With the Canadian Cowboys Association season at its midway point and an impressive purse on the line, the 2012 Painted Hand Roughstock Rodeo is set to have an impressive lineup of the best semi-pro cowboys in North America. The second annual Counting Crop Roughstock Rodeo, sponsored by the Painted Hand Casino, is one of the richest rodeos in Saskatchewan, with a $10, 000 plus promise in total prize money for the riders and points towards qualifying for the CCA Finals on the line, the Roughstock Rodeo is set to be one of the CCA events of the season.
Roughstock rodeos feature just bullriding, saddle bronc, and bareback competitions. The CCA is anticipating a high calibre level of riders and entertainment for the events taking place this Thursday. "Based on last year's rodeo, our members know to expect a very high caliber of competition in Yorkton," says CCA general manager, Mark Bencze. "This rodeo brings out the best in our competitors, it's going to be quite a show."
Bencze also mentioned that the mid-point of the CCA season and the tight points race for the CCA finals will surely increase the level of competition that Yorkton fans will see. "At this point in the rodeo season, competition is especially fierce; every performance counts toward qualifying for the CCA Rodeo Finals in November," said Bencze.
The Painted Hand Casino is also proud to host the event for a second year and he name of the event is a nod to traditional First Nations values of fair play, excellence in horsemanship, and honour in competition. "The Painted Hand was revered both as a symbol of great bravery and honour to the warrior who received the mark of such distinction. A decorated warrior would charge at a fully armed enemy warrior in the midst battle and 'count coup' by touching the enemy with his bare hand. This was recognized as the greatest feat of bravery," said casino general manager Jonathon Pasap said at a press conference announcing the inaugural rodeo last year.
In only its second year, the success and prestige of the rodeo is a testament of the work done by the Yorkton Exhibition to grow horse racing and cowboy sport in the city. With weekly harness races drawing huge crowds, this weeks rodeo is sure to be a hot ticket at the Cornerstone Raceway as semi-professional action fills the grandstands.
The CCA Finals take place at Regina's Canadian Western Agribition the event takes place November 20-24 and the Yorkton event combined with the CCA event in Whitewood this weekend will be a huge factor in settling qualifying positions and points for the CCA Finals hopefuls. These hopefuls include past champions and current points leaders who hope to use the two day event to continue to keep their hold as CCA elite.
Events for the Counting Crop Roughstock Rodeo begin at noon at the Cornerstone Raceway with events taking place Thursday.
