CONTESTANTS RACKING UP RODEO MILEAGE ON VICTORIA DAY WEEKEND
May 14, 2009

Some people might be taking advantage of the May long weekend to get a jump on camping season, or perhaps to catch up on some yard work, but for members of the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA), it’s a chance to rack up some points and earnings before the 2009 season swings into high gear.

For the last few weeks, the volunteers have been getting ready for three days of rodeo entertainment, pancake breakfasts and overall family fun at the Falkland Stampede and Rodeo.

The B.C. town of 600 is located less than an hour south of Kamloops, and is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. One of Canada’s oldest rodeos, the excitement gets started on Saturday afternoon, with the first performance at 1 p.m. Sunday is parade day, the rodeo kicking off at 2 p.m. On Monday May 18, spectators can take in the heavy horse pull at 10 a.m., followed by the third and final rodeo performance at 1 p.m.

Tickets for each performance are just $13 for adults, and $10 for seniors 65 and up and children, ages six through 15.

Closer to the coast? The 34th annual Luxton Pro Rodeo is taking place at the Luxton Rodeo grounds May 16 through 18, and many of the professional cowboys and cowgirls can be caught in action in both Falkland and Luxton, B.C.

Tickets for the Luxton Pro Rodeo are $15 for adults, and free for children 14 and under when accompanied by an adult. Students up to the age of 18 can purchase tickets for $10. Tickets include free gate admission to antique farm equipment, blacksmith demos, carnival rides, heritage displays and vendors. All-day wristbands for the carnival rides are available at the rodeo grounds.

Rodeo events include saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, bull riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, ladies barrel racing, and team roping, as well as mutton bustin’ and mutton scramble.

Dennis Halstead will be the resident funnyman for Luxton’s Victoria Day Weekend. The clown was most recently at the Kamloops Spring Rodeo and provided “barrels” of laughs to all in attendance.

Both the Falkand Stampede and Rodeo and the Luxton Pro Rodeo are dual-approved by the CPRA and the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA).