Rodeo fans in Quesnel were treated with to B.C.s best as the finals rolled through town for three days of roping and riding.
The BCRA was happy with the event.
“The Quesnel Rodeo Club once again did a fantastic job hosting the BC Rodeo Association Finals with three days of action packed rodeo,” the association wrote in a press release.
The last of 20 rodeos throughout the province, the event brought the top 10 together to contend for the title of champion.
The weekend went through three competitions, requiring the riders to prove their mettle Friday, Saturday and Sunday, after which the BCRA members tallied their points garnered over the three days to decide the winner.
The first day of the finals, Sept. 14, was dedicated to Breast Cancer Awareness and was called “Tough Enuf to Wear Pink” night.
Saturday was dedicated to the BCRA Sponsors that supported the Association all season and to the rodeo committees that organized rodeos in their communities. It was also Salvation Army night.
Sunday was dedicated to the Canadian Forces. Several veterans were on hand for the opening ceremonies and the riders, committee members and spectators wore red in honour of those that served. It also offered riders their last chance to make a run at being called a champ.
After the competition, the points were totaled, resulting in some winners and three ties that would be pushed to a final show down.
After three showdowns in breakaway roping, team roping and junior breakaway roping, with some very focused ropers, the champions were crowned.
Cash Kerner of Pritchard was crowned the bareback champion. In saddle bronc, Wacey Marr, riding out of Gang Ranch, ended his season on top. Jeff Roney, of Houston, took top honours in bull riding. Derek Mobbs, riding out of Merritt, took the championship in tie down roping. The steer wrestling champion was Cohord Mason, of Kamloops. Breakaway roping saw a rope off between Richard Glassford and Katrina Ilnicki, with Ilnicki coming out on top. Vanessa Leggett, from Kamloops, was the ladies barrel racing champion. A rope off in team roping pitted Russell and Richard Glassford against Colby Stewart and Ty Lytton. The Glassfords secured the top title. In junior steer riding local Clay Waterhouse claimed the title. In junior barrel racing Bacardi Zimmerlee, riding out of Clinton, took the top spot. Local Tyler Cherry sat on top after some hard riding in pee wee barrel racing.
Junior breakaway roping was decided by a rope off between Kyle Bell and Jake Gardner, a contest Bell won to claim the top title.
The BCRA would like to thank the Quesnel Rodeo Club and all the volunteers that worked so hard to host the BCRA Finals, the BCRA and Quesnel Rodeo Club sponsors for your generosity and support, as well as the finals officials and the finals stock contractor, WWE Rodeo Co.
The BCRA Awards Banquet and AGM will wrap up the season in Williams Lake, Oct. 27. Contact the BCRA office for more information at 250-398-4104 or e-mail at bcrodeoassn@shaw.ca.