Barry Kerton
Rodeo isn’t just for the young, it’s also for the young at heart.
For two days (June 12 and 13) more than 80 professional rodeo athletes will descend on Barrhead as part of the Canadian Senior Pro Rodeo Association (CSPRA) tour.
Randy Schmidt said a small group of Barrhead area rodeo enthusiasts decided to bring in the event about four years ago.
“A bunch of us are a part of the association and went to some of their rodeos and decided it was something we would like to bring to Barrhead,” he said.
For the most part, the CSPRA events are just like a traditional rodeo with the exception of the age of the contestants.
Athletes compete in eight different events from saddle bronc and bull riding to steer wrestling.
“To compete in the CSPRA you must be at least 40 years old and there is no upper limit,” Schmidt said, adding that he has seen competitors in their 80s compete.
Each event has four different age categories, 40 to 49 years old, 50 to 59 years old, 60 to 67 years old, and 68 and older. Most of the events are open to both genders with men competing against men and women against women.
Schmidt said ribbon roping is one team event in which both cowboys and cowgirls, compete as a pair.
The roper, usually a cowboy, throws a loop around the calf while his cowgirl partner, the ribbon runner, waits in the arena. As soon as the roper dismounts from his horse and takes hold of the calf, the cowgirl runs to the animal and snatches the ribbon tied to the calf’s tail. The ribbon runner then races back to the finish line.
So far Schmidt said the reception for the event has been really positive, due to the calibre of talent.
“We have some of the best senior rodeo competitors coming from all over North America to compete in the event. People from Wyoming, Oregon, Montana, basically all of the northwestern United States,” he said.
In addition, about a dozen local competitors take part in the event every year.
Action starts at 1 p.m. on Sunday, June 12, at the Barrhead Rodeo Grounds, while Monday’s action starts at noon.
Admission is free and food and drinks will be available at the concession stand.
For those not able to make the event, Schmidt noted that the CSPRA Senior Rodeo is in Mayerthorpe on June 10 - 11.
“It is some great rodeo action,” Schmidt said. “To be able to see someone who is in their 60s or even older who is still on a horse and can do what they do is just wonderful.”
