STOMPEED KICKS OFF 2009 WRANGLER RODEO TOUR
WILDWOOD WRANGLES UP THE BEST OF THE BEST AND HAND HILLS HONOURS DAVE SHIELDS SR.
May 28, 2009

The 2009 Grande Prairie Stompede officially kicks off today at the Grande Prairie Exhibition Park in the northern Alberta community.

The four-day rodeo also marks the first of 11 regular-season rodeos with the Wrangler Canadian Rodeo Tour.

Once again the Tour offers an added bonus to contestants who compete in it: the top 10 point-getters in each of the six major events at the completion of the Tour will qualify for the Wrangler Canadian Rodeo Tour Finals in Calgary. Two contestants will also qualify for the Tour Finals from the Last Chance Rodeo Tour. The top two finalists in each event will earn a chance to qualify at the Canadian Finals Rodeo in Edmonton. As well, the top two in the six major events are offered a bye to compete at the 2010 Calgary Stampede.

Last year, approximately 20,000 spectators took in the Stompede, which has been an annual event in Grande Prairie for more than 30 years.

The dual-approved (CPRA/PRCA) rodeo action begins 1 p.m. this afternoon and will feature the finest stock from Outlawbuckers Rodeo Corp., as well as some of North America’s most competitive rodeo athletes.

Although still in its youth, the 6th annual Wildwood Bronc Bustin’ has attracted some of the best bronc riders in the world for their two-day CPRA-sanctioned event in Wildwood, Alta., just west of Edmonton, Alta.

Of all entries, the top 14 ranked contestants were automatically selected to ride in Saturday’s performance. The remaining riders are scheduled to compete Friday for the top six positions. These winners will join the 14 pre-selected contestants on Saturday at the Wildwood Agricultural Grounds.

The novice saddle bronc gets things underway May 29 at 7 p.m., followed by the boys steer riders. Then, 31 pro bronc riders will hang on for a chance to ride in the finals and a shot at the $17,500 purse.

Saturday evening features mutton bustin’ and a wild pony race before the 20 finals’ contestants take to the chutes in their bid for first place.

Many of those saddle bronc riders will also be making the trip to Hand Hills, Alta. this weekend to compete at the 93rd annual Hand Hills Lake Stampede, including North Dakota’s Shaun Stroh and Dustin Flundra of Pincher Creek, Alta. who are currently first and second in the Canadian standings.

Both Stroh and Flundra are scheduled to ride in Hand Hills during Sunday’s performance, the same day former bareback rider and 1987 Cowboy of the Year Dave Shields Sr. will be honoured with a Legendary Achievement Award from the Canadian Professional Rodeo Hall of Fame. It’s a fitting location for the award ceremony, and fitting for the Stampede as well, considering Shield’s had one of his earliest victories in Hand Hills, winning the boys steer riding event there in 1972. He also bested the competition in the bareback riding event at the small Alberta community near Drumheller, Alta. in 1982, 1983, 1987, 1990, and 1993.

The rodeo performances at the Hand Hills Lake Stampede, which runs May 30 and 31, begin at noon each day.