Some of the best cowboys and cowgirls from Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta put on a display of skill and determination before a full and high-spirited crowd at the Estevan Canadian Cowboys Association (CCA) Rodeo at Exhibition Grounds on the weekend.
The Estevan CCA Rodeo serves as one of the last stops of the season for riders to earn a berth in the CCA Finals that will take place in Swift Current from Oct. 19 to 22. The desire to put up a top time or score to gain one of these spots was evident in the Friday evening and Saturday afternoon performances as the close to 200 competitors seemed to leave everything they had in the arena.
Many athletes who may not have been working towards qualifying for the CCA Finals were also giving their all on the rodeo stage over the weekend. As one of the only sports in the world where competitors have to pay an entry fee to participate in the action, the rodeo also serves as a field for up-and-coming athletes to gain some experience and semi-retired cowboys and cowgirls to get back into the ring.
Duane Gillespie celebrated his 20th year as a rodeo competitor at the Estevan CCA Rodeo by performing in the steer wrestling and team roping events. Gillespie drew a good steer in his first event on Saturday afternoon and was able to wrestle it down for a third-overall finish and place in the money, but missed his throw as the heeler in the team roping competition leaving him and his partner Jarrett Robinson with a no-time finish.
“Until 2007, I went to probably 30 or 40 (rodeos) a year,” said Gillespie, who competes out of Bienfait. “I just don’t feel like travelling that much anymore. I miss the competition. I don’t miss the miles.”
Brooke Kruger, 15, ran a time of 18.7 seconds in the junior girls’ barrel racing event on Saturday placing her out of a top-five finish. The Estevan native said she only started training her horse on barrels a month ago and this was the first time she ran her on wet ground due to the storm on Friday night, so she’s pretty happy with the result.
“She’s coming along,” said Kruger. “We still definitely have room for improvement, but she’s performing at the top of her game right now.”
Gillespie said the Estevan and Swift Current rodeos are the only competitions he enters now. He said being able to get out into the arena and do something you love is why he and most of the other cowboys and cowgirls take part.
“You’re always doing it for fun,” said Gillespie. “You’re not making much at this. It’s more of a hobby.”
Earners of a top result, in order from first to third, at the Estevan CCA Rodeo are: Lucas Macza, novice saddle bronc; Lane Ferguson, novice bareback; Cassidy Gordon, Amy Bowditch and Janae Wilson, junior girls’ barrel racing; Bailee Switzer, Renie Schnitzler and Alex Hanson, ladies barrel racing; Scott Harris, Aaron Lee and Duane Gillespie, steer wrestling; Matt Switzer, Scott Sigfusson and Mace Perozak, tie-down roping; TJ Loeppky, bull riding; Brady Bertram, Cohen Collins and Brett Williams, bareback; Tyrel Fouhse, Casey Bertram and Timothy Costello, saddle bronc; and Matt Switzer and Tristan Williams, Austin Stuber and Wyatt Stuber and Kevin William and Bruce Dunham, team roping.
