SHIELDS CELEBRATES VICTORY IN TUSCON
March 2 , 2009

La Fiesta de los Vaqueros – “The Celebration of the Cowboys” – is considered one of the top 25 professional rodeos in North America and attracts more than 50,000 spectators to the Tucson Rodeo Grounds every February, and this year saw a 31 per cent increase in attendance this year from 2008, with officials crediting near-perfect weather and the great entertainment value of rodeo for fans of all ages. It’s also a draw for many Canadian contestants, offering more than $320,000 in prize money.

Davey Shields of DeWinton, Alta. nabbed a bit of that prize money and the bareback riding championship title after a 90-point ride in the final performance on Beutler & Son’s South Point. Shields, 33, was one of seven contestants named champion in front of 11,000 fans at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds on Saturday, with 174 points on two rides and earnings of $4,680. He was the only Canadian to take home a title.

Bareback rider Dusty LaValley of Crooked Creek, Alta. qualified for the Tucson Rodeo finals after an 87-point ride on the same horse that gave Shields his winning ride. LaValley placed sixth in the bareback riding aggregate with 167 points on two rides for $1,196. Rod Hay of Wildwood, Alta. placed fourth in the final saddle bronc performance, also finishing fourth in the aggregate with 161 points.

Lindsey Sears of Nanton, Alta., the reigning World Champion barrel racer, was edged out of the competition in the ladies barrel racing finals. Sears was also defending a championship from last year’s competition in Tucson; she handed the title over to Brittany Pozzi-Pharr of Victoria, Texas before heading off to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, commencing March 3.

Other Canadians to keep an eye on in Houston include Tanner Milan of Cochrane, Alta. and Curtis Cassidy of Donalda, Alta., both in the steer wrestling event, and barrel racer Deb Renger of Okotoks, Alta.