Winter Roping Series wraps up at the Crossroads Centre

By Karin Roen

The Big Country Agricultural Society Team Roping Committee had a busy winter at the Crossroads Centre, hosting four roping events that concluded on February 24.

The BCAS 2023-24 Winter Roping Series events held on November 18, December 16, January 27, and February 24 included a tie-down, breakaway, #7, and #11 team roping jackpot each day. The well-attended Series attracted ropers from south and east-central Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Throughout the winter, 14 tie-down ropers, 19 breakaway ropers, and 50-70 team ropers competed in Oyen. The Crossroads kitchen and Long Branch Bar kept the ropers fed and watered.

Throughout the Series, ropers competed for day money and points that counted towards a buckle in each category. On February 24, the BCAS Winter Roping Series tie-down roping concluded with buckle presentations and $18,000 in prize money.

Chase Butterfield (Donalda) roped three head in a total of 39.53 seconds to clinch the first-place prize of $370 for the day and the finals buckle sponsored by 2S Contracting (Steve and Shanna Bishell, Consort).

Breakaway roper Anna Butterfield (Donalda) won first place and $525 for the day by roping three head in 12.58 seconds. The Breakaway series average winner, Jody Traynor (Delisle), won a buckle sponsored by The Rack.

The #7 team roping jackpot, the first-place header Brad Walker (Big Valley) and heeler Brent Flahr (Kerrobert), walked away with $1040 each. The #7 header buckle winner Brad Walker, and the #7 heeler buckle winner Barrie Long (Hanna), received buckles from sponsors Dylan James Trucking and Oyen Greenhouse, respectively.

In the #11 roping, day winners header Mark Sturm (Bindloss) and heeler Tyrone Maines (Oyen) received $1275 each. Aaron Gibb (Duchess) received the #11 series header buckle sponsored by Diamond L Ranch (Leon and Melissa Lee, Oyen).

The BCAS Long Branch staff sponsored the #11 series heeler buckle awarded to Tyrone Maines (Oyen).