The city is going to turn country a little early this year.

Stompede is still four months away, but cowboys and cowgirls will be aplenty in the Canada Games Arena on Tuesday.

The Grande Prairie Stompede and Mingles On Main are sponsoring Tuesday’s Storm game when the local Junior A team takes on the Bonnyville Pontiacs at 7:30 p.m. in the Canada Games Arena.

Stompede is the annual professional chuckwagon and rodeo event held every year at Evergreen Park. This year Stompede goes May 23-27.

“We asking everyone to saddle up and join the Stompede Family as we bust out with our plans for 2012,” said Stompede president Terri Ellen Sudnik. “We are hoping everyone comes and experiences the thrills and spills of the cowboy way.”
Some of those thrills and spills will be on the ice.

An intermission chuckwagon race between representatives from Stompede and the Teepee Creek Stampede could produce some spills, and a lot of thrills.

A minor hockey team, on skates, will be acting as horses and outriders and sitting in specially-designed chuckwagons, brought in from Calgary, will be the Stompede and Stampede “drivers”.

“It’s great to see the intermission chuckwagon race back,” said Storm business manager Don Moon. “We did it several years ago and it was a fan favourite. There is usually always something interesting happening once the barrels are turned and the race is on.”

Mingles has a great special on the menu for Tuesday night. For just $12 they are offering a steak sandwich, beverage and a ticket to the game.

“I don’t think you are going to find a better deal anywhere in Grande Prairie,” said Moon.

Mingles On Main is located on the corner of 100 Street and 101 Ave.

Fans attending the game are invited to dress western – cowboys boots and cowboy hats.

“Anyone wearing cowboy boots or a cowboy hat will be able to get in on a special draw,” said Moon. “We have three real nice Tim Hortons hoodies with the Storm logo on them among the prizes being offered to those who dress western.”

The team will also be playing mostly country music and will replace their normal post-goal “woo hoo” with a “yahoo”.

There will be a chuckwagon set up in the foyer so fans can get a close up look at what world champion drivers like Kelly Sutherland of Grande Prairie guide around race tracks in the province every summer and Stompede will have information about their 2012 event.

“We’re delighted Stompede decided to sponsor Tuesday’s game,” said Moon. “Storm hockey is the number one spectator sport in the winter in the area and Stompede draws the largest numbers in the summer so it’s great to partner together and cross-promote like this. We have both been very important to the community for many years and I think it’s in the best interests of the Storm and Stompede to work together to keep us both viable.”

“Stompede is preserving our western heritage by promoting the cowboy way,” says Sudnik.

Anyone wanting more information on the night can contact Sudnik at 780-518-8711 or by email at terri@terrisudnik.ca

The King has retained his crown.

On Sunday, chuckwagon legend Kelly “The King” Sutherland captured his 12th career World Chuckwagon Championship at the 2011 Richard Cosgrave Badlands Dinosaur Derby in Drumheller. The derby was the final World Professional Chuckwagon Association race for the 2011 season.

It took Sutherland all three days of the Drumheller race to secure the slim victory over second-place Troy Dorchester and third-place Grant Profit. Dorchester finished 27.5 points behind Sutherland and Profit finished 29.5 back.

“I’m elated, to say the least, to win it and it was a tough fight this year,” said Sutherland as he returned home to Grande Prairie on Monday. “The points got very close and I’m happy that things went well in Drumheller.”

Sutherland entered the Drumheller event with a tiny 5.5 lead over Profit and a 11.5 lead over Dorchester. It was a completely different situation than when he won the title last season in Edmonton, having sealed the championship on the second-to-last day of racing.

In Drumheller, the lead was small enough that one bad race could have changed everything.

“It was a three-way race … but the first night in Drumheller I ran big and I knew that I was going to have a pretty good show,” Sutherland said. “But you never know, you still have to run clean because when you’re only eight or nine points ahead of someone you have to have a perfect run.

