A couple local cowboys showed their mettle at the 18th Annual Lakeshore Stampede Rodeo July 28 in Elbow by climbing into the ring for some roping, bareback riding and steer wrestling.
Davidson’s Scott Sigfusson, the current high point cowboy in the CCA (Canadian Cowboys’ Association), said the rodeo had “great stock and great facilities.” He said he travels to around 70 rodeos a year, pretty much one every weekend between May and October, where he competes in tie down roping, team roping, and “for the bigger adrenalin rush” steer wrestling.
“I was able to acquire the high point cowboy when I was in high school and steer wrestling was just the next step,” said Sigfusson. “You just ride up to a steer on your horse. You slide off your horse. Then you grab the steer by the head and twist his head and throw him to the ground.”
Across the Canadian semi-pro association, Sigfusson is currently sitting fourth in steer wrestling, second in tie down roping and 14th in team roping. He said that his goal is to qualify for the CCA championships in November at the Canadian Western Agribition held in Regina.
Dustan McPhee, from Hanley, took home the top prize this year for bareback riding at the Stampede. A regular at the Elbow rodeo, McPhee said he doesn’t make to many CCA rodeos as he regularly competes at the pro level, but he’s quite fond of the Lakeshore Stampede.
“It’s always a good rodeo and close to home, so I try to make sure I go over there and get entered,” he said. “I’ve been to Elbow a lot and I’ve won it before.”
Refraining to take any praise for his ride, McPhee said it was just a “good little horse” that enabled him to walk away with the prize money in Elbow. He said usually he would be trying to make it to the CFR (Canadian Finals Rodeo) at Edmonton in November during the summer, but not this year.
“I’m too far out of it, but I’ll go to a few more CCA rodeos (this summer) and try and make it to the CCA finals.”