Two young Cochrane-area cowboys have burned their brand into the future of pro rodeo.
Saddle bronc rider Keenan Reinhardt and bareback rider Spur Lacasse both won at the 2014 Calgary Stampede, taking home the coveted Stampede bronze trophy in their events.
Reinhardt rode Truly Marvellous for 76.4 points July 12, giving him 151 points on two rides, half a point better than Josh Davison.
“I knew I had to make a good ride and keep going,” said Reinhardt, a Bearspaw resident who went to school in Cochrane. “It was a little close there, and I had to safety up for a jump to get back under and keep going.
“I’ve been riding good this year, and it’s definitely helped with the confidence coming into here.”
Reinhardt added the Stampede bronze to what is already a very successful season on the Canadian Pro Rodeo Association (CPRA) tour. He’s currently third in CPRA novice saddle bronc standings with $3,488.12 in earnings, just $10 behind Ardmore’s Lane Cust.
A native of Mirabel, Que., Lacasse is the son of 1998 Stampede bareback champion Roger Lacasse. The younger Lacasse, who spends his summers in Cochrane, rode Rebel Warrior for 83.5 points July 12 in Calgary, giving him 155.5 on two.
“He was just great-feeling,” said Lacasse of his ride on Rebel Warrior. “I was not thinking about my score, but I was feeling a good ride.”
He mentioned that his father was busy judging a rodeo back home, so he was unable to deliver the good news until later.
“He always gives me advice. He’s been helping me a whole lot, especially on the mindset,” Spur Lacasse said. “I knew I had to go big, because I was about five or six points behind, so I had to go all out.”
The dynamic bucking-horse aces are off to Maple Creek, Sask., this weekend (July 16-18) to chase more CPRA cash.
Cochrane steer wrestler Straws Milan started Stampede with a $4,000 payday July 4. Milan’s 4.1-second pass was good for a second-place tie with Texas cowboy Bray Armes on opening day. After that, Milan couldn’t get in the groove, blanking his final three runs in preliminaries. In the July 12 back-door qualifier, Milan tied for second with Armes at 4.1 seconds, but lost out on the tiebreak putting him out of the July 13 final. Milan is now on the road in the U.S. chasing more Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association money in the hopes of qualifying for December’s National Finals Rodeo in Vegas.
Cremona’s Jordie Fike, who now hangs his hat in High River, finished in the top half of the GMC Rangeland Derby standings when the dust had settled at Calgary Stampede. Fike’s BD&P Put The Boots To Hunger rig was 16th out of 36 after 10 heats, with a total 10-heat time of 10 minutes, 54.77 seconds. Starting the Derby with runs in the 1:14-1:15 range, Fike dialled it in over the 10 days, turning in some scorching 1:11 times late in the event. A two-second outrider penalty on Day 10 and a tipped barrel on Day 7 (six seconds) were his only blemishes on an otherwise perfect Derby in the driver’s seat.
Cochrane’s Steven Turner is riding high on the Canadian Pro Rodeo Association (CPRA) circuit.
The bull rider/steer wrestler added another $2,098 to his wallet with an 84-point ride on Kyle Style July 12 at the Teepee Creek Stampede. Turner has $8,000 so far in 2014 CPRA bull riding earnings.
Cochrane’s Beau Brooks added $150 to his season earnings with a 78.5 score on Pretty Boy Swag July 5 at the Benalto Stampede. Brooks has more than $11,000 in CPRA earnings this year, putting him in the top 10. Tanner Milan tied for first place in the steer wrestling event July 4 at the Coronation Pro Rodeo. Milan’s 3.8-second run tied Ty Miller and earned $1,157.46. Not to be out-done, brother Baillie Milan scored $1,170.30 in Benalto Stampede steer wrestling cash with a 4.2-second run July 5. Tanner Milan leads CPRA steer wrestling standings with $16,469.46 in 22 events.
