When the stakes are big, Zeke Thurston seems to have figure out how to make his rides even bigger. The saddle bronc superstar’s uncanny ability to excel under pressure was in fine form Sunday night at the 87th Ponoka Stampede’s Showdown Final. Already seeing an 85.25, an 89.75, and a 90 go up on the …
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Team Roping is a family affair when it comes to the Bonnett clan of Ponoka. All three brothers came to their hometown Stampede on Canada Day with hopes of making a pair of runs that could get them into Sunday’s rich Finals at the 87thannual event. It’s even more lucrative this year as both headers …
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Dawson Hay has some unfinished business in Ponoka. Last year the saddle bronc rider from Wildwood rolled into the rodeo town nursing a painful torn quad muscle. After treatment from the Canadian Pro Rodeo Sports Medicine Team and knowing the horse he had, the second-generation rodeo cowboy took a chance, made his ride, and spurred …
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It would be tough to find a more excited person in all of Ponoka Thursday afternoon than Craig Weisgerber. The pro cowboy got the fans stomping their feet for the ‘thunder rolls’ at the 87th annual Ponoka Stampede when their hometown cowboy slid over his steer in 4.1 seconds, to take over top spot in …
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When it comes to birthday party places, the Ponoka Stampede has to be one of the best. Jake Gardner celebrated his big day with thousands of folks by making a shiny 86-point bull ride to take over the lead in his event, during the third performance. “I’m having a pretty good day,” grinned the now …
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As the Canadian tie down roping Champion, Ty Harris certainly knows how to win at Canadian rodeos. But the talented Texan had never advanced to the finals at the Ponoka Stampede. Harris took care of that dilemma on a sunny Tuesday afternoon, as he ran down the long score setup to still rope and tie …
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There is no shortage of stories in Kade Sonnier’s world, so why not add another one, from his first appearance at the Ponoka Stampede? The Louisiana bareback rider drew none other than the legendary C5 grey horse Virgil for his debut at Canada’s biggest seven-day rodeo event. The much-decorated horse lived up to his reputation, …
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