INTERIOR PROVINCIAL EXHIBITION (IPE) TO HOST WRANGLER TOUR FINALS
May 5 , 2010

The Interior Provincial Exhibition (IPE) and Stampede will host the championships for the Wrangler Professional Rodeo Tour this year.

After two years hosting the Tour Finals at the Stampede Corral, the Calgary Stampede chose not to continue, herding the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA) Board of Directors into the meeting room to explore a number of alternate options.

“It was down to a couple of sites for consideration,” reported CPRA President Dale Leschiutta. “In the end, it was Armstrong, B.C. that won out, and they were most appreciative of the opportunity to have it.”

“It’s going to be really exciting. It’s going to move our already great rodeo to another level,” confirmed Bryan Burns, general manager for the Interior Provincial Exhibition (IPE) & Stampede in Armstrong.

Selecting the IPE – whose event celebrates 111 years in action this year and runs Sept. 1-5 – wasn’t a difficult decision for the CPRA.

“It’s tried and proven. It’s one of the best rodeos in our system, and they have tremendous participation by the community. It’s exactly what we need,” Leschiutta declared.

The decision wasn’t so tough for the IPE, either.

“It was easier than we thought it was going to be,” Burns said. “The biggest thing is that it’s not costing us any more money, we’re guaranteed the best cowboys every night, and it’s going to create a higher profile, so we can use that to our advantage and start doing some extra advertising and marketing based around that.”

Leschiutta is confident contestants will be thrilled.

“I think they will be very happy with it. Money-wise, it’s not going to be as strong as Calgary was, but it’s still going to be significant, and I think they’re all going to be pleased it’s in Armstrong,” he nodded.

The format for the Tour Finals is similar to previous years, with a few minor changes. The top 16 point-getters in each of the six major events and team roping at the completion of the Tour will qualify for the Wrangler Canadian Rodeo Tour Finals in Armstrong, with an additional four contestants qualifying for the Tour Finals from the Last Chance Rodeo Tour.

The Finals will run for five days, rather than the three-day event it was at the Corral, and there will be two pools, each competing at two performances, with the top four from each returning for the final perf. The Calgary Stampede, being Armstrong’s regular stock contractor, will still supply most of the stock. As an added bonus, the top two in the six major events will be offered a bye to compete at the 2011 Calgary Stampede.