On the race for the title being so close, he added: “There’s a lot more emotion involved because you know that at anytime in a wagon race, mistakes can be made. It just takes one second and the whole outcome changes, so the pressure is on and it’s a great feeling when you finally end up winning it.”

Throughout the season, which began with the Grande Prairie Stompede back in May, Sutherland finished with tour victories at the Ponoka Stampede, the Strathmore Heritage Days Stampede, and the Battle of the North in Dawson Creek.

He also won his 12th Calgary Stampede title this year, although there are no WPCA points awarded for that racing event.

Sutherland also finished with eight top 10 finishes and he only finished outside of the top 10 twice all season.

One of those races was the Battle of the Rockies held at Rocky Mountain House, which Sutherland regarded as the reason the race for the championship was so close this season.

“I had actually given up quite a few points in Rocky Mountain House,” said Sutherland who finished dead last at the 36th spot in the Battle of the Rockies. “For some reason the horses didn’t like to run that race track very much. I didn’t make very good runs there.”

Throughout the season Profit was a strong contender to upset Sutherland. The Cochrane native won two events this season and he had nine top 10 finishes this season. However it was the rise of Dorchester throughout the season really caught Sutherland off guard.

“The guy that really seemed to come strong at the end of the year was Troy Dorchester,” Sutherland said. “He ran really tough and straight from Dawson Creek he just kept gaining points on everybody. He never let up a bit, even in Drumheller.

“I ended up having two better runs than he did (in Drumheller) and that’s all it took.”

In addition to fending off Dorchester and Profit on Sunday, Sutherland had to deal with the sun and 27 C weather.

“When the temperature gets over 22 or 24 degrees, then dehydration becomes a problem,” Sutherland said. “With the horses, you try to get enough fluid in them so they’ll don’t get too dehydrated whenever it’s hot. I think the ideal temperature is probably 22 to 24 degrees.”

By winning his 12th world championship and his 12th Calgary Stampede this season, Sutherland has captured both titles in the same season for the sixth time.

-          IVAN DANIELEWICZ Herald-Tribune staff

Winning never gets old for Kelly Sutherland, but it probably does for those who race against him.

The 59-year-old Grande Prairie reinsman left no doubt as to who would rule the GMC Rangeland Derby on Sunday night when he rocketed down the homestretch to his 12th victory in the sport’s richest and most prestigious show.

Sutherland has won the championship in each of five decades and on this warm night in front of a packed house, he was the best from start to finish off the No. 1 barrel to pocket a second straight $100,000 cheque.

“For me, it’s such an emotional roller-coaster,” he said. “This sport has always been so good to me. There’s just something magical about this racetrack and this town. I just get so much confidence coming in here. I just feel there’s no doubt I’m going to make the finals and if all things work out, I’m going to win it.”

Longtime rival Reg Johnstone leaned on Sutherland’s shoulder through the first four furlongs with a two-wide trip but the 11-time World Pro champion simply left his challengers in the dust.

Kurt Bensmiller, making his debut in the big race, finished third and Jerry Bremner, the 1993 champion, was fourth – exactly the way they started on their barrels.

“That was unreal,” said Sutherland. “I just wanted the race to go off without any penalties to anybody. Then the horn went, and they just launched. I knew right then that I was going to make a perfect barrel turn ’cause the lead team is such a good lead team. The right leader is 17 years old and he’s just so awesome.

“Once I turned the bottom and spotted where Reg was, we went sideby-side. I knew Reg would be tough. When I turned for home, mine had a lot of gas left. I was very fortunate. The horses ran big.”

Pulling in for his 20th appearance in the big dash, the man they call The King brought back the same outfit that staked him to the No. 1 time in Saturday’s semis and, thus, his choice of barrels in the final. The foursome of thoroughbreds included a grey wheeler out of son Mark’s barn.

“They jumped a little bit before the horn, settled and then they worked perfect,” he said. “That grey wheeler of Mark’s really made a lot of difference. I knew Reggie was going to be tough to out-run and when we turned for home, they seemed to have a lot of power left. I was really confident in those horses.”

Sutherland said he felt it was tantamount to having the No. 1 barrel.

“They changed the pattern here this year with the track and I think whoever had the number one this year was going to win it . . . it was all in the barrels and I was fortunate enough to have the one.”

Sutherland, who brought wife Debbie to the stage in a big hug to accept the winner’s cheque, also won the show four times – in 1974-75 and 1977-78 – when it was decided strictly by aggregate time. He reeled in at least one victory in the 1980s, the 1990s and 2000s before nailing a record 11th triumph last year to replace Dick Cosgrave as the all-time champion. Outriders Reo King and Chanse Vigen chased his wagon in the final.

Johnstone, who celebrates his 63rd birthday today, nailed his first aggregate award on Friday night by topping the eight-day qualifying run to Saturday’s semifinals, but simply couldn’t hunt down his long time foe who he outrode for in those 1970 victories.

“We hooked what we thought were the best in the barn,” he said of his fourth trip to the championship run. Johnstone won $25,000 for second place.

Bensmiller is the 28-year-old son of three-time Calgary champion Buddy Bensmiller and wrote Rangeland history inasmuch as he represents the third generation of the same family to appear in the championship dash. He follows Buddy and his granddad Alan Bensmiller. Kurt won $15,000.

Bremner was in the dash for the seventh time and won $10,000.

THIS AND THAT: Layne Bremner roared up to take second day money and grab the Orville Strandquist Award as top rookie. The award was decided on total money won through 10 days . . . Fastest run of the night came from Wayne Knight with a 1: 16.03 off the No. 4 barrel in the seventh heat.

-        John Down, Calgary Herald

Kelly Sutherland isn’t the only local competitor who has advanced to the finals at the Calgary Stampede.

Bareback rider Dusty Lavalley of Bezanson will be going after the big bucks this afternoon when the top 10 bareback riders battle. He is on Nelly Kelly.

Joining Lavalley in the finals are Clint Cannon, Matt Lait Kaycee Feild, Bobby Mote, William Lowe, Steven Peebles, Ryan Gray, Steven Dent and Kyle Bowers.

Another Peace Country cowboy, Clayton Moore of Pouce Coupe, has advanced to the steer wrestling finals.

Chance Vigen of Grande Prairie was named the top outrider at the Rangeland Derby.

Kelly Sutherland will have a chance to add to his bulging GMC Rangeland Derby record and loot when he goes gunning for a 12th title tonight.

The 59-year-old Grande Prairie chuckwagon driver grabbed the No. 1 spot in the $150,000 championship dash when he laid down the fastest time of 1:16.16 Saturday in the first of the two semifinals that determined the four finalists.

The fastest four wagons out of the two semis, which were staged in the seventh and ninth heats, advanced to the championship. The other three spots were taken by newly crowned aggregate champion Reg Johnstone, first-time finalist Kurt Bensmiller and 1993 champion and seven-time finalist Jerry Bremner.

As luck would have it, two of the finalists came out of each heat. The four will announce their barrel choices early during tonight’s program.

Missing out were three-time finalist Rick Fraser, who KO’d his bottom barrel to ruin a run of 1:16.94; Obrey Motowylo, who got hit with an outriding penalty; 2009 champion Chad Harden and Vern Nolin, the only Canadian Pro running among the eight.

Sutherland, who first won this show in 1974 and celebrated his record-setting 11th victory last year, dipped into son Mark’s barn to fatten his horsepower for the run off the No. 1 barrel in the seventh heat.

“I pulled in that grey wheeler of Mark’s,” admitted the man they also call The King. “It’s actually my horse, but Mark’s been driving it for the last two years. I bought him in Seattle and used him last year after Calgary. I wanted to give my black wheeler a night off.”

It was the third straight night that Sutherland used his long barrel hook, but he’ll still be able to comply with the new Fit To Compete program should he take the No. 1 barrel again tonight. The thoroughbreds can’t be used anymore than four days in a row without getting two days off, or they can be used three in a row with one day off in between runs.

“I got that all planned out,” he said.

As far as the championship dash, Sutherland will be pulling in for a fourth straight year and 20th time overall, also a record. He knows better than anyone that you go as hard as you can, whether it works out or not, when you get there.

“You can figure the game out,” he said, “but you’ll see guys fold up. It just happens and it could be me. Everyone gambles a little, but traditionally I try not to fold up as quick . . . I try to bluff a little longer.”

Johnstone won his first aggregate title on Friday, edging Sutherland by just 0.41 of a second in the eight-day run for a new GMC pickup valued at $50,000. Unlike most years, the man they call the Bashaw Flash got the keys by coming from off the pace with clean runs instead of setting it with blistering barrel starts.

He opted for the No. 1 barrel in the ninth heat in the semis and put down his quickest time of the show, a second-best run of 1:16.95 among the elite eight.

“You’re not going to change what’s working for ya,” he said, grinning. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. My driving style’s had to change this show because they aren’t turning the barrels like I’d like them to do, but they’ve been running. And we got outta there tonight when we needed to.”

Johnstone also switched in one fresh wheeler for the semifinal. Now he’d like nothing better than to get his paws on that $100,000 championship cheque in his fourth visit to the big dash.

“It was awesome to win the truck,” said the about-to-turn, 63-year-old. “I’ve been close so many times. You get excited and all that stuff, but I’ve been coming here so long, been so close even to winning the whole thing and if it happens, you probably won’t see me for a week.”Three-time Calgary champion Buddy Bensmiller, who celebrated his 56th birthday Saturday, will auction off his top 14 wagon horses and all of his harness this morning at 11 a.m. in front of his barn . . . World Pro champion outrider Chanse Vigen was named top outrider for the Rangeland this year. Chance Flad was runner-up, while Dustin Gorst was third . . . Fastest time of the night was posted by World Pro points leader Grant Profit at 1:15.66 in the fifth heat, a run worth $6,000.

Kelly and Kirk Sutherland in Friday's heats.

This is Semifinal Saturday.

The top eight chuckwagons after eight nights of qualifying will go head-to-head in the final two heats Saturday night. The fastest four advance to Sunday’s $150,000 Dash For Cash. Here’s a look at who is in the running for the Rangeland Derby title:

1. Reg Johnstone

Maybe the fourth time is the charm.

The Bashaw Flash has been to the Dash for Cash three times, but is still looking for his first championship. Johnstone didn’t have a day-money run during the week but won the Richard Cosgrave Memorial Award as the aggregate winner for the first time in his career.

2. Kelly Sutherland

He’s baa-aaack. The King won a record 11th Rangeland Derby championship last season. He won the Ponoka Stampede less than two weeks ago, and is seeking a record 20th appearance in the final four.

Sutherland, one of the best drivers in the sport’s history, is dangerous off any barrel.

3. Rick Fraser

Fraser was the only driver to put together a trio of day-money runs through the first seven nights, so he’s obviously got the horsepower to get the job done. He’s been in the dash three times, but is also searching for that elusive first crown.

4. Obrey Motowylo

The Bluffton, Alta., driver has a deep barn with a ton of run. He cracked the top eight for the second time in his three years at the Rangeland Derby. If he gets the front end coming out of the infield, he’ll be back Sunday for the big race.

5. Kurt Bensmiller

The Stampede’s top rookie driver in 2002 is in the top eight for the first time in his 10 trips to Calgary. His 13th-place finish in 2003 was his previous best, but he’s been consistent throughout the week.

6. Chad Harden

Harden won it all in 2009, when he put together the most-lucrative season in the sport’s history. He won his title off an outside barrel, but he’d rather be on the inside. He inched up the standings all week before sneaking into the Elite Eight on the final night of qualifying.

7. Vern Nolin

The 2009 CPCA champion kept his nose clean all week, picking up one outriding penalty, and was rewarded for it Friday night when he climbed into the Elite Eight. Driving at his eighth Stampede, Nolin won’t take himself out of it with a reckless penalty, but he’s hooked against a lot of horsepower.

8. Jerry Bremner

The Westerose, Alta., driver is no stranger to the big dance. He’s been in the Dash six times, and he won it all in 1993. A co-holder of track record, Bremner had a workmanlike week. It wasn’t flashy, but it worked.

JOHNSTONE TAKES TRUCK AWARD

The Bashaw Flash had seen the stage.

He’d just never been on it.

At least not to accept the Richard Cosgrave Memorial Award as the aggregate winner at the Rangeland Derby.

“I’ve been close,” Johnstone said. “Six one-hundredths, 18 one-hundredths.

“But we got it this time.”

Johnstone (ATB Financial) went penalty free through eight nights of qualifying to top the standings.

“It means alot,” he said. “Richard and I were great friends.

“I’ve been here a long time taking a run at it.”

Outriders Chance Flad and Doug Thomson picked up championship buckles for helping Johnstone run clean through the week.

AROUND THE BARRELS

Kirk Sutherland (Bonnett’s Energy Services Trust) had the top time of the day with a 1:16.08

Chad Harden (Crow Enterprises) used the night’s second-fastest time (1:16.67) to climb from ninth to sixth in the standings.

Vern Nolin (Norton Rose) also climbed into the semifinals on the final night with Hugh Sinclair (Secure Energy Services) and Colt Cosgrave (Alberta Tubular Products Ltd.) dropping out.

Sincalir missed qualifying by .76 of a second.

COLONIAL CHAMP

Layne MacGillivray won the Lloydminster Colonial Days championship Saturday.

RANGELAND DERBY RESULTS Night 8

(x – qualified for Semifinal Saturday)

Driver, Sponsor Last night (inl. pen.) Aggregate (pen.)

x-1. Reg Johnstone, ATB Financial 1:17.49 10:27.69

x-2. Kelly Sutherland, YaYa Calgary.com 1:17.38 10:28.10 (1)

x-3. Rick Fraser, Heninger Toyota-Scion/Chickwagon 1:18.31 10:28.99 (5)

x-4. Obrey Motowylo, H&E Oilfield Services Ltd. 1:18.41 10:29.84

x-5. Kurt Bensmiller, Eco Fuel Saver 1:17.54 10:30.85 (1)

x-6. Chad Harden, Crow Enterprises 1:16.67 10:31.21

x-7. Vern Nolin, Norton Rose 1:17.30 10:32.03 (1)

x-8. Jerry Bremner, CEDA International Corp. 1:17.89 10:32.05 (1)

9. Hugh Sinclair, Secure Energy Services 1:18.84 10:32.29 (2)

10. Luke Tournier, Roadhouse/ Fr. of Heritage Park 1:17.43 10:32.31 (2)

11. Roger Moore, Legends/Lynx Brand Fence 1:17.31 10:32.86

12. Colt Cosgrave, Alberta Tubular Products Ltd. 1:18.72 10:32.99 (1)

13. Wayne Knight, Express Employment Professionals 1:16.79 10:35.19 (10)

14. Darcy Flad, Purolator 1:19.60 10:36.09

15. Kirk Sutherland, Bonnett’s Enery Services 1:16.08 10:37.09 (11)

16. Grant Profit, Pride of Cochrane 1:18.01 10:37.11 (5)

17. Ray Mitsuing, Sandlewood Developments 1:18.49 10:37.69 (5)

18. Troy Dorchester, Country Club of Hamptons 1:18.36 10:38.95 (7)

19. Jason Glass, Shaw GMC Chevrolet Buick 1:18.10 10:39.07

20. Shane Nolin, Noralta Lodge 1:17.70 10:39.34 (10)

21. Tim Haroldson, Desjardins Financial Security 1:19.67 10:40.06 (7)

22. Gary Gorst, YYC Calgary International Airport 1:21.09 (2) 10:40.41 (7)

23. Troy Flad, Tourism Canmore/Kananaskis 1:17.92 10:40.63 (2)

24. Jordie Fike, BD&P/Pennwest Exploration 1:18.99 10:44.37 (8)

25. Brian Laboucane, Rolling Mix Concrete 1:17.93 10:45.71 (10)

26. Jim Knight, Ziegler Oilfield Consulting Ltd. 1:25.48 10:46.90

27. Jamie Laboucane, WestJet RBC Mastercard 1:18.61 10:47.65 (10)

28. Logan Gorst, RE/MAX Realtors 1:22.20 (5) 10:49.46 (18)

29. Layne Bremner, Friends of Mavericks 1:19.05 10:50.77 (11)

30. Mark Sutherland, The Cowboys Posse 1:19.52 10:51.71 (23)

31. Buddy Bensmiller, Pidherney 1:20.89 10:55.06 (15)

32. Rae Croteau Jr., Nabors Canada.com 1:17.35 10:55.29 (25)

33. Ross Knight, Bos – Solutions 1:28.55 (10) 10:57.75 (17)

34. Mike Vigen, Hatch Limited 1:19.01 11:01.22 (27)

35. Lincoln Douglas, Savage Oilfield Rentals Ltd. 1:18.83 11:13.20 (37)

36. Cliff Cunningham, Basnett Truck Service 1:29.68 (10) NT (10)

Of all the draws during the five days of the Grande Prairie Stompede rodeo, none matched up to Sunday’s bareback event.

The lineup rivalled that of any Canadian Finals rodeo.

Four contestants from the 2010 CFR – Reid Rowan, Kevin Langevin, Kyle Bowers and defending Stompede and Canadian champion and local favourite Dusty LaValley – as well as four-time world champ Bobby Mote, were in the chutes.

But none of them could catch Dustan McPhee.

“That’s good for me,” said McPhee,.

The Hanley, Sask., native posted his 86.5 score aboard Dallas Steam’s Sexy Buck on Thursday and it held up, for his second Stompede buckle in three years.

“I knew they were all entered, I just didn’t know what day they were there,” said McPhee of the Sunday draw.

“That’s quite a lineup.”

He was the 2009 Stompede champion. Coincidentally, he also rode on the Thursday draw two years ago.

“That rodeo has treated me pretty good,” he said. ”I like going up there. It’s a good rodeo and it starts the season well for me.”

He second rodeo of the week wasn’t as prosperous. McPhee headed to Bonnyville after his Stompede performance, but didn’t have the same success.

“I was 74 there so I don’t think it will get me a cheque,” he said.

“I didn’t have one of the big-name horses that were there.”

Crooked Creek cowboy and defending Stompede champion Dusty LaValley, now out of Bezanson, scored a 83.5 on a reride on horse Cheetle D on Sunday.

“I’ve been on that horse a couple of times before and it’s a good ol’ horse,” LaValley said. “I knew what to expect. I was pretty excited to have that chance (reride), so I decided to take it and it worked out.”

Growing up near Grande Prairie, LaValley said competing in the Stompede has always been a stop he looks forward to.

“We do a lot of miles all summer long, so it feels nice just to be home,” LaValley said. “I really enjoy the rodeo and hanging out and having some beer and visiting with some people that I haven’t seen in a while.

“I look forward to the (Stompede) all year long.”

LaValley took the title away from McPhee last year.

Now McPhee earned his revenge.

Speaking of 2009 champions, Ty Elliott, who won at the Stompede two years ago, claimed his second bull riding title in three years, riding Terroza Fine Line to a score of 87 on Friday.

Elliott was not available for comment.

Eickhoff pins a buckle

Saturday produced a couple of Stompede champions, none more impressive than in the steer wrestling.

Bull-doggers had been lowering the best time all week. Chance Butterfield of Ponoka, Alta., broke the four-second barrier with a 3.9 in Wednesday’s slack.

Jake Hannum of Plain City Utah set a new standard with his 3.7 on Thursday and Ross Eickhoff of Gross Range, Mont., lowered it by another fifth of a second on Saturday, with a time of 3.5.

That one stood.

“I had a good steer. I hadn’t seen him becfore but I had heard about him,” said Eickhoff. “I took a real aggressive start at him … and when I caught his head the steer tried to jump and buck and that was just a bad move for him.

“It just really came together. That’s probably as fast as I have ever thrown a steer once I got ahold of him. Sometimes your starts are good, sometimes you catch up a little faster, but as far as getting your hands on one and making it happen fast, that’s about as fast as it can happen.”

This was Eickhoff’s second appearance at the Grande Prairie Stompede. It won’t be his last.

“I am sure we will be back again next year,” he said. ”It’s a long way to come, but it’s a great rodeo.”

Tie-down tie

Nobody could improve upon Texan Cade Swor’s Thursday tie-down time of 8.0, but Steve Lloyd matched it. The Alix, Alta., cowboy posted his eight-second effort on Saturday to split the tie-down roping title.

“I don’t mind sharing it,” said Lloyd.

Lloyd said he knew he had a shot when he found out which stock he drew.

“The odd part is that me an Cade drew the same calf,” said Lloyd with a laugh. “I was excited (when he received his draw), but he is actually by far not the best calf in there. There’s lots of great calves. We just happened to have good runs.”

The win was welcome news for the former Canadian champ; he was just getting ready to leave the Bonnyville rodeo when contacted by the DHT.

“Yeah, just finished up there,” he said, of the Bonnyville Rodeo. ”No good.”

The Stompede crown was the second of the season for Lloyd, who is working on a return to the CFR. He failed to qualify in 2010, snapping a string of seven straight seasons that ended in Edmonton.

Rookie wins the barrels

Fifty-three-year-old rookie barrel racer Lee Ann Rust, of Stephenville, Texas, posted a ride of 15.36 on Saturday and left Grande Prairie with her first career buckle on Sunday. Jim Ross Cooper, of Monument, New Mexico, and Brandon Beers, of Powell Butte, Oregon, posted a time of 4.3 in the team roping on Friday that withstood all challenges.

For other results, see the Rodeo Canada website at www.rodeocanada.com

–       Terry Farrell, with files from Ivan Danielewicz, DHT staff

Talk about riding the rails to victory.

Grande Prairie’s own Rick Fraser captured the World Professional Chuckwagon Association’s $15,000 Dash for Cash Sunday night on the final day of the Grande Prairie Stompede.

Fraser, riding under the Hellfires Suppression Services tarp, with outriders Chanse Vigen and Quaid Tournier chasing, used his inside positioning to ward off the competition and win the half-mile sprint in 1:14.09.

“It’s great to come home and win a show here,” Fraser said. “You have so many friends that come out and support chuckwagon racing.”

Fraser also won $2,000 for winning two heats over the week and the keys to a one-year lease on a Dodge Ram.

He also won the Ralph Vigen Memorial Award for having the lowest aggregate time (4:56.56) over the first four days of the event.

Starting in the number-one barrel position, Fraser hugged the rails the entire race to push back early frontrunner Jerry Bremner (Amigo Trucking Inc.).

“You always want to get barrel one because if you make a decent turn, you can hold the rail and it’s 150 feet closer (to the finish line) than one wagon length out,” Fraser said. “Jerry ran like a freight train out there and I was worried because he has a lot of finishing kick, but we just kind of kicked in, and they were running, and I was excited.”

