Cloverdale Rodeo back in the saddle again

Glenda Luymes
Canwest News Service

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

VANCOUVER - Organizers of this weekend's Cloverdale Rodeo have refused to let a little controversy deter them from getting back in the saddle.

The annual rodeo enters its 62nd year Friday with four fewer events - but more than double the prize money - after a calf's death led to the demise of roping events at the end of last year.

The $360,000 in prize money makes Cloverdale the second-richest rodeo in Canada after the Calgary Stampede and the fifth richest in North America. The jackpot has also guaranteed a string of world-class competitors.

"It's a unique format unlike anything that's been done before," rodeo spokesperson Laura Ballance said yesterday. "We feel like we listened to peoples' concerns and we're putting on an event that reflects our community."

The rodeo has become a "jackpot rodeo," where cowboys are invited to compete for prize money, but cannot earn points toward their standing on the rodeo circuit.

Whether the changes will make for a more exciting show is still up for debate, as is the question of whether Cloverdale can legitimately be called a "cruelty-free" rodeo.

But all sides agree it'll be a dramatically different event than in years gone by.

About 12 committees from other rodeos across North America are expected to attend to see if Cloverdale will succeed without tie-down roping, team roping, wild cow milking and steer wrestling.

The show will be based around the traditionally-popular bull riding, saddle bronc and bareback riding, in addition to barrel racing.

"Cloverdale shook up the world of rodeo 1/8with last year's decision 3/8," said Ballance. "We've taken the crowd favourites and invited some of the top cowboys and girls in the world to compete. It's going to be tremendously exciting."

Pro Rodeo Canada spokesman Jim Pippolo said it was "a shame" to have to remove the Cloverdale Rodeo from the circuit, but the rules stipulate a rodeo must either have one cowboy-point event or a full six. Cloverdale has three - saddle-bronc, bareback and bull riding.

"When a rodeo doesn't count for points, only time will tell if it works," added Pippolo.

Glenn Gaetz of Liberation B.C. said his animal-rights group won't protest the rodeo this year because it's too busy with other projects, but believes bull and bronc riding represent cruelty to animals.

"Without the flank strap the animals don't buck. Obviously it's causing them some discomfort," he said.

Debra Probert of the Vancouver Humane Society said all rodeo events, with the exception of barrel racing, are based on the animals' reactions to "fear, pain and stress."

But Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts said the changes represent "the evolution of the rodeo."

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