The top 380 high school rodeo riders from Western Canada are competing this week at The Canadian High School Rodeo Finals at the Keystone Centre in Brandon.
Traditional rodeo events start Thursday morning, but the kick-off to the 4-day event begins today (Aug. 2nd) with two classes that are special to this year's competition: light rifle and trap shooting.
"We're actually the first to host the light rifle and trap shoot in the Canadian Finals," explains Co-Chair of this year's hosting committee, Alistair Hagan. "The juniors and the seniors compete in light rifle which is target shooting at 50 yards with a .22 rifle, in 3 positions: standing, kneeling and prone. Trap shooting is for high school students only, shooting the clay skeet with a shotgun."
Participants compete in 2 divisions, Junior high competitors range from grades 5-8 and high school students (grades 9-12 graduates), they must place in the top 6 for their individual events and provinces. (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, BC and Ontario).
"So, the top 6 bull riders and the top 6 bronc riders in each province, and this goes for each event," adds Hagan, "and if you add it all up it comes to 380 kids."
Alistair Hagan says each event is categorized as a girl event or a boy event, save for a handful where they compete against each other.
"Each girl and each boy will be competing for the ultimate prize which is a high point in their division (1 high point girl in each of the Junior & Senior divisions, and a high point boy in each of the Junior & Senior divisions).
"So, this is the total of the most events entered and the most points accumulated in their division by the end of the weekend. That one will be crowned the high point champion on Saturday night, and that's the pinnacle of our event!"
Some of these young people have been competing in the U.S. already this summer. "This is as good as it gets for High School Rodeo," he says. "These kids are working hard and we're doing our best to set a stage for them!"
Hagan says there is a certain prestige to be crowned Canadian Champion, but there will also be about $45,000 worth of prizes to be awarded, as well as just under $10,000 in scholarships, just at this week's event.
"That's a big thing that High School Rodeo does in every province and that's to be heavily involved in scholarships. I can't speak to other provinces, but our province gave away I think just under $38,000 in scholarships to our graduating class this year," shares Hagan. "It's very important to the High School Association to continue to promote post-secondary education, and the future growth of these kids, whether it be trade schools, university or whatever they decide to do!"
Safety is a major factor when putting an event like this together as these kids are on some pretty wild and crazy rides!
First, Hagan reminds us that these kids are the top riders in their province, and they've been schooled on how to do their event as safely as possible. As well, the Sports Medicine team will be on-site as well as paramedics. "We hope we won't need them. We hope they're just taping ankles and knees and giving massages, but they are on hand as well with paramedics. Safety is a major concern," he stresses.
This is not the first time The Canadian High School Rodeo Finals have been hosted in Manitoba, but it is the first time it was held at the Keystone Centre in Brandon.
Hagan says an event of this size couldn't take place without the many sponsors and hard-working volunteers.
"We appreciate all the local support, and we want to give a shout-out to the overwhelming number of sponsors we got. These are the two major things that we can't forget: the sponsors and the volunteers! We can't do any of these major events without volunteers and sponsors, and sometimes they're the same people."
When it comes to the competitors, these kids in blue jeans and chaps, Hagan says they're just super proud of all the participants!
"Not only the Manitoba participants but of all the participants in all the provinces," he says. "We've got wonderful talent and they are most definitely the future of the sport, but I guess what we're most proud of is the hard work and dedication that all these kids show to get this far and what they put forth. I guess we're partial, we think they're good kids, and they have a lot of respect for just everything in life in general. We're pretty proud of them and it's pretty neat to watch these kids, as young as Grade 5 and as old as Grade 12 at what they can do already and how talented they are!"
The public is welcome to attend this weekend's High School Rodeo Finals at the Keystone Centre, from August 2-6, from 9 am to about 5 pm.
A $10 entry fee gets you into the entire day of events which includes the indoor Westoba Place arena as well as the outdoor rodeo ring. "It means a lot to the kids when folks come out to watch, and to the volunteers and sponsors when the public comes and joins us," Hagan adds.
Photos submitted by the hosting committee and Alistair Hagan.
Jeff Locke - Bull Riding
Dylan Byrne - Cutting
Kelsee McGee - Calf Roping
Harley Hagan - Barrel Racing
