Rodeo stars flying private to help pick up Calgary Stampede paycheques

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Picking up paydays by private plane?

Perhaps you didn’t know that about the rodeo circuit, but it’s been part of cowboy travel plans dating back decades now.

The romantic notion of riders crossing the continent on the back roads in dirty old pick-up trucks isn’t necessarily real …

Or ideal.

“We got on this (private) plane back on Tuesday,” said bareback talent Leighton Berry, who’s landed here — and is doing well — at the Calgary Stampede. “Boy, I can’t even count the places that we’ve been. Mandan and Killdeer, North Dakota … one day all the way to Livingston and Red Lodge, Montana, to St. Paul, Oregon, to Oakley and West Jordan, Utah … You’ve got to have a plane to hit all those rodeos.

