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Stettler hosts Canadian Junior Roughstock Championships

The future of rodeo looks bright
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Whip Gertner rides in the PeeWee Bareback event at the Canadian Junior Roughstock Championship on Sept. 15 in Stettler. Kevin J Sabo photo

By Kevin J Sabo For the Independent

The future of rodeo is in good hands if the talent shown this weekend at the Canadian Junior Roughstock Championships in Stettler are any indication.

A number of young athletes from all over Western Canada descended on Stettler on Sept. 14 - 15 hoping to take home some hardware, and maybe qualify for the Junior National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nevada this fall. For 15 of the youth, they were not disappointed.

The Stettler Canadian Junior Roughstock Championships is one of the few Canadian routes available to young rodeo participants wanting to break into the Junior National Finals Rodeo in the U.S, and the competition can come from all over Canada.

Eight events were held on both days, with the prize winners being determined from the overall average of the two days. Prizes were sponsored and featured belt buckles and cash prizes.

The top riders in the events were: PeeWee Bareback - Ryder Topolinski of Grand Prarie; Junior Bareback - Colton Stark, with Holden Atkinson and Tyson Fells also qualifying; Senior Bareback - Denver Leitch of Grand Prairie, with Chase Siemens and Austin Broderson also qualifying; Novice Bareback - Logan Rasmussen; PeeWee Saddle Bronc - Whip Gertner of Stettler; Junior Saddle Bronc - Brody Hale; Senior Saddle Bronc - Jax Meston of Alix, with Colby Stark also qualifying; and Novice Saddle Bronc - Jaret Cooper.

Held in conjunction with the Canadian Junior Roughstock Championship was the Leal’s Junior Bull Riding Championship, with Holden Atkinson, Garrett Bertamini, Braiden Cretney of Alix, and Wyatt Payne of Vermillion all qualifying for their age groups to head to Las Vegas for the Junior National Finals Rodeo Dec. 6-15.

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Colter Buchwitz during the PeeWee Bareback event at the Canadian Junior Roughstock Championship held in Stettler on Sept. 15. Kevin J Sabo photo
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Tyson Fells rides in the Junior Bareback event at the Canadian Junior Roughstock Championship held in Stettler on Sept. 15. (Kevin J Sabo photo)
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Brayden Kreil is helped off his mount after his ride during the Junior Bareback event at the Canadian Junior Roughstock Championship on Sept. 15 in Stettler. Kevin J Sabo photo
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Holdon Atkinson competing in the Junior Bullriding event at the Canadian Junior Roughstock Championship on Sept. 15 in Stettler. (Kevin J Sabo photo)
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Clay Greenslade competing in the PeeWee Saddlebronc event at the Canadian Junior Roughstock Championship on Sept 15 in Stettler. See page 11 for more photos. Kevin J Sabo photo
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Jarret Cooper, winner of the Novice Saddle Bronc at the Canadian Roughstock Championships in Stettler on Sept. 15. Kevin J Sabo photo
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The competitors line up for a group shot during the Junior Bareback event at the Canadian Junior Roughstock Championship on Sept 15 in Stettler. Kevin J Sabo photo