Cowboys bring strong seasons home to Pincher Creek
Pincher Creek will be cheering on six familiar names when the rodeo gets underway this weekend, with six area competitors entered across three days.
The Pincher Creek Pro Rodeo runs Aug. 13 to 16, with professional performances Friday at 6:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Friday — Riley Roy and Billy Potts
Pincher Creek’s Riley Roy and Brocket’s Billy Potts both compete in team roping during the Friday night performance.
Riley is roping with Garrett Brownlee of Moose Jaw, while Billy is paired with Jay Louise of Vernon.
Riley heads into his hometown rodeo 21st in the Canadian team roping header standings, with $11,472.13 earned through 40 rodeos as of Aug. 7.
It has been a steady season of collecting cheques rather than relying on one big payday, with a top placing of second paired with Brett Buss at Sundre.
Billy has also been busy on the rodeo trail this season, appearing at a number of CPRA stops. While he hasn’t cracked the top 30, the heeler has a chance at a payday close to home.
Saturday — Otys Little Mustache, Ridge Flundra and Kash Lievers
Saturday afternoon belongs to three more local cowboys.
Otys Little Mustache of Brocket is having a strong season on the Indian National Finals Rodeo trail, sitting 13th in the INFR Tour steer wrestling standings with $4,753.77. HIs biggest payday listed so far is $2,013.48 at Rocky Boy.
Ridge Flundra and Kash Lievers, both of Twin Butte, have spent much of the summer making their presence felt in junior steer riding.
Ridge sits fourth in Canada with $5,412.78 in season earnings as of Aug. 7. Only about $50 separated him from third place when the standings were posted. He has also climbed to the top of the C-Bar Buckers Junior Steer Riding Series.
Ridge has collected money consistently through the season, with wins at Airdrie and Williams Lake. The Airdrie win was an 80.5-point ride.
Kash was 17th in the Canadian steer riding standings with $1,432.33 as of Aug. 7, but that total is already out of date.
He added a 70-point winning ride after the standings were posted, tying for first and earning another $632.34. That brings his winnings over $2,000.
Sunday — Ben Mitchell
Ben Mitchell of Twin Butte gets the final local turn in front of the hometown crowd during Sunday’s performance.
He comes home 18th in the Canadian steer wrestling standings with $15,516.73 earned from 42 rodeos as of Aug. 7.
Ben’s results come from a combination of speed and a busy summer on the road, including a 4.0-second run to share the win at Taber, another 4.0 at Lea Park and a 4.4-second victory at Bassano.
Lundbreck cowboys making noise elsewhere
Two local names won’t appear in the Pincher Creek draw this weekend, but their seasons deserve mention.
K’s Thomson is ninth in Canadian saddle bronc standings, with $29,586.16 earned through 25 rodeos.
His season includes an 87.5-point win at Wainwright and an 88-point second-place ride in Williams Lake.
K’s has also given bareback riding a go, earning $125.25 through two rodeos. It’s just something he does “every once in a while.”
Ryatt Thomson is making his own mark in novice saddle bronc, where he sits eighth in the Canadian novice standings as of Aug. 7, with earnings of $4,402.44.
His season includes wins at Wilwood and Sundre, with a season-best 78.5 ride at Wildwood.
Junior Steer Riding, Rodeo, Saddle Bronc, Steer Wrestling, Team Roping