FELKER'S STAVELY WIN MOVES HIM TO TOP SPOT IN THE STANDINGS
May 10 , 2010

Kyle Felker knew he had a steer he could place on waiting for him at the arena in Stavely, Alta. as he headed down highway 2 from his uncle’s place in Ponoka.

“I knew he was good. They said he was one of the best ones they have,” the Sceptre, Sask. cowboy said after winning the steer wrestling event at the Stavely Indoor Pro Rodeo.

Riding his uncle’s 19-year-old gelding Smokum – the same steed he rodeoed with in his rookie season last year – Felker did indeed smoke ’em, in 3.5 seconds.

“(The steer) was great. He was phenomenal, probably the best I’ve ever drawn at a rodeo,” Felker said excitedly.

“The steer went ahead of me. I didn’t have to spot him out too far,” Felker recalled, noting that fellow steer wrestler JD Hays of Rocky Mountain House, Alta. hazed for him. “I got a real good start, caught up quick and JD gave me a good bump. When I latched up and my feet hit the ground, that steer was pretty much wanting to go down. I just had to stay out of his way. I had hardly hooked the nose and he was going down!”

The $2,027 cheque Felker earned in Stavely is his second of the 2010 season. He placed first at the New Holland Saskatoon Stampede back in October.

“I’m pretty happy with my start so far. Hopefully we can keep it going,” he smiled.

According to Felker, the competition itself wasn’t about to let up the chance for first place that easily.

“It was pretty tough bulldogging and there were a few real good steers to draw up,” he nodded.

Donalda, Alta.’s Curtis Cassidy was in amongst the top 10 with a time of 4.4. seconds, picking up a $1,067 cheque after splitting fifth and sixth with Cochrane, Alta.’s Tanner Milan. Cassidy then picked up a second cheque, this time for first place in the tie down roping. His time of 8.1 seconds added another $1,676 to his season earnings.

Jacqueline Stojan from Sexsmith, Alta. took the top honours in the ladies barrel racing after her 13.65-second run, earning her $1,884, while a rare triple split for first in the team roping sent each pair home with $2,628. Ty Flewelling (Lacombe, Alta.) and Travis Gallais (Olds, Alta.), Jenner Meston (Tees, Alta.) and Monty Gertner (Stettler, Alta.), and Chase Simpson (Claresholm, Alta.) and Rocky Dallyn (Nanton, Alta.) each roped their steers in 5.4-seconds.

Over at the bucking chutes, Rod Hay of Wildwood, Alta. scored a soaring 86 points on Vold Rodeo’s Nite Hawk for $1,579

A split for first in the bareback riding between Clayton Strutt (Brock, Sask.) and Matt Lait (Seven Persons, Alta.) sent both cowboys back on the road with $1,211 each after their 82-point rides. Strutt rode Big Stone Rodeo’s Wrangler Central while Lait had Vold Rodeo’s Nellie Kelly

Zane Lambert, riding out of Westbourne, Man., scored 85 points with Big Stone’s Frisky Business for $1,482.

Bryan Symington of Asquith, Sask. placed first in the steer riding with a 77.5 for $456.