The 2023 RAM Rodeo Tour season came to a tremendous finish, wrapping up the strongest year in the RAM’S 25-year history.
The Ancaster indoor facility saw a full house all 3 days, and on Saturday turned away hundreds of fans that did not buy tickets in advance at the door due to standing room only crowds.
With over 6000 people attending the year end Championship Finals fans now know to buy in advance if they want to be a part of the Championship weekend.
The RAM Rodeo Tours top cowboys and cowgirls of the year went head-to-head for $50,000 in prize money, featuring three days of competition, where we saw some of the toughest competitions to date, having hundredths of a second making a difference for the year end titles.
Raising money for TUFF Therapeutic riding, who help youth at risk, we want to thank the fans and competitors for generously supporting and raising over $5,000.
The COORS Original Saloon was home to the Championship celebration after each performance where fans met their favourite Cowboys and Cowgirls.
The 2023 RAM Rodeo Tour Champions have been crowned!
CASE IH Pole Bending was sponsored for the Finals by Ranchy Equestrian. In the Ladies, it was Ontario’s well known instructor Denise Stoddart put up three fast runs including the top time of the weekend a 20.58 second run to win the weekend and year end titles.
Sponsoring the Finals in the youth poles was Bilby Ranch where we saw, Maddie McInerney steal the show when she put up a 21.13 run on the final day of competition, and won the weekend and year end titles.
BW Trailer Hitches Junior Steer Riding saw 15-year-old Jake MacInnis covered two of his three steers, making him both the weekend and year end champion. Thank you to Blacktop Outlaws for sponsoring the Championship.
Peavey Mart and Dickies Workwear saw the Build a Cowboy program give great results in the Novice Bucking Horse event. All top 5 competitors put on a great show with champion bragging rights given to the rookie cowboy Isaak Siemens
who was the stop scoring rider of the weekend and won both weekend and year end. Silver Spur Meical sponsored the weekend novice riders.
Alberta Premium Ryes fastest event of rodeo, Barrel Racing, saw tremendous action in both the Ladies and Youth. In perhaps the most exciting event, 100ths of a second separated runs, the CASE IH Tractor and System Fencing groomer did a standup job assuring conditions were safe for the competitors, both human and horses. Experience Camping sponsored the ladies for the Championship, and we saw newcomer Jenna Mergl, prove to be the number one girl. She won the average and was named the weekend and year end champion.
Bilby Ranch supported the Jr Barrel Racing, and it was Isla Dobbins who got three victory laps and won both the weekend and year end championship honours.
The crowd favourite, in MacInnis Construction’s Rescue Race it was the Indian River Sweethearts that could not be beat. Congratulations go to Ashley and Shaylynn Cornish on being the weekend and year end Champions.
In Dickies Saddlebronc, Gideon Stutzman proved he just can’t be beat. He won both the weekend and year end titles making him a three-time champ.
In the Peavey Mart Bareback, it was a Chase to the finish. Chase Park was named weekend champ, and Chase Strongman was crowned the year end champion.
And of course, RAM Bull Riding, the world’s toughest sport, saw Kicking Cowboy Designs supporting the Cowboys with the weekend title going to Tyler Ewart who covered two of his three bulls. Bret Timmermans stayed on top winning the year end title, making him a three-time champion.
We want to thank all our competitors, committees, sponsors, and fans, because of all of you, we can put on the best show on dirt.
The Ross Millar Group is looking forward 2024 CAN-AM Equine Expo, and has expanded and will produce two shows Ancaster, Ontario and Chilliwack, British Columbia.
Until next time, Happy Trails!
