Spectators buck the heat to support the Bridge Lake Rodeo

Bridge Lake Rodeo coordinators always hope for good weather to shine on their event, but last Saturday’s scorching heat may have been too much of a good thing.

Bridge Lake Community Club treasurer Colleen Law said the extreme weather was likely responsible for about a 60 person drop in attendance. Temperatures soared in the mid 30 C range and it sent spectators that did brave the heat, scrambling for shade.

“I looked up in the main bleachers and I couldn’t believe they were half empty,” said Law. “Then I glanced over at the covered areas and saw people were packed in there as tight as they could be.”

The concession stand ran out of bottled drinking water early in the day and one cowboy suffered an injury in the bull riding event but, aside from that, the rodeo went off without a hitch, said Law.

Local and visiting cowboys and cowgirls competed for cash prizes in rough stock, barrels, daubing and roping events.

A prize buckle and a cheque for $100 went to all around cowboy Ty Lytton, from Lone Butte and to Katelyn Wilson, from Little Fort, the all around cowgirl.

The bull riding event saw Cody Antoine from Cache Creek take first prize and an added purse of $400. Antoine was the only competitor to hang on for the full eight seconds.

There were no winners in bareback competition. Law said that only one rider out of the five that were registered showed up and he was unable to post a qualifying time.

Ty Olsen from Kamloops was the big winner in saddle bronc, taking home an added purse of $500. Wade Cunningham from 70 Mile was second and local man Ty Lytton and Jason Bishop from Kamloops tied for third.

Junior barrel racing saw Maddy Mills in first place, Nicole Myers in second and Jessie Mcoy finishing third.

Jessica Fremlin had the winning time in peewee barrels, with Kailey Dube in second and Taylor McCullough in third place.

Bridge Lake cowgirl Marisa Peter came up first in senior barrel racing. Nicole Myers placed second and Tiffany Vaughan posted a third place time.

In junior steer daubing, Nicole Myers was the winner, Maddy Mills placed second and Colleen William placed third.

The Isnardy family had the calf roping event all tied up with Riley Isnardy taking first place and an added prize of $200, Joel Isnardy was second and Carly Isnardy was third.

In ladies daubing, Monica Wyssen came up with the fastest time, followed by Vicky Scott and Keely Cahill.

Shaquille Stump won junior cow riding and in senior breakaway roping, Brian Pettitt was the winner and Katelyn Wilson was second with the only other qualifying time.

Team roping lassoed an extra $200 for winners Cash Isnardy and Archie Williams. The team of Ian Cameron and Keith Pozzobon was second and the Riley Isnardy/Archie Williams duo was third.

Law said it takes a tremendous amount of sponsorship to run the rodeo and provide the attractive cash prizes.

“There are way too many sponsors involved to thank them individually. Very generous corporate and private sponsors. The Bridge Lake Community Club thanks them all, as well as our hard working volunteers and supporters.”