Some of the best cowboys and cowgirls Canada has to offer saddled up alongside some local talent and entertained for three days of wild rodeo action in the Battlefords.
The 41st annual Kinsmen Indoor Rodeo lived up to the hype once again, as great crowds were on hand throughout the weekend, and fans sat in anticipation of that infamous eight-second horn.
Friday's performance saw the best rodeo action and most championship rides. One of the first riders of the weekend was Jonathan Kmita of Weyburn who rode Sweet Apple Pie to the bareback championship. Kmita held on for eight seconds and earned an 80-point score.
The next event Friday was the nervous novice saddle bronc event and there was another championship ride with Kane Larsen of Inglis, Man. scoring a 73.
Later, in the saddle bronc event, Josh Harden of Big Valley, Alta. was on the backside of Power Play and Adam Gilchrist of Maple Creek rode Whiskey Girl to 76-point rides. Those scores would not be beat all weekend, but instead tied by Mark Elder of Airdrie, Alta., who was also riding Whiskey Girl during Saturday's performance.
The final event before the intermission Friday had a scary moment, as Lorne Knittig of Vanscoy needed to be carried out by the ambulance after attempting to wrestle a steer, but ran out of room and hit the end chutes.
Later in the junior steer riding event, local cowboy Dallas Wright rode for a 68-point score and held on for a share of the championship buckle. Saturday, Logan Thomas Goldsmith of Eastend matched Wright's score to also claim first place status.
After the steers were done it was time for the bulls to take centre stage and the eight riders on the day didn't disappoint. Five riders lasted the entire eight seconds, compared to one rider the entire weekend at the 2010 Kinsmen Indoor Rodeo. Dusty Lehmann of Mayfair hopped on the back of Red Zone and held on for a wild eight seconds and a score of 87, which held up to be the championship ride.
Saturday in the tie down roping event, Bruce Dunham of Indian Head roped a steer in 9.4 seconds which was good enough to take first place in the tie down roping category.
The other championship performance Saturday game in the ladies barrel racing event as Dannielle Dinius of Stewart Valley raced around the barrels in 13.16 seconds. Dinius edged out 43 registered barrel racers on the weekend.
On the final day of the Indoor Rodeo, two more championship buckles were won, as Travis Reay of Mayerthorpe, Alta. was the first, winning the steer wrestling event with a five seconds time. Kevin Turner and Levi Elford earned the team roping title. Turner, of Shamrock, and Elford, of Milestone, turned in a time of 5.7 seconds to win the event.
A rodeo, which hasn't lost any lustre in 41 years is something special and with the help of rodeo clown Bert Davis and his saved K-9 friends, The Muttley Crew that appeared on American television, there was always something entertaining going on at the Civic Centre during the weekend.
Tip your hats to the North Battleford Kinsmen Club, which made the rodeo a weekend full of excitement for the hundreds of people in attendance and should be given appreciation for once again making one of the most anticipated weekends in the Battlefords a wild and exciting event for all the fans and everyone involved.
