Keith Wood of Saddle Lake is always one of the front runners at the Red Deer Motors North American Pony Chuckwagon Championship at the Westerner Days.
This year is no exception, but he may have a challenge within his own ranks.
Curtis Wood, Keith’s son, had an outstanding barrel turn and grabbed the lead following the opening day of the five-day event with a solid time of one minute, 17.72 seconds on the C4Ever Consulting rig of Red Deer.
His dad, a seven time champion, had to settle for second place as he charged from behind down the stretch in the final heat to finish at 1:18.02 on the Uncle Ben’s RV wagon of Red Deer.
The final heat was one of the best on the day, as expected.
Lee Adamson, on the A-1 Rentals sponsored wagon, who is leading the tour standings heading into this the 13th of 21 events on the tour, was third on the evening with a 1:18.46 and defending champion Gary Thiel and the Pumps and Pressure wagon of Red Deer is fourth at 1:18.55.
Curtis Hogg and the Kellough Enterprises rig of Red Deer, who is second on the tour standings, is tied for eighth at 1:19.39 with Dale Young and the Calgary Flames Ambassadors outfit.
Fifth place is held down by Rene Salmond on the Paradise RV wagon of Red Deer Country, who finished at 1:18.71 while sixth goes to Brian Miller and the Westerner Park Board of Directors outfit, who had a 1:18.81 time.
Former champion Louis Johner and the Wei’s Western Wear wagon of Red Deer is seventh at 1:19.25 while Chris Spreen and the Trojan Safety Services rig of Red Deer is 10th at 1:19.45.
The Rai-Lynn Trucking wagon of Lacombe, with Jack Stott onboard, sits in 11th at 1:19.65 and Marvin Hubl and the Eldorado Pressure Services wagon of Rocky Mountain House is 12th at 1:19.95.
Action continues today through Saturday at 6:30 p.m. with the final run set for 2 p.m. Sunday.