December/January 2010


Canadians at Pendleton Celebrate 100th Anniversary of Round Up

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The six pick up men at Pendleton Round Up’s 100th rodeo, from left, are: Clint Humble, Gary Rempel (formerly of Saskatchewan), Del Northcott of Caroline, Alta, Billy Ward, J2 Brown and Bobby Marriott.
Photo by Dan Hubbella

It’s unusual to see so many pick up men for a rodeo, but if you’ve ever seen the size of Pendleton’s arena you’d know why. “It’s about the size of a football field,” says Del Northcott, who was picking up there for his 17th (or 18th) straight year. “And it’s a grass field; it’s huge.”
Del got the call to pick up the rodeo back when his father, the late Harvey Northcott, supplied stock to the Round Up. “I keep getting invited back by (stock contractor) Sankey’s,”
he says.
Another familiar cowboy in the infield was Gary Rempel. Gary’s first appearance came in 1991, when the Calgary Stampede was asked to bring some stock to Pendleton. Calgary hauled horses down for the first time in 1990 and, after experiencing the unique arena, then rodeo manager Winston Bruce wanted a Calgary Stampede pick up man to be in the arena. Gary has picked up at Pendleton every year since.
To celebrate their 100th, the rodeo committee supplied the rescue squad with angora chaps, a Gus-crease hat, red shirts and ties plus leather cuffs to wear during each perf.


2011 Calgary Stampede Royalty

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Left: 2011 Calgary Stampede Indian Princess,
Eva Meguinis; 2011 Calgary Stampede Princess
Whitney Wilkie, 2011 Calgary Stampede Queen
Jenna Lambert and 2011 Calgary Stampede
Princess Stephanie Gray
Photo by Calgary Stampede/Chris Bolin

In front of hundreds of family, friends, volunteers and staff, the Calgary Stampede crowned the 2011 Stampede Queen and Princesses. As well, the newly crowned 2011 Indian Princess was re-introduced to everyone in attendance.
Congratulations to 2011 Stampede Queen Jenna Lambert and the Princesses Stephanie
Gray and Whitney Wilkie. The 2011 Calgary Stampede Indian Princess, Eva Meguinis — who assumed her duties on Sept. 26 from Sahvanne Weasel Traveller — was also on hand as part of the new Royalty. This year’s glittering crowning ceremony was held in a new setting, the Palomino
Room in the BMO Centre.
The 2011 Calgary Stampede royal trio and 2011 Indian Princess will welcome visitors from around the world to the Indian Village and the Calgary Stampede from July 8 to 17, 2011.


Empty Saddles

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Photo courtesy of Peggy Rodgers

Douglas Edward Rodgers, 1928 – 2010
Doug Rodgers of Madden, Alta., passed away Sept. 15.
In 1955, Doug was one of the founders of the Foothills Cowboy Association. A strong supporter of rodeo both behind the chutes and in the arena, Doug’s classic event was saddle bronc riding. He also competed in calf roping, team roping and wild cow milking — winning the latter four years running. He lived his entire life on the family farm northwest of Cochrane.
He is survived by his wife Margret “Peggy” Rodgers of 60 years and a wealth of family and friends.

 

 

 

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Photo courtesy Northcott Family Collection

Harvey Russel Northcott, 1937 – 2010
Stock contractor Harvey Northcott of Caroline, Alta., passed away Sept. 15.
Famed for his rank stock, Northcott’s herd of bulls won him 10 Canadian Championships. His broncs included two-time Canadian and NFR champion bronc, Wyatt Earp, who was inducted into Canada’s Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2010. The stud is the sire of both the Stampede’s six-time World and Canadian champion Grated Coconut
and his half-brother, Northcott Rodeo’s rising superstar Get Smart, voted 2009 CFR’s Best Bronc and 2010 Best Bronc at Ponoka, Calgary Stampede and 2010 Canadian Champion Saddle Bronc.
Northcott was posthumously voted 2010 CPRA Stock Contractor of the Year.
Harvey is survived by his wife Eileen, sons Del, Ty, Ace and daughter Cindy.

