Beierbach Smokin’ at Broncs and Honky Tonks

Practice makes perfect, right?

Yeah, not so much. Not if you’re William Beierbach and you’ve been busy on the ranch and battling a difficult calving season.

“I’ve been wrestling newborn calves into the trailer to get them to warm and dry places but I don’t think that counts as practice,” Beirebach grinned.

It didn’t matter though as the southwestern Saskatchewan cowboy bulldogged his steer in 3.8 to capture top honours and $2270.10 at Medicine Hat’s spring rodeo—Broncs and Honky Tonks. Of course it helps if you’re mounted on AJ. Beierbach’s doggin’ horse has been in the US in recent months, with Curtis Cassidy packing the Givemalicken-bred sensation. Straws Milan won a ton on AJ at the winter rodeos including the big win at Fort Worth and Cassidy added several paydays of his own including a major cheque out of Houston as part of AJ’s very productive winter run.

“I had a really good steer this weekend,” Beierbach added. “He was at the CFR last fall and he started good and was really good on the ground.”

The season plan won’t change much after the Medicine Hat win. “I’m still planning to go to the big ones and maybe go a little harder after about the middle of July,” Beierbach, whose last CFR appearance was in 2009, noted. Until then it’ll be ranching, family and the spring breeding season that will keep William and barrel racing wife Donna busy. Meanwhile Calgary cowgirl Lacy Suitor continued to build on the momentum a couple of late 2012 wins (Cranbrook and Lethbridge) provided. Lacy and her fifteen year old gelding, Bugs, navigated the small indoor barrel racing pattern in 12.886 for the win and a $1885.17 cheque.

“This was my first rodeo of the season so I didn’t know what to expect,” Suitor commented. “But Bugs has been feeling great and he worked nice, really nice, this weekend. I’m excited to see what the rodeo season brings.”

Among the other Medicine Hat winners was 2006 Canadian champion Tanner Girletz in the bull riding. The Bowden, Alberta hand mastered Kesler Championship Rodeo’s Turbo Tax for 86 points and $1398.44; other rough stock winners were Cessford’s Clayton Bunney in the bareback riding (81 points on Kesler’s Country Trail, $1131.29) and Rylan Geiger in the saddle bronc riding on the Kesler horse Imperial Beach with an 82 mark for $1283.95.

Second generation tie down roper, Mace Perozak of Kipp, Alberta claimed top honours in his event with a run of 10.0 to take home a cheque for $1643.12 while Riley Wilson teamed with Jackson Louis to put together a 4.7 second run in the team roping for $1351.25 each. The novice saddle bronc champion was Sundre’s Daniel Gratten posted a 67 to claim a cheque for $240.56 while Dawson Hay, the Wildwood, Alberta son of rodeo legend Rod Hay, showed he too will be a force to be reckoned with by splitting the steer riding title with Owen Berreth of Airdrie. Both cowboys marked 77.5 for $356.48 to each of them.

The three day event and second rodeo of the season enjoyed solid attendance and sets the stage for the busy rodeo season to follow. Next Canadian Professional Rodeo action takes place in Coleman, Alberta (April 26-28) and the Trail, British Columbia Bull Riding (April 27).

* These results are unofficial.

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The rodeo community mourns the loss of long time journalist and Hall of Fame rodeo writer, Dwayne Erickson, who passed away in the early morning hours of April 22. Dwayne’s passion for rodeo, encyclopedic knowledge and enthusiastic coverage of the sport he loved will be greatly missed. Memorial arrangements will be announced as they are finalized.

This information was provided by the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association.