The sport of rodeo is one of luck as well as skill, and like any rodeo performance, Day 2 of the Ponoka Stampede on Thursday, June 26, was no exception, with highs and lows, heartbreaks and triumphs.
First out of the chute in the afternoon's performance was bareback rider Linden Woods, from Nanton, Alta. Drawing a cantankerous bronco, Woods unfortunately was bucked off, taking a hard landing. He was carried out of the arena on a stretcher by medical personnel.
When Tanner Aus had his ride, his horse Im A Winner, backed into the shoot. The cowboy opted for a re-ride rather than taking the 82 points.
Taylor Broussard and Denver Leitch tied for high score of the day with 80.8-point rides, but Richmond Champion from Montana remained at top on the leader board with 86.75 points at the end of Day 2.
Local cowboy Quaide Skjonsberg from Bluffton, Alta., is leading in the novice bareback riding with 76.5 points.
The 89th Ponoka Stampede is the inaugural rodeo for ladies breakaway roping in Ponoka.
After several no times, the ladies hit their stride in the breakaway roping, catching their calves in lightning-fast speeds.
Reatta Schlosser had the fastest time of the day at just 3.2 seconds, but a slower time on opening night of 4.2 has her in third place behind Taylor Cherry of Claresholm in first and Lilly Artemenko from Parkland County in second.
in an arena-side interview, Schlosser, from Nanton, Alta., said the Ponoka Stampede is a family tradition. Her brother is one of the pick up men for the week.
"The Ponoka Stampede has been pretty important to my family my whole life so it's pretty cool to be a part of it," she said.
For full rodeo results, see ponokastampederesults.com.
Find all you need to know about the Ponoka Stampede at Ponoka News.
