Thirty rank bulls stormed into the St. Paul Ag. Corral on Saturday night for Bull-A-Rama 2013, and Cole Young of Sexsmith claimed the championship jacket for the second straight year.
Event organizer Karen Trach said that “the event went absolutely excellent” as the Ag. Corral was packed elbow-to-elbow with excited and rowdy spectators ready to watch 30 of Western Canada’s strongest cowboys attempt to tame 30 of the “rankest bulls on the planet.”
The long-go saw more spills than strong rides, and the bullfighters had their hands full with a couple of angry bulls that weren’t too keen on leaving the ring.
After all 30 cowboys tested their grit, only eight advanced to the short-go.
Josh Birk finished the long-go with 81 points, followed closely by reigning champion Cole Young (80), while Ty Ellis (76), Wacey Anderson (76), Nakota Pooyak (76), Tanner Seutter (74), Jesse Flett (74) and Two Hills’ Dace Chisan (74) all managed to advance to the short-go with strong eight-second rides.
Cole Young managed to put out the best ride in the short go with an impressive 85 points to take the jacket and the cash, while Josh Birk narrowly missed out on the title of champion with an 83-point ride.
Dace Chisan took a scary spill in the short go and was taken to hospital for precautionary measures, but Trach confirmed the cowboy was not seriously injured.
The night also saw a number of kids in the crowd compete in wild pony racing during the intermission, and the event finished with a dance in the dirt, with Norm Noel as DJ.
“The dance was very well attended by the local people,” Trach said, adding, “Norm did a very good job and kept everybody two-stepping all night long . . . a big thanks to everyone for attending and supporting our event.”