 

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Photo courtesy of Elliott Family Collection

Mona Rae (Howe) Elliott, 1955 – 2010
Wife, mother and successful western retailer Mona Elliott of Vernon, B.C., passed away Sept. 11.
Born in Empress, Alta., Mona and her siblings were ranch-raised near Buffalo, Alta. Mona married Vern Elliott in 1976 and they moved to Vernon, B.C., where they later founded the western retail store, Cowboy’s Choice. Mona enjoyed a complete life with her main focus on family and friends. Her ashes were scattered on the home ranch near Buffalo, Alta.
Mona is survived by her husband Vern and their sons, Ty and Clay. Donations can be made to Mona’s Cowboy Inspiration
Fund, to help those in the rodeo and ranching community who are faced with a life altering illness or disability.

 

 

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Photo courtesy Lynch Family Collection

Thomas Michael Lynch, 1914 – 2010
Rancher and cowboy Tom Lynch passed away Sept. 30.
Tom led a cowboy life: trailing bucking horses to rodeos, outriding in the Calgary Stampede for Jim Ross plus four years competing in bareback, saddle bronc and bull riding. He married Hazel Hudson in 1948 and four years later lost her to polio. After working on various ranches and a stint in the RCAF, he worked in Banff for Brewster’s where he met Wilhelmina Locke. They married in 1957. Tom founded the TL Bar Ranch on the Red Deer River east of Trochu. He spent the rest of his life enjoying his ranch, horses and helping kids get started with horses.
Tom is survived by his wife Willie and a wealth of family and friends.

 

 

 

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Photo courtesy Calgary Stampede Archives

Jordie Thomson, 1958 – 2010
Former bull rider Jordie Thomson passed away on Oct. 1.
Although Thomson never won a world or Canadian championship, he’s in the record books as the youngest cowboy to ever qualify in a major event for the Canadian Finals Rodeo; a record that has stood since 1975.
Thomson qualified for the National Finals Rodeo in 1978 and 1979. He competed in the bull riding at the Canadian Finals Rodeo eight times from 1975 to 1982 and the bareback riding in 1976. His flamboyant style and willingness to help upcoming bull riders won him a legion of fans.
Thomson, who looked after stock contractor Bruce Flewelling’s bucking horse colts and a herd of his own, is survived by partner Chantell Anderson, daughters Joanne and Tessa and son Robert.

 


Doc Ties the Knot

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Dr. and Mrs. Daryl Drew
Photo courtesy of Drew Family Collection

Congratulations to frequent contributor Dr. Daryl Drew and his bride Sharron who tied the knot in a civil ceremony in the back yard of their home on Vancouver Island on Aug. 21.
The wedding was attended by guests from as far away as Ontario. Also attending were Daryl’s parents, now in their 90s. The ceremony was followed by a reception with pot luck buffet in the back yard.
“We played lots of CDs,” says Drew. “Gord Bamford, Brad Paisley, Corb Lund and some Ian Tyson (another Islander originally) for dancing and listening. We all had a great time.” Drew’s most recent article on the paniolos of the West Coast appeared in the Oct/Nov 2010 issue.

 


Where in the World is Canadian Cowboy?

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Photo courtesy by Cecila Friesen

Dr. Bob Steadward, left, Brett Kissel and Jackie Rae pose on the deck of the Carnival Glory as the massive cruise ship arrives back to port in Miami. The Brett Kissel Caribbean Cruise travelled to Cozumel, Roatan Honduras, Belize and Grand Cayman. Bob wrote: “The magazine went with us on the entire trip and was brought out and read at each port.” Brett’s fiancee Cecilia Friesen took the photograph.


A Western Welcome and a New Life

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From left: Piper Marjorie Zander; Stampede
Board Vice-Chairman Bob Thompson;
Citizenship Judge Joy Dirks; New Canadian
Sandra Gloria Rutschke; Alderman Joe
Connelly; and RCMP officer Cara Doglione.
Photo by Peter Tombrowski

On Sept. 21 in Calgary, 60 new Canadians took their oath of citizenship in a western-style ceremony that began with a three-horse-and-rider welcome outside the doors of the charming Rotary House on the Calgary Stampede grounds.
Sahvanne Weasel Traveller attended the event, marking one of her last official duties as the 2010 Calgary Stampede Indian Princess. The new Canadians, along with their friends and family, were also treated to a special performance by a First Nations dancer and drummer.


