by Dianne Finstad
Special to the Advocate
While rodeo championships are determined in the seconds in the arena, there’s still a lot of work that happens in the ‘getting there’.
The Ponoka Stampede takes place during one of the most hectic times of the rodeo season. It’s affectionately known as ‘Cowboy Christmas’, because contestants can hit a rodeo every day, and sometimes more than one. But making that happen can be more complicated than planning a family summer vacation.
Thursday afternoon, Ryle Smith, moved to the front of the Stampede tie-down roping standings by tying up a calf in 9.5 seconds in the morning slack round, and then following that up with a smooth 8.2 during the performance.
“I was at Reno yesterday afternoon, and I was here this morning,” said the California cowboy. “Between Wainwright (last weekend), Reno and this rodeo, I’ve spent almost two thousand dollars in plane tickets. So it makes you really hump up and try to win something.”
Add to the flight costs, rodeo entry fees, gas, horse feed and food, and you see why a guy like Smith needs his degree in business management!
“I wasn’t even really keeping an eye on the average here or any of the times. I just came over here, and roped and tried. I think I’m in really good shape, but now I’ve got to get another flight, or figure out a way to get back up here (for Monday’s Finals). It’s also in the heart of our season down there, with the fourth of July run. It’s hectic but fun, because they pay you really good. If you get on a roll, you can gather up some money.”
Smith has put himself in good position to do that, since he’ll rope at the Finals in Reno on Saturday, before heading back north for Ponoka’s Finals Monday.
The 26-year-old cowboy revealed his strategy for managing his rodeo schedule – be prepared.
“One of the best things that happened to me this year is I got to rodeo with Jake Hannum. I don’t want to call him a veteran,” smiled Smith about the CFR and NFR qualifier, who also has a business degree.
“But he’s rodeoed a few years, and he understands how to get around, and what it takes to do good when you get there.”
Throw a talented rookie like Texan Chase Williams into the mix, plus some good rope horses that they all can ride, and you’ve got a winning formula, in a sport known for its rugged individualism.
“If you’re out here by yourself, and you’ve got one horse, it’s tough to be competitive,” explained Smith. “Behind the scenes, for the guys that are winning and doing good, there’s a lot of team work. I really found out after my rookie year that you need to be in a team, to be able to use each other and help each other, and pull for one another. And it’s fun. We’re all kind of winning right now everywhere we go. To have momentum this time of year feels great.”
The money isn’t the only thing that brings cowboys from Utah, Texas and California to Ponoka.
“The thing I like about up here is you always know they’re going to have really good cattle. They take their time to put on a really good rodeo, and everything’s prepared. I really look forward to this one every year.”
Last year’s Calgary Stampede roping champion Cory Solomon missed his first Ponoka calf, but turned on the jets on his second one in the afternoon, to lead that round with a swift 7.1 second run.
“Coming back, I was shooting for day money,” said Solomon, a two-time NFR qualifier.
“They didn’t rope that calf in the first round because the guys missed their flight to get here. But I knew she was a good calf. I just had to take a chance at it to try to turn my season around and get it going right.”
“That’s the good thing about Ponoka as a two-header. If you don’t draw a good calf on your first one, at least you have a chance to come back for some go-round money. I’ve been blessed at this rodeo. It’s been great to me. The last two years, I’ve made the final four. I came up short this year on that, but you move on, and go to the next one.”
In the team roping, Rocky Ross of Botha and Marty Lillico of Stettler now sit in second place overall, with an 13.4 second total, behind the 11.8 of leaders Cory Petska and Erich Rogers. Airdrie’s Todd Maughan had the best result of the day in steer wrestling, putting together two runs in 10.2 seconds to fit in just behind leader Rian Conway. Michelle Mcleod of Texas really flew around the barrel racing pattern, recording an impressive 17.037 second time to pick up the pace again.
Pennsylvania bull rider Dustin Bowen is still the best in his event with the 89, but New Mexico’s Rocky Mcdonald moved into a tie for second with an 86.25 on True Blood. Ponoka resident Zane Lambert managed to get the whistle, and 82.50 points on Little Bit of Sugar, which he hopes will be high enough to get him another bull in Monday’s Finals.
“I don’t quite feel safe yet,” said the Manitoba-born cowboy. “But we’ll just cross our fingers and go to all the other rodeos, and hopefully they phone me to come back.”
“I’ve had some trouble here staying on at this rodeo, and it’s really good to break that streak, because you’ve got to do good here at Ponoka.”
Bullfighter Scott Byrne took a hit from a bull called Indian Turtle while protecting a cowboy Thursday afternoon and was off to the hospital to get checked. Canadian Pro Rodeo Sports Medicine Team officials called it a facial injury, but Lambert admits to see that happen to their protector is unnerving.
“He’s saved our butts so many times throughout the years. It’s terrible to see him get run over like that and take a hit. He’s always there for us every time. We wish we could be there for him when he gets stuck in a tight spot. Hopefully, he’s OK.”
The best bareback ride of the day was an 84.25 from Oregon’s Austin Foss on Rock N Roll, leaving Jared Smith on top of the leaderboard with an 86.50.
The numbers are tight at the top of the saddle bronc riding standings, still led by 83.75 from Curtis Garton and Troy Crowser.
But Cody Taton of New Mexico and Tyrel Larsen of Manitoba slid in close behind with 83.50 marks. Rocky’s Jim Berry is in next with an 83 he earned Thursday on Veronica.
Ponoka chuckwagon race fans were again treated to exceptional chuckwagon races, and 3-time Ponoka Stampede finalist Rae Croteau Jr. posted the fast time on the night with a penalty free run of 1:15.78.
Coming off barrel number 4 in heat number 4, Croteau won the day money by just 77 one-hundredths of a second over 3-time Ponoka Stampede Champion Reg Johnstone who placed second overall even with a one-second late outrider penalty.
Sophomore driver Chanse Vigen had his second consecutive top five run placing third overall on the night with last year’s finalist John Walters and defending Ponoka Stampede Champion Troy Dorchester rounding out the top five on the night.
After 2 runs, 2-time Ponoka Stampede Champion Jerry Bremner leads the overall standings with a 2-day combined time of 2:33.34. That’s just 1 one-hundredth of a second better than Reg Johnstone, with Chanse Vigen, Jason Glass, Darcy Flad, Luke Tournier, Kelly Sutherland and Rae Croteau Jr. making out the top eight trying to make Sunday’s semi-final round. Ross Knight is in 9th place overall, 19 one-hundredths of a second out of eighth spot.
There is more Ponoka Stampede rodeo action this afternoon at 1:00 p.m. with the wagons rolling at 6:30 p.m.