The Cochrane Classic Bull Riding event certainly didn't disappoint ticketholders last Saturday evening (August 19).

The bleachers were packed, the hillside filled up, and thousands of people came to see who would come out on top at the annual event. With no real injuries to report, the crowd was estimated to be anywhere between 2500 and 3000 people. 

Jason Borton, the organizer of the 18th annual Cochrane Classic Bull Riding event was thrilled beyond belief with the results. "I was so happy with the turnout; there was no rain but it was only like 20 degrees out and the smoke was terrible but people still wanted to come out and watch. I think we're doing something right with the bull riding."

BRC (Bull Riders Canada) spoke with Borton this past week (August 22) and congratulated him on the successful event. "They said by far it was the best event of the year and I had every bull rider come up and shake my hand and say please don't stop doing what I'm doing."

Twenty-five professional riders from Canada, Brazil, New Zealand, and Australia attended the event and Borton shares the bulls certainly made the riders work for their winnings. "Those bulls bucked extra hard that night. Wacey Finkbeiner (Ponoka) was the champ and that was a heck of a bull ride he made at 84 points."

The Bow River Band was also a big hit as they performed to a packed house with a crowd close to double the size seen last year. "The cabaret was absolutely packed. Last year I had half the size of a tent and it was full, this year I doubled the size and it was full. I talked to security and he thought anywhere from 800 to 1000 people attended the dance."

This is the second year in a row Borton held the event in partnership with the Cochrane Fair and as far as trumping the event next year, he has to put some thought into it. "I don't think I would change anything with bull riding but I'd like to help out the fair a little more. Other than that...for bull riding, I don't know exactly how I do it but it's working. I was so happy with the crowd that showed up."

Borton also gave kudos to all the businesses, especially their title sponsor. "Rob (Pfeiffer) up at Cochrane Dodge all these local sponsors...it's just overwhelming how much they do."

The top fives scores from the evening are as follows:

  • Wacey Finkbeiner (Ponoka, AB) 84 points
  • Cawl Braithewaite (Bluffton, AB) 83.5 points
  • Lane Cork (Quesnel, BC) 80.5 points
  • Klayton Lakevold (Provost, AB) 78 points
  • Will Purcell (Merrijig, Australia) 75.5 points

Cochrane Classic Bull Riding will be back again in 2019 and Borton looks forward to offering attendees another big show.