DAINES RANCH RODEO AUCTIONS HAT FOR $6,600
June 16, 2009

There were a lot of big winners during the final performance of the Daines Ranch Rodeo, and while a lot of talented cowboys and cowgirls picked up solid times, scores and cheques, the biggest winner was the fight against breast cancer.

Sunday was Tough Enough To Wear Pink Day out at the rodeo near Innisfail, Alta. and while the final tally of funds raised for the Breast Cancer Society aren’t yet in, one figure is certain: auctioneer Jack Daines showed just how good he is at his profession, raising $6,600 for a hat.

Of course, he has a lot of experience in the trade, having worked at the Innisfail Auction Market in one capacity or another for more than 50 years, and the hat in question did belong to reigning All-Around world champion Trevor Brazile, who competed during the same performance.

Brazile and team roping partner Patrick Smith both signed the hat after they took top honours in the team roping, picking up cheques for a combined total of $4,594 after their fastest time of the four-day rodeo at 4.6 seconds.

Brazile also competed in the tie-down roping in Innisfail. And although his time of 7.8 wasn’t the fastest of the weekend, landing him eighth overall (in a three-way split), he still picked up a little cash for his effort in the sum of $546. The big win in the tie-down roping went to Oklahoman Douglas Pharr, whose 7.2-second time earned him $3,460.

Pharr’s wife also scored big, winning the ladies barrel racing. Brittany Pharr came in at 16.58, a tenth of a second faster than second place winner Shellee Shaw of Cardston, Alta. Brittany earned $4,923 for her trip.

In the saddle bronc, Dustin Flundra took an early lead during the rodeo’s opening performance. His 86.5-point ride on Calgary Stampede’s Liqueur Whiskey proved unbeatable by the end of the five-performances over four days and the Pincher Creek, Alta. cowboy added $3,869 to his ’09 earnings.

Dusty LaValley of Crooked Creek, Alta. came in first in the bareback riding with a well-earned 90 on the celebrated Grated Coconut. The Calgary Stampede stallion bucked LaValley to $3,023.

Red Deer, Alta.’s Kyle French rode River Rat to an 86.5 in the bull riding for $4,727, including day money. Beau Brooks rode Vold Rodeo’s Big Valley for 86.5 as well. With day money, the Nanton, Alta. cowboy picked up $3,893.

Steer wrestler Chad Bouchard was the fastest of the bunch on the other end of the infield. A 3.5-second tackle earned the Rolling Hills, Alta. bulldogger $3,773.

The Geiger brothers battled it out in the novice saddle bronc, with Kyreon landing a 74-point ride worth $392 in the first go-round. Rylan picked up a second place cheque for $245 with his 71 in the same round. But the tables turned in the second go-round with Rylan taking the first place cheque of $392 for his 78-point ride, while Kyreon followed in second with a 75. He added $294 to his first go winnings.

New Zealand’s Joseph Fentiman won the first go-round in the novice bareback riding with a 74-point ride, earning him $287, while placing third in the second go-round with a 65.5, for which he picked up another $135. Manitoban Colin Adams placed first in the second go-round with 70 points for $271.

In the boys steer riding, Cawl Braithwaite of Bluffton, Alta. scored 77-points. He picked up $551 for the ride.

Up at Coronation, Alta. it was Tristan Carlier placing first in the boys steer riding. The budding Medicine Hat, Alta. cowboy earned $438 for his 76.5 ride.

Sam Kelts won the saddle bronc riding at the Coronation Pro Rodeo with a 79-point ride. His go on an unnamed Harvey Northcott bronc was worth $846. Fellow Albertan Kevin Langevin placed first in the bareback on Desert Son with an 81. He earned $784.

Denton Edge picked up $1,067. The Marwayne, Alta. bull rider landed 85 points on Harvey Northcott’s Captain Hook.

In the tie-down roping, Alwin Bouchard of Scandia, Alta. was the first place contestant during the one-day rodeo. His time of 7.6-seconds handed him a cheque for $1,013.

Lee Graves, who failed to place in Innisfail, got as little redemption in Coronation. He placed first in the steer wrestling in an even 4.0, worth $1,392.

Stacy Lunde won the ladies barrel racing in 17.46 seconds. The cowgirl from Sundre, Alta. earned $792.

Casey Bertram of Piapot, Sask. won in the novice saddle bronc with a score of 69 for $446, while novice bareback rider Colin Adams, who also won in Innisfail, added another first place ride to his weekend. His 70-point ride was worth $384.

It was ladies first up in northern Alberta at the Cold Lake Stampede, according to rodeo chairman Shawn Metchewais.

“Some of the ladies were hesitant about coming because we have a track and wagons the same weekend,” Metchewais said. “But word was they were pleased with the grounds. We watered and harrowed prior to them running. It think they were happy and surprised at the same time that they got to run first on the ground.”

Rylee McKenzie was victorious with a 16.62-second go on the manicured infield. The cowgirl from nearby St. Paul, Alta. picked up $1,151 for the run.

In the saddle bronc riding, Kyle Thomson of Black Diamond, Alta. spurred Wild West Entertainment Rodeo’s Double Duty to 81.5, worth $1,104.

Jake Marshall from New South Wales Australia, who rides out of Wardlow, Alta. rode Wild West’s Hollywood to an 83 for $995.

“We also had Tyler Thomson with an 88 in the bull riding,” noted Metchewais. “He was on [Wild West’s] Global 8 and that was a pretty good ride.” That ride earned the Black Diamond cowboy $1,344.

Murray Pole won in his event in eight seconds flat, but in the timed event of tie-down roping, rather than the roughstock. Pole, who hails from Erskine, Alta. added $1,319 to his winnings for the season so far.

Todd Maughan won in the steer wrestling with a 3.6. The Airdrie, Alta. cowboy takes $1,773 with him into the upcoming weekend, where he’s scheduled to compete in three different rodeos across the province, as rodeo season gets into full swing.

And speaking of swinging, team ropers Klay White and Dale Skocdopole have a busy weekend ahead as well, and they’ll be able to fill up the gas tank on their way to High River, Alta. after splitting $2,164 for their 5.6-second go at the Cold Lake Stampede.