The Saskatchewan High School Rodeo season kicked off at the rodeo grounds at Wood Mountain Regional Park on August 19-20.
The two days of rodeo events showcased the junior high school division during the morning and the senior high school events in the afternoon. The junior division included participants in Grades 6 to 8 and the senior division included those in Grades 9 to 12. Both divisions began events following a flag procession, the singing of 鈥淥, Canada鈥� and the reading of the cowboy prayer.
The SHSRA annual general meeting followed the last event of team roping on day one, while the rodeo competitors later relaxed at a pool party.
The junior division competitors were entered into 13 different events including bareback, barrels, boys breakaway, boys goat tying, bull riding, chute dogging, girls breakaway, girls goat tying, poles, ribbon roping, saddle bronc, team roping and tie down roping. A number of the junior entrants were representing the local south country, including Kate Anderson of Rockglen in junior barrels, goat tying, breakaway, ribbon roping, team roping and poles; Cash Anderson of Pangman in junior boys breakaway, goat tying, chute dogging and team roping; Dylan Gee of Rockglen in junior boys goat tying, ribbon roping, team roping, tie down roping and chute dogging; Walker Sjorgren of Big Beaver in junior bull riding and junior saddle bronc; and Mazey Hillrud and Gracie Hillrud of Ceylon in junior girls breakaway, poles and goat tying.
Entrants in the senior high school division competed in 10 different events, including bareback, barrels, breakaway, bull riding, goat tying, poles, saddle bronc, steer wrestling, team roping and tie down roping. Those from the south country in the senior division included: Liam Marshall of Coronach in senior bareback riding; Jud Colliness of Kincaid in senior bull riding; Chance Sjogren of Big Beaver in senior saddle bronc; Karli Cowie of Mankota in senior barrels and poles; Brooke Lee of Bengough in senior barrels, goat tying, poles and breakaway; McKenna Legault of Val Marie in senior barrels, goat tying, poles and breakaway; Jill Marcenko of Rockglen in senior barrels, goat tying, poles, team roping and breakaway; Morgan Anderson of Rockglen in team roping and tie down roping; and Riley McClintock of Wood Mountain in team roping and tie down roping.
The SHSRA is both a competition and great learning experience. Entrants get a feel for pro events like bull riding on smaller-sized bulls and barrel racing, and they have an opportunity to enter events unique to high school rodeo like goat tying and breakaway.
At the same time, they accumulate points over the season for a chance to win scholarships. This rodeo at Wood Mountain was the first event of the SHSRA calendar. Big Beaver hosts the next leg on August 26-27.
