By Angela Brown

Kinsmen rodeo reins in strong numbers

May 3, 2017 | 12:00 PM

The Kinsmen Indoor Rodeo had another successful year in North Battleford with strong attendance for show competitions on Friday night and Saturday night in particular, as well as more participants than last year in the show. The event wrapped up Sunday afternoon at the Civic Centre.

“Saturday night was close to a sell out. We had a lot of what’s called slack, which means we had a lot of participants after the main rodeo,” Heath Gabruch, Kinsmen rodeo committee chair, said. “And of course we had the bonus round [Sunday], which went very well.

“All weekend has been really good, so we’re very pleased with how everything has gone for the total attendance,” Gabruch said.

Attendance was 2,480 for Friday’s show, 2,200 for Saturday, and 1,200 for Sunday, for an overall total of 5,880.

“I’m very happy with that. So people obviously enjoyed the show. We hope to be able to build on that every year,” he added. “The biggest challenge was that it was so nice out [Sunday] that people may have found other things to do, but we had a good crowd for Sunday afternoon so we were happy with that. This year went very smoothly.”  

Rustlers Volleyball

Crusaders' Bell excited for next chapter with Lakeland College

2h ago

Nothing but Net

Vikings' standouts ready for national stage with Team Saskatchewan

5h ago

Missing person

Spiritwood RCMP searching for missing woman

8h ago

Elmer Eagle, one of the judges with the Canadian Cowboys’ Association rodeo, was pleased to report there were no mishaps or injuries during the event this year, involving rodeo participants or stock animals in the competition.

“It couldn’t have gone any better,” he said. “Nobody got hurt … That’s a good rodeo.”

Last year, Lane LaPlante, a veteran participant in the bull riding competition from North Battleford, was injured during competition but he was back for the show again this year and took part in Friday’s event.

Eagle said there were more participants competing in the rodeo this year, and counted 68 competitors in the barrel-racing matches alone.

“There were slightly more participants this year. More horse riders than I’ve seen in a long time and that’s always positive,” he added.

Eagle was happy with Matt Roy’s performance in the bull riding competition this year, adding Roy won in the long round and the short round matches.

“He’s been out of the business for quite a few years,” he said, adding that Roy sustained an injury from bull riding a number of years ago but was able to recover. “It’s good to see him come back and ride like nothing happened.”

Eagle was also impressed with David Edwards, from Glaslyn, Sask., who placed second in the long round in the bull-riding competition.

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW