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The Spirit of Bonnyville comes alive

Clear skies and warm weather made for a perfect time at the rodeo grounds. The Bonnyville Agricultural Society hosted a successful Spirit of Bonnyville Professional Rodeo, Pony Chucks, and Chariot Races over the weekend.
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Tie-down roping competitor Logan Hofer prepares to jump off his horse during Saturday’s event.

Clear skies and warm weather made for a perfect time at the rodeo grounds.


The Bonnyville Agricultural Society hosted a successful Spirit of Bonnyville Professional Rodeo, Pony Chucks, and Chariot Races over the weekend.


Co-director of the pony chucks, Richard Prochinsky, said that the first year hosting the pony chucks and chariot races was a great addition to the rodeo, and the crowd loved it.


“Bringing the pony chucks and chariot races was something different this year,” he said. “We brought them over, and I think it was a success.”


There were 22 chariot racers and 32 wagons competing from the All Pro Canadian Chuckwagon and Chariot Association. Contestants competed in different heats for both groups, and winners were determined by aggregate time over the three days.


Cole Adamson won first place in the chariot races with a time of 3:40.36, second went to Peter Miciak with a time of 3:43.42, and Kolten Thiel took third with 3:44.02.


Pony chucks champion Lee Adamson had a total time of 3:45.67, Kolten Thiel took second at 3:50.23, and third went to Herb Arcand with a time of 3:51.74


Adamson enjoyed himself in Bonnyville, and was impressed with the rodeo facilities the town has to offer.


“We definitely want to come back next year,” he expressed.


Prochinsky hopes to bring the event back with the 2019 rodeo. He added all of the feedback he received was positive.


Chairman of the Bonnyville Rodeo, Matt Carswell, said the numbers for the weekend were higher than he expected for the rodeo events, and the competition was great all around.


“Our entries were way up this year,” he explained.


Carswell noted that a lot of leader board changes happened from Friday to Saturday, and a lot of winning times were changed by the end of the two-day competition.


Jesse Popescul won the tie-down roping with a time of 7.7 seconds, and Riley Warren  came in second with 8.1 seconds. Third place was a three-way tie between Logan Bird, Al Bouchard, and Bin Robinson at 8.5 seconds.


With 82 points each, saddle bronc riding was a tie for first place between Justin Berg and Kolby Wanchuk. Dawson Dahm took second with 79 points, and 78.5 points got Jim Berry third place.


“Kolby Wanchuk had a very impressive saddle bronco ride,” Carswell recalls. “For anyone who watches rodeo, he rode that horse, spurred him hard and he made a great ride.”


Scott Guenther took first in the steer wrestling with a time of 3.9 seconds, second was a tie for Layne Delemonth and Bridger Chambers at 4.1 seconds, and 4.2 seconds landed Rock Butterfield in third.


Cole Goodine won the bareback riding with 82 points, Gavin Derose had 79 points for second place, and Luke Creasy came in third with 76 points.


Tristan Woolsey and Denver Johnson were the champions in team roping with 4.9 seconds, Kyle Lucas and Dustin Bird took second, and Tyson and Tufton McCloud finished in third.


The winning time for ladies barrel racing was from Angela Ganter. Taylor Manning took the second place spot, and Callahan Crossley came in third..


In bull riding, Nick Tetz won with a score of 77. Right behind him, with a score of 76 was Austin Nash, and Ty Ellis with a 74.5 came in third.


“Ty Ellis was the winner of the George Normand memorial all-around buckle,” explained Carswell.


All competitors were eligible for the buckle if they competed in a timed and riding event.


With another rodeo weekend in the books, the ag society wanted to thank all of the fans that braved the heat to support the rodeo, and the volunteers that helped the event run smoothly.

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