Bremner, from Westrose, Alta., finished close behind Fraser with a time of 1:14.95.

The Westerose Wiz was gunning for his fourth Stompede crown, having previously won in 1994, 2007 and 2008.

In the third spot was Reg Johnstone (Happy Trails RV), from Bashaw, Alta. Due to a penalty, Cochrane’s Grant Profit (Ja-Co Welding & Consulting Ltd.) finished in the fourth spot.

The win is Fraser’s third Grande Prairie Stompede title. He also captured it in 2002 and 1983. Fraser also set a track record on May 26 when he finished with a time of 1:13.58 and the lowest total aggregate score.

Johnstone was looking to end a 26-year drought at the Stompede and once again, it was close but no glory. He last won the Stompede stop in 1985. This was Johnstone’s third dash in four years. He finished second last year and third in 2008.

Profit was runner-up in 2009.

With his win in Grande Prairie, Fraser said he’s more optimistic about the rest of the season.

“This is tremendous to have such a quick start (to the season) here,” Fraser said. “Last year we left here in like 33rd and then it’s a long climb uphill after that. The horses did their job last year and pulled me out of the fire.”

The next stop of Fraser and his team is the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede, which starts on June 9.

-        by IVAN DANIELEWIDZ, Daily Herald-Tribune staff

Sarah Michel will be wearing the Miss Grande Prairie Stompede crown for the next year.

The 19-year-old native of Grovedale, who just graduated from St. Joseph Catholic High, was selected to be the Stompede ambassador during Saturday’s Stompede rodeo performance.

“I wanted to be a spokesperson, not only for the sport of rodeo, but for the Grande Prairie and Peace Country, and hopefully take that to Miss Rodeo Canada,” she said.

She’s relied on expertise provided by 2010 Miss Stompede Samantha Callioux and others to help her navigate through the different aspects of the competition.

“I talked to previous queens…and really just asking around and getting tips from people,” she said. “It’s been more than what I expected it to be. It’s more exciting.”

The week has largely gone according to plan, with a few surprises for Michel.

MISS GRANDE PRAIRIE STOMPEDE 2010 SAMANTHA CALLIOUX

“I was a bit surprised when they asked us to ride on horses in the parade,” she said. “And it was really nice to see that we’d be going into the schools, because I really want to get out there with the youth especially, so I’m really happy about that surprise, that’s for sure.”

For Callioux it is bittersweet.

“I really don’t want it to come to an end,” said Callioux who lives in Wildwood, Alta. “I’ve enjoyed it so much, I’ve met so many great people and just grown as a person,” she said, noting that she will be running for Miss Rodeo Canada in November.

“That’s why I’m so excited to be running for Miss Rodeo Canada because it’s an opportunity for this to maybe keep going for at least another year.

By her own admission it’s been both a challenging and rewarding year, by turns laborious and fun, but one that she will cherish for a long time.

“It was a huge commitment, but the thing is where I work everyone has been extremely supportive,” she said. “I’ve been able to make as many appearances as I needed to be at.”

Apart from travelling across Alberta, Lower Mainland B.C., and even Washington State, Callioux says one of her highlights over the last 12 months was speaking at the Grande Prairie Cancer Society’s Relay for Life event.

“That was really great because my cousin had just battled leukemia, so I did a speech about him, and it was a happy ending.”

Amy Foisy and Jenna Barnfield also competed for the 2011 Miss Stompede title.

]]> http://gpstompede.com/news/miss-stompede-2011/feed 0 http://gpstompede.com/news/heritage-helps-chucks http://gpstompede.com/news/heritage-helps-chucks#comments Sat, 21 May 2011 16:16:56 +0000 don http://gpstompede.com/?p=976 By TERRY FARRELL

Herald-Tribune staff

The Grande Prairie Chuckwagon Heritage Foundation has made some big changes to the Stompede Dash for Cash.

In fact, it’s …