Kodak Moment, and Thomson with Shady Cat, a CFR and Canadian champion.

Gaetan Bernard took a stroll with Kesler Championship Rodeo’s Alley Trail for an 82.5 in the bareback riding. Bernard, from Erskine, Alta., picked up $1,298 for his trip on the black and white mare.

Cochrane, Alta.’s Steven Turner, who has been making waves at both ends of the arena this season, won a first place cheque on a Kesler Championship Rodeo bull called Beachcomber.  The 86 point ride was worth $1,412. Turner is currently ranked sixth in the Canadian bull riding standings, and second in the steer wrestling.

Chad Kurtz of Fort Saskatchewan, Alta. took first place in the steer wrestling at High Prairie, claiming the $1,557 top prize with his 3.9 second run, while Jake Pratt of Ellensburg, WA won the tie down roping in 8.3 seconds, worth $1,622.

In the ladies barrel racing, Lethbridge, Alta.’s Rana Koopmans had the fastest time around the barrels. She earned $1,278 for her 17.68-second run.

Chase Simpson (Claresholm, Alta.) and Rocky Dallyn (Nanton, Alta.) claimed the number one spot in the team roping at the two-day rodeo. Their time of 4.9 seconds earned each of the ropers $1,050.

Novice cowboys Reed Sparks and Colin Adams won first place in the novice saddle bronc and bareback riding events, respectively. Sparks of Innisfail, Alta. scored a 69 for $466, while Adams, from Deloraine, Man., was 73.5 for $388.