Attitude is everything when it comes to facing challenges.
And on a muddy day at the Ponoka Stampede, the contestants who came to play did have some fun.
That included team ropers Joey Romo II, and his header, Brett Buss.
“I told Joey we’re just a pair of old guys that are actually kids playing in the mud,” chuckled Buss, who hails from Ponoka.
“We showed up here this morning the ground looked a little slick, but once I loped through it, the footing felt good. Joey and I talked and said ‘let’s have some fun and just blast one in the mud’.”
Plucking a good steer in the morning action, they made the most of it with a 5.9 second run, and then followed up with a 6.3 on a little stronger steer Sunday afternoon. Their combined total of 12.2 seconds is now first overall.
“I’ve just got to give glory to God for guiding us. And our horses have been amazing. Joey’s on a five-year-old that’s probably only been to about ten rodeos and he’s been amazing this spring. I’ve been hauling my horse (who used to be a barrel horse) for a couple of years and we call them the Bay Bombers.”
“This rodeo is so unique in the setup with the long score. I love it because it is my hometown and it is such a prestigious rodeo. The mud does add another element.”
But Sunday was a fun day for this talented duo, who are sitting third in the Canadian standings.
“Anytime you can play in the mud and win some money is a great day.”
Buss has been to the Finals twice in the past at Ponoka, but has yet to claim the title.
“It would definitely be a dream come true to get that championship.”
In the bareback riding, Dantan Bertsch was ready to match moves with Vold’s Dancing Queen.
“Normally, I don’t like the rain,” admits the 32-year-old, who ranches and trains horses in Consort. “I’m getting old, so I’m kind of a fair-weather cowboy these days. But I woke up this morning and thought ‘it’s a good day to go play in the mud’.”
“I was covered in mud before I even got on,” says Bertsch. “You’ve got to have that attitude that we’re going to go have fun, and hope for the best.”
That mindset was just the ticket as the resulting eight second ride moved him all the way to the lead with 86.25 points.
“She’s a good horse. Same trip every time. You know exactly what she’s going to do. One of those old horses that you’re just excited when you draw her. I think this is probably the best we’ve done, which is a good place to have it happen.”
And then there were seven! Three qualified bull rides came during the Sunday performance, as another event saw a leader change. Moving to the top of the heat was Lonnie West, who’s tasted his share of success at Ponoka.
“Ever since I started,” agreed West, from Cadogan. “Rookie year in 2015, I won the average, fell short in the four (Showdown) round. Ever since then, Ponoka’s been good to me.”
“I had my lucky Ponoka buckle on from 2022. I never take it off – ever since I won it.”
“I’m definitely a little more nervous back here. There’s just something about it – the atmosphere, and obviously the money. This is a really big weekend for everyone. I’m comfortable here. I know what I’m capable of, and I was just lucky to have a good bull here and it worked out.”
This time, West marked an 86.75 on Vold’s Wild Time.
“I’ve seen him lots. He’s an old bull. I’ve always wanted to get on him, but never had the chance to. I was scared they were going to retire him on me before I could get him so when I called back here and heard I had him, I was pretty excited.”
“I guess the old boy likes the mud,” grinned West.
Although the rain and mud can play havoc with warming up a bull rope, the conditions didn’t bother the second-generation bull rider.
“Ever since we were young, my Dad said winning in the rain and the mud he always felt was easier. Some people get a little uncomfortable in it. You’ve just got to embrace it. We’re here having fun and a little water never hurt no one.”
There was some standings shuffling in the breakaway roping with the ladies having a solid showing. The fast time of the afternoon came from Mikenna Schauer of Halkirk, who was 3.3 seconds. Her tally of eight seconds on two head slides her into second overall.
“Honestly, it was raining, and then it wasn’t raining, and then it was windy,” describes Schauer. “So a lot of things were going through my mind. But my main goal was just to get it around the neck today. You’ve got to put on the big girl pants and get it done.”
Also Sunday, Hailey Duncan of Athabasca moved into second overall behind first day leader Falyn Thomson with her 6.2 second total. Duncan put together a 6.7 second pair of runs.
The tie-down ropers were not so fortunate, grappling with broken barriers and calves getting up too soon, so no changes to the top twelve standings in that event. Steer wrestling quickly turned into mud wrestling, with Australian Darcy Kersh having the best time of the afternoon at 4.8 seconds. But South Dakota’s Jace Melvin moved into qualifying territory, as his 13.2 second record sits fourth behind the 8.9 posted by Scott Guenthner.
The twelve best list of saddle bronc riders didn’t change Sunday, as best ride of the day was an 82.5 from last year’s Ponoka novice saddle bronc champion Cohen Larson. The barrel horses weren’t having as much fun in the mud and the fastest time of the day was an 18.15 from Tammy Lee Taylor of Sherwood Park, which wasn’t fast enough to crack the qualifier roster.