Alberta cowboys find Day One luck at Stampede

CALGARY (660 NEWS) – His first time at the Calgary Stampede started off with a bang as steer wrestler Craig Weisgerber of Ponoka claimed the number one spot, on the first day of action with a time of 4.7 seconds.

Weisgerber said he was in shock as this was his first performance, in the first round that led to his first win in Calgary.

“I just tried to do my job. (Hazer) Straws Milan pressed one nice for me, got a good head catch and everything worked out today. I didn’t think a 4.7 was going to get it done but the way the conditions were, I guess it did. Anything can happen at this rodeo,” Weisgerber said.

The bareback competition saw Jake Vold from Airdrie, get a score of 88 on Mushroom Cloud, earning him the top spot of the day.

In saddle bronc, three-time Stampede champion Zeke Thurston of Big Valley, rode his way to a tie, earning 86 points with his ride of Peigan Warrior, while Montana cowboy Chase Brooks earned the same score with his ride on Double D.

Jared Parsonage from Maple Creek, Saskatchewan walked away with the top score in the bull riding competition on Friday.

Parsonage, riding High Five to a score of 86.50, earning the cowboy his first bronze from the Stampede.

In the tie-down roping competition, Texan Jake Pratt came out on top with a time of 8.9.

Ivy Conrado from Hudson, Colorado and her horse J-Lo get the fastest time of the day in barrel racing, on what could only be described as a muddy track.

In the novice bareback competition, Cauy Pool from Riley, Oregon took the top spot with a score of 68.50 on Y Get Erotic.

Finally, the GMC Rangeland Derby would see Chad Fike from Cremona, get the fastest time of the night during heat number three, at 1:18.06.

Fike has both Kurt and Chance Bensmiller right behind him in the standings.

“The Bensmillers are tough obviously,” Fike said. “We’ll just have to keep consistent, keep running hard and keep running clean and see whatever shakes out. There’s still a lot of running days left here.”