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Mon, July 3, 2006
Cuts 'streamline' Stampede rodeo

By SUN MEDIA

CALGARY -- The Calgary Stampede's decision to remove a pair of traditional events from this year's rodeo lineup could cause those sports to fade away, a veteran competitor says.

Last fall, the Stampede announced it would remove the wild horse race and wild cow milking competitions from the rodeo.

Wayne Leask, a Stampede veteran in both events since the 1980s, said the decision to cut them may be the death knell for the sports as competitors in smaller rodeos will no longer be vying for a shot at the big show and its big payday.

"The entries are down already this year - fewer guys are going and they have less reason to go because the key was to try to qualify for the Calgary Stampede," Leask said from his Cremona home, located 269 km southwest of Edmonton.

"I give it about three years and I think (both events) will be done on the pro circuit."

The wild horse race is made up of 12 teams of three who try to saddle and ride an untamed horse across the finish line while the wild cow milking competition saw 20 teams of two roping wild cows and filling a bottle with 1.5 cm of milk.

Calgary Stampede spokesman Lindsey Galloway said the decision to remove the events from the lineup was made to streamline the popular rodeo.

"We made a number of changes in the interest of making the most exciting rodeo possible," Galloway said.