By: Dingi Berglund

Our local boys continue to do well on the CCA circuit. As of July 6th Ty Taypotat was fourth in bareback, Jarid Berglund was fifth in calf roping and Teagan Hodgson was fourteenth in bull riding. This past weekend they improved on their standings. Taypotat made the finals in the novice bareback at Calgary and in the finals he finished fourth with a 72.5 and a 65.5 for 138 points. Cody Floyd was second at Wood Mountain in the junior bullriding with a 69.Jarid Berglund picked up cheques at all three rodeos with a 9.8 at Wood Mountain good for fifth, and a 11.7 at Selkirk for third in the tie down roping and a 12.5 good for fifth in the steer wrestling at Gilbert Plains. Jesse Lawrence scored 63 at Selkirk on Full Throttle for fourth in the bull riding. Only four guys stuck their bulls at Selkirk so Prime Time’s bulls must have been firing pretty good. Teagen Hodgson bucked off both his bulls at the PBR at Manor. In spite of rain Manor had an excellent bullriding. It was won by Zane Lambert and I hear Luke Ellingson made a good ride and then was knocked out.

This weekend marks the 76th annual Moose Mountain rodeo here at Kennedy. There are 158 pro entries, plus whatever local mutton busters and wagon racers we get. I am taking entries for the little cowpokes and early entries are appreciated- phone 538-4604. Entries come from the five western most provinces, plus Montana and Australia and there is one transplanted Texan. If you are a fan of the classic event of rodeo you will be pleased as there are 20 saddle bronc entered, 10 each day, and on Saturday seven of Prime Time’s saddle bronc made the draw so you can see how the pros fare with Jim Lawrence’s stock. Denny Hay of saddle bronc fame goes on Sunday. Jim is also providing stock for the novice horse events. He has no bulls in the draw, but is taking twelve bulls to the pro rodeo at Morris.

There are 33 steer wrestlers competing including two who made the ten-man rideoff at Calgary. They are Bailie Milan who had a fantastic 3.3 to win the fourth go and transplanted Texan, Clayton Moore who had a 3.9 in one go; he is also in the tie down roping. World Champion Lee Graves is entered. He was just hazing at Calgary as he was out with an injury, but must feel he is ready to go again.

There are 20 bull riders including three of the Calgary bullriders - Denton Edge who had an 88 on Wild Card Saturday to make the finals, and is matched up with Aces and Eights who hasn’t been ridden this year in the PBR. Chad Besplug who scored a couple of 87’s to go into the finals, the reigning Canadian Champ, Nathan Roy who had a poor week at Calgary, and PBR winner Zane Lambert. At least six of the bulls just bucked at Calgary as did some of the bareback horses including the famous old gelding,Chester Cody Floyd also goes Sunday in junior steer riding. He will have his work cut out for him as three quarters of the 14 juniors also rode at Calgary including the 2008 Calgary Champion Lonnie West, and his brother PRCA leader Billy West, sons of former bull rider Kevin West. Barrel racers are abit down, at 18, but they include Ontario’s Cathy Grant who had great turns at Calgary, but needed a bit more speed. There are 25 steer wrestlers,including Jarid Berglund who goes on Sunday.

Do any of you Kipling folk remember Tyrel Smith, pehaps went to school with him when the John Smiths lived in Hazelwood? Tyrel will be about twenty now and lives in Montana.He was entered in the novice bronc riding at Calgary.

Really good news. There was to be no Demolition Derby at the Moose Mountain Rodeo as there were not enough entries. The secretary now tells me there will be a Demolition Derby on Sunday following the rodeo.

I hoped to have a report on how Cody Floyd did at the Wrangler Finals in Gallup NM, but I can’t seem to connect with the Floyds.