CHAMPIONS, SUNSHINE AND GREAT MEMORIES ARE A SUCCESS IN KAMLOOPS
May 13, 2009

Nearly 300 cowboys and cowgirls came out to compete at the first annual Kamloops Spring Rodeo May 9 and 10, and the weather couldn’t have been better.

“We’re in B.C. We’re on the right side of the rocks,” teased Kamloops Outdoor Pro Rodeo Committee president Dennis DeRose. “She was bright and sunny.”

Even sunnier was the dedication of the two-day rodeo to longtime rodeo supporter and former competitor Sammy Pozzobon, lifetime gold card member of the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA), and a native of Pritchard, B.C.

Pozzobon passed away in December at the age of 81, and the committee wanted to salute him for helping keep the heritage of rodeo alive. Many of his family members were among the more than 2,500 spectators that came out to the Kamloops Exhibition Association (KXA) grounds to support the contestants over the weekend – that is when they weren’t competing or performing themselves.

There were a number of high-calibre contestants at the KXA, including a number of 2008 Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR) qualifiers and Canadian champions, including the 2008 high-point champion Curtis Cassidy, who currently holds the top spot in the all-around category in the world standings, ahead of six-time all-around world title-holder Trevor Brazile.

All-in-all, DeRose said the rodeo was both exciting and a success, noting they even made a bit of a profit to put towards next year’s event.

“It just went smoothly. The dance was really good, as usual in Kamloops, the contestants were good – all the champions that showed up rode good, the bull riding was pretty decent. Scotty Schiffner won it with an 85.”

The 2006 Professional Bull Riders’ (PBR) Canadian National Champion from Strathmore, Alta. shared his score with What Say You, but Schiffner got to keep the whole cheque for $1,594.

Luke Butterfield from Ponoka, Alta. rode away with a first place win and a cheque for $1390 in the saddle bronc riding after an 80-point go on Wild West Entertainment’s Mixed Martini.

In the bareback riding, Cessford, Alta.’s Jake Marshall took a ride with Outlaw Buckers Rodeo Corp.’s Buck Wheat. He scored 81 points for first place, earning him $1,288.

Murray Pole led the tie-down ropers with an 8.4 second run on Sunday afternoon. Pole, from Erskine, Alta., won $1,466. Colbert, Wash.’s Tyson Durfey, the 2008 Canadian tie-down roping champion placed second with a time of 9 seconds, earning $1,276.

Steer wrestler Todd Woodward of Magrath, Alta. turned his steer in 3.6 seconds during Sunday’s slack performance, which earned him $1,735 and a bump up to first place in the overall steer wrestling standings with a total of $5,689.
 
Jacqueline Stojan wowed the crowd with her speedy clover-leaf run ‘round the barrels in 17.38 seconds. The ladies’ barrel racer from Mayerthorpe, Alta. placed first in her event at the KXA’s large outdoor infield, and picked up $1,400.

B.C. team ropers Rod May and Clay Freemantle tied for first place with Alberta-based duo Cody McCarroll and Troy Fischer. They all packed up their horse trailers and headed home with $1,040 for each team member.