WILDWOOD BRONC BUSTIN' AND ONE OF CANADA'S OLDEST RODEOS START TODAY
June 4, 2010

A herd of broncs are stampeding into Wildwood, Alta. today for two days of professional Bronc Bustin.’

“We’ve got a really good line-up of bronc riders, and probably our best short go pen of horses we’ve ever had,” announces Rod Hay, Wildwood Bronc Bustin’ committee member and professional cowboy.

“If you’re a bronc riding fan, you’re going to get to see a bunch of bronc riding, and you’ll get to see a whole bunch in the same day. You’ll also get to see a pretty good bunch of cowboys getting on brand new colts on Saturday, and that’s always exciting, and then the finals are always outstanding,” Hay says of his hometown competition.

The top 14 ranked saddle bronc contestants were automatically selected from all entries to the 7th annual Wildwood Bronc Bustin’ to ride on Saturday. The roster includes a number of former Canadian saddle bronc riding champions, including Hay, who has claimed eight championships, 2009 Canadian saddle bronc riding champion Chet Johnson, and Todd Herzog, who currently dominates the Canadian standings as well many CFR and NFR qualifiers.

Thirty bronc riders are scheduled to compete at tonight’s performance and the top six contestants will advance to join the 14 seated contestants on Saturday at the Wildwood Agricultural Grounds.

According to Hay, “Whoever wins is gonna earn their money this year,” noting the high caliber of stock – courtesy of Franklin Rodeo Comapny and Vold Rodeo Ltd. – participating in the two-day event.

“We’ve also added one new stock contractor, who’s bringing some horses. Bruce Flewelling is coming, along with Wayne Vold and Shane Franklin,” Hay says, and adds that the final six horses in particular, “all have got a pretty good buck off ratio.”

And he doesn’t mind revealing who they are before the finals.

“(Vold Rodeo’s) Awesome, an NFR champion bucking horse in the bareback and the broncs, Coal Black of Wayne’s, Shane’s Blue Too, which was the bucking horse of the CFR (in 2007) and a newer one of his called Sky Blue, and then Bruce Flewelling’s American Trip.”

The event will also showcase the up-and-coming talent of the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association, with the novice saddle bronc athletes competing at Friday’s June 4 performance, and a round of steer riding on Friday and Saturday.

Everything is set up and ready to go. The sun is shining. We can’t complain at all!”

Also this weekend is the Handhills Lake Stampede, running June 5 and 6, and featuring a full rodeo experience of saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, bull riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, ladies barrel racing and team roping at the rodeo grounds just 38 km east of Drumheller, Alta.

The Handhills Lake Stampede first started in the ranching community in 1917 as a Red Cross fundraiser. One of Canada’s oldest rodeos, they’re celebrating 94 consecutive years this season.