Rodeo Attracts Record Crowd

The long weekend normally attracts not only the warmer weather, but also the “cowboy” crazed fans that are in love with the ever popular Cloverdale Rodeo.

The Rodeo dates back to 1888 when it was first held at the Surrey Municipal Hall in September but saw a move to it’s present site in 1938 at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds.

The actual rodeo was first held in 1945 and became an extremely popular event for everyone attending and was eventually taken over by the Lower Fraser Valley Agricultural Association in 1947, but continued to see different take overs since then.

It wasn’t until 1994 that the fair and rodeo was renamed the Cloverdale Rodeo & Exhibition Association and in “96” the 109 year-old annual fall fair made a move to the May rodeo longweekend.

In 2007 there was the death of a steer that brought much controversy from the BC animal rights group Liberation BC the rodeo dropped 4 roping events that disqualified the event from the pro rodeo circuit.

To the surprise of no one this year (again) saw record numbers attend the event and given the change in the weather the rodeo attracted over 110, 000 fair guests as well as 21, 000 rodeo in the area of the Stetson Bowl.  

This year saw the Rodeo manage to get two back-to-back sellouts for Saturday, Sunday and Monday afternoon performances.

Other must-see attractions for visitors of all ages included: S&R Sawmills West Coast Lumberjack Show, the BC Country Music Association Pavilion, sixth annual World Freestyle Round-Up Skateboarding Competition.

Sunday night brought out country music fans to a sold-out performance at the Longhorn where Juno nominated country music artist, Aaron Pritchett performed fan anthems like Hold My Beer and hits off his newest album The Score.

The Cloverdale Invitational Rodeo features three rough stock rodeo events: Bareback, Saddle Bronc, Bull Riding, and Ladies Barrel Racing.

This year, the winners split $330,000 in prize money and for the first that many can remember the bull riding competition went to a “ride off” with all eight riders being bucked off before they could finish their 8-second ride.

Scott Schiffner calls Alberta home and in the ride off he went home with the $45,000 in prize winnings.

Winners:

Bull Riding

1. Scott Schiffner, Strathmore, AB – ($45,000 FINALS)

Bareback Riding

1) Ty Taypotat Regina, SK– 91.5 points ($20,000 FINALS)

2) Wyatt Denny, Mandan NV– 91 points ($10,000 FINALS)

3) & 4) Seth Hardwick, Laramie WY – 88.5 points (TIED) ($5,000 FINALS)

3) & 4) Clayton Biglow, Clements CA– 88.5 points (TIED) ($5,000 FINALS)

5) & 6) David Peebles, Redmond OR – 87.5 points (TIED) ($1,666.67 FINALS)

5) & 6) JR Vezain, Cowley WY– 87.5 points (TIED) ($1,666.67 FINALS)

5) & 6) Chase Erickson, Helena MT – 87.5 points (TIED) ($1,666.67 FINALS)

Saddle Bronc Riding

1) Cort Scheer, Elsmer NE- 91 points ($20,000 FINALS)

2)Mitch Pollock, Twin Falls ID-89 points  ($10,000 FINALS)

3) Layton Green, Meeting Creek AB – 87.5 points ($6,000 FINALS)

4) Chuck Schmidt, Celdron SD– 86.5 points ($4,000 FINALS)

5) Clay Elliot, Nanton AB– 86 points ($3,000 FINALS)

6) Heath Demoss, Heflin, LO – 83 points ($2,000 FINALS)

Ladies Barrel Racing

1. Kristy White, Big Valley AB – 15.925 seconds ($20,000 FINALS)
2. Carmen Pozzobon, Aldergrove BC – 15.964 seconds ($10,000 FINALS)
3. Nikki Hansen, Vale SD – 16.042 seconds ($6,000 FINALS)
4. Becky Fuson, Conrad MT – 16.107 seconds ($4,000 FINALS)
5. Kylie Whiteside, Dewinton AB- 16.244 seconds ($3,000 FINALS)
6. Jessica Leech, Rockville, NE –  16.504 seconds ($2,000 FINALS