Top Riders Marry

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Niki Cammaert and Dustin Flundra
Photo coourtesy Niki Cammaert

Congratulations to two-time Canadian Saddle Bronc Champion Dustin Flundra and multi-award-winning trick rider Niki Cammaert on their wedding Oct 9. The ceremony was held at Flundra’s Shoderee Ranch followed by a beef supper and dance at the Twin Butte hall for themselves and about 300 guests.
The newlyweds won’t have much time to relax as Canadian season leader Dustin will be gunning for the Canadian Championship in Edmonton and then representing Canada at the WNFR in Las Vegas again.
Also at the CFR, Niki will perform her new liberty horse act — voted 2010 CPRA Act of the Year. She had to turn down her sixth invitation to trick ride in Vegas at the WNFR as the couple are expecting. Niki is one of the top five nominees for PRCA Act of the Year, The winner is announced
in December.

 


Ranch Ropin’ Champs

corral1210_08_250 2010 Canadian Ranch Roping Youth Hi-Point Champion, Keaton Cox, and his horse, Tucker. Chipps Tree Service and Heart Bar Ranch sponsored the custom buckle crafted by Olson Silver & Leather Co. Take a look at his saddle; this young man has worn a lot of leather off the tree.
Photo by Art Cox

The Canadian Ranch Roping Association (CRRA) held its 6th Annual Ranch Roping
Finals on Sept. 25 and 26 in Taber, Alta. The event welcomed ropers from Canada and some teams from the U.S. who had previously qualified for the Finals. A good crowd cheered on the 58 open teams and 16 novice teams competing in the two-day event.
It was a Canadian sweep of the Finals. Congratulations to the 2010 Open Ranch Roping Champion Team: Tony Body; Dale Pfahl and Scott Sapergia; the Novice Champion Team of Lauren Millar and Keaten Cox; Open Hi-Point Champion Don Millar; Novice Hi-Point Champion Paula Cox; Youth Hi-Point Champion Keaten Cox; and Ladies Hi-Point Champion Paula Cox. It sure turned out to be a great weekend for the Cox household!
Canadian Cowboy Country magazine is a proud sponsor of the CRRA. For more information, visit www.canadianranchroping.ca.


Price Features Team Roping Kings on Goalie Mask

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Photo courtesy of David Arrigo

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price, who spends his summer team roping in B.C. rodeos, came up with a unique way to pay tribute to the cowboy sport. He has commissioned and is wearing a mask by artist David Arrigo that bears the painted images of seven-time Team Roping World Champions; header Jake Barnes (pictured at right) and heeler Clay O’Brien Cooper (pictured at left) in National Hockey League games. In the past, Price, who grew up at Anahim Lake in B.C., featured internationally-renowned country singers Garth Brooks and George Strait on his mask. To see all sides of Price’s mask as well as additional works by this talented painter, please visit the artists’ site at www.davidarrigo.com


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Seven-time Canadian Saddle Bronc champion
Mel Coleman onboard nine-year-old Coyote
at the Calgary Stampede, July 12, 1987
Photo courtesy Calgary Stampede Archives

Coyote 1978 – 2010
Almost eight years after his retirement, famed bucking horse Coyote passed away and was buried on his home range in Saskatchewan.
Coyote was born in 1978 and was raised by Bob and Dixie Black on their ranch in the Cypress Hills. Bred to be a bucking horse, at three he started his rodeo career with the Bar T Rodeo Company and made numerous appearances at the CFR and NFR. In 1985 he was the Canadian Champion Bareback Horse. In 1995 he was sold to Mike Cervi of Sterling, Colorado.
Through a series of good deeds by a lot of rodeo folk, in 2002 after 22 years on the rodeo trail, Coyote was delivered to the Black’s ranch as a sentimental Christmas present where he lived out the rest of his life. Coyote was featured in the Aug/Sept 2003 issue and on Cowboy Country Television. (Season 2, Episode 7.)
Coyote was inducted into Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2004.


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Photo courtesy Ash Cooper

Stocking the Herd
Jinks James Cooper
Congratulations to Ash and Kat Cooper on the birth of their first son, Jinks James Cooper on Oct 6. He tipped the scales at a hefty 8 lbs. 10 oz. His first name, Jinks, is Scottish; it means “a quick and sudden change of direction”.
Jinks’ dad, Ash Cooper, is six-time Contract Act of the Year. Ash is also a Leanin’ Tree artist and a popular cartoonist for Canadian Cowboy Country magazine