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Thrills and spills of Cochrane Classic Bull Riding returning next weekend

Billed as a bull bustin', ground stompin’, heart poundin' great time – Cochrane Classic Bull Riding is set to hit the rodeo grounds on Aug. 6, and organizer Jason Borton is raring to go.

Billed as a bull bustin', ground stompin’, heart poundin' great time – Cochrane Classic Bull Riding is set to hit the dirt on Aug. 6, and organizer Jason Borton is raring to go.

The 21st annual event will be a standalone this year and will not be happening in conjunction with the Cochrane Fair as it has in recent renditions.

Bull riding, of course, will be the main attraction, along with beer gardens and country and western band the Hillside Outlaws. 

A barn dance will cap the evening off.

In 2018, the Cochrane Classic was recognized as the top bull riding event in the country by Bull Riders Canada, the largest Canadian-owned and operated bull riding company.

The Classic started up in the old hockey arena by Cochrane High School, then went on to the Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre arena, and then to the rodeo grounds behind the Lions Club Event Centre.

Their newest home is the Cochrane Ag Society next to Highway 1A, just west of the intersection with Highway 22, where this year they will play host to 25 top bull riders.

“We’re bringing the top 25 guys in Canada to ride the top 25 bulls in Canada, so we’ll see who comes out on top that night,” Borton said.

“It’s pretty exciting, we’re pretty established,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of fun over the years, and it’s a great local event.”

Sanctioned by Bull Riders Canada, the event features the same bulls and a lot of the same riders that competed at the Calgary Stampede this year. The winner goes home with the trophy saddle and $10,000.

In 2018, his event was named the bull riding event of the year, and now that it's back in the saddle after making a grand return last year, Borton’s looking to regain that title.

“It’s a pretty full event. I jam pretty much everything I can into the two hours – there’s the bull riding, trick riders, it’s a really good family event,” he said.

Borton used to be a bull rider but has hung up the rope, he said – too hard on the body.

Sponsors this year include Kendra Watt Real Estate Group, Cochrane GM, Drycleaning by Dave, North Forty Feed & Farm Supply, Willy’s Oilfield Contracting Inc. and The Cat Rental Store, among others

Tickets can be purchased at the gate or in advance at Drycleaning by Dave located at 312 5 Avenue, or Tony’s Western Wear at 407 1 Street West. Adults tickets are $35, students (ages 5 to 17) are $20, seniors (ages 65 and up) are $20 and kids under 5 years old get in free.

Gates open at 6 p.m. and bull riding begins at 7 p.m.

Anyone looking to volunteer can contact Borton through the event's website: cochraneclassic.com.


Howard May

About the Author: Howard May

Howard was a journalist with the Calgary Herald and with the Abbotsford Times in BC, where he won a BC/Yukon Community Newspaper Association award for best outdoor writing.
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