Submitted by: Corey Hurren

The Bowsman Lions Welcoming Committee was busy on Saturday, October 4, 2014 as they greeted about a thousand people who came to Bowsman for the 11th annual Bowsman Bull-A-Rama Rough Stock Rodeo events.

Pictures by Corey Hurren & ValleyBiz
Click for a larger version.

It started at 3pm in the afternoon with the Old Western Family BBQ and Saloon at the Bowsman Curling Rink.

Live music entertainment was provided by the Ken Thompson Band. There was even a “Running Of The Bulls” when one of the “Bulls” escaped from a trailer and chased a rodeo clown throughout the crowd who were enjoying their steaks.

At 7pm a flame-filled opening ceremony kicked off the 2014 Bowsman Bull-A-Rama Rough Stock Rodeo. Top riders from the Canadian Cowboy Association came to compete in the Saddlebronc, Bareback, and Bullriding events.

With Bowsman being the second last event of the CCA season, the stakes were high for the riders wanting to get into the Canadian Cowboys Association Finals Rodeo. Emery Erickson was the announcer and Prime Time Rodeos provided the stock.

The Wild Horse Race started the action with the local team of Chris Martin, Tyler Martin, and Darrell Dushanek winning the event. The Bareback and Saddlebronc events were next, as well as a performance by Dave Cory and Skip, his Wonder Horse.

The 50/50 draw was held during the Intermission. The winners were:
Keith Woolford of Swan River won $1250
Cindy Sawchuk of Swan River won $750
Lorna Foster of Benito, MB won $500

Fireworks filled the air again for the start of the Saskatchewan Bucking Group’s Finals. The SBG is a newly formed group that promotes the Saddlebronc and Bareback horse riding events to younger riders and this year the top three riders in each event came to ride in Bowsman.

The finalists were CJ Wolfe, Anthony Potvin, and Chase Bourque for the Saddlebronc and Pat Gravelle, Lane Link, and Mason Helmetzi for Bareback.

The Saddlebronc champion was Chase Bourque of Pelly, SK with a score of 77 and Lane Link from Maple Creek, SK was the winner of the Bareback event with a score of 76. Congratulations guys and we hope to see you back here again next year.

Then it was time to bring in the bulls for the main event.

It was edge of your seat excitement as spectators witnessed Steve Maddison from Carman, MB win the Bull Riding by getting the new high score of 86 points for the Bowsman Bull-A-Rama on the bull “Good As Gold” and watched in fear as Ethan Schultz from Strathmore, AB was bucked off and thrown into the air by the bull “Tilley’s Custom Colts”. Ethan laid motionless for a few minutes before getting to his feet to the roaring applause of the audience.

Unofficial Results from the 2014 Bowsman Bull-A-Rama Rough Stock Rodeo:

Bareback:
1 – Bradley Dyck from Gladstone, MB with 79 points
2 – Monty Koopman from Consul, SK with 77 points
3 – Lane Link from Maple Creek, SK with 76 points

Saddlebronc:
1 – Is a three way tie with Tyler Wilson from Meadow Lake, SK, Casey Bertram from Piapot, SK, and Ross Kreutzer from Maple Creek, SK all with 76 points
2 – Kirk Thompson from Brandon, MB with 75 points
3 – Mike Gordon from Maple Creek with 69 points

Bull Riding:
1 – Steve Maddison from Carman, MB with 86 points
2 – Landon Lockhart from Brandon, MB with 81 points
3 – Kory Ginnis from Grenfell, SK with 77 points

After the Bull-A-Rama event was over, an All Ages Dance was held back at the Bowsman Curling Rink. Music was provided again by the Ken Thompson Band and later on headliners “Sonny and the Hurricanes” to finish off the night.

The Bowsman Lions Club would like to thank everyone who came out to the events, the sponsors, and everyone who helped us put on our 2014 Bowsman Bull-A-Rama. Proceeds this year are going towards the Swan Valley Health Initiative.