Ladder Match

The annual Cochrane Fair, which runs this Aug. 16-18 at the Ag Society grounds never falls short on big surprises and full affect.

In addition to a bonanza of midway and carnival events, rounded out by the annual Cochrane Classic Bull Riding on the evening of Aug. 17, this year may be one for the books with ringside seats selling out fast.

On Aug. 16, the Cochrane Fair and co-host the Venue Bar & Grill will be hosting a classic event of brutish fashion – a Canadian Wrestling's Elite (CWE) professional wrestling event.

The icing on the cake – in addition to WWE legend The Warlord tearing up the ring – is none other than an iconic ladder match where the "good guy" versus the "bad guy" will step it out atop ladders, vying for a bag of $500 cash. The first one to get the bag, as per the familiar and famous stunt, is the winner.

And the match, deemed one of the most famous box office hits of professional wrestling, will be refereed by none other than Cochrane's own Dan Kroffat.

"The inventor of the infamous ladder match is none other than Cochrane resident and former multi-time Stampede Wrestling North American Heavyweight Champion “Cowboy” Dan Kroffat," said Spencer Tapley of the local philanthropist and celebrity wrestler who is known to crusade for local charities – including his triple threat dedication to the new accesible playground for the Girl Guides of Calgary and Area at their Cochrane location.

Tapley, manager of the Venue, is a retired Stampede Wrestling manager and current ring announcer for CW; he will be emceeing the Aug. 16 event which boasts 20 CWE wrestlers.

"I've got a plan," smiled Kroffat. "It's a big surprise and even Spencer doesn't know what it is ... my plan and surprise is my motivation for doing this."

Kroffat emceed a tribute to local Rotarian Alex Baum of Cochrane Toyota, raising an astounding $75,000 last month. He is now ramping up local fanfare for the annual Outhouse Races on Aug. 25 in Historic Downtown, as well as the annual Tournament of Aces golf tourney on Oct. 5. The goal is to raise $125,000 for the Girl Guides through these combined events and the forecast is sunny skies for Kroffat's campaign to be a successful one.

"Many have thought the first ladder match was in Regina, Saskatchewan pitting the nefarious “Bad News” Allan versus the then upstart Bret “The Hitman” Hart, when in fact a number of years prior the first ladder matches pitted Cochrane’s own “Cowboy” Dan Kroffat versus Tor Kamata and subsequently versus the infamous Archie “The Stomper” Gouldie in one of the most famous ladder matches of all time," said Tapley.

Tickets are on sale right now at www.eventbrite.com and at The Venue Bar and Grill in Cochrane located at 79 Railway St., East. Tickets are $23, which includes a meet and greet with the wrestlers ahead of the 8:30 p.m. bell time (from 7-8 p.m.) or $18 in advance for general admission ($21 at the door).

This is anticipated to be a sellout event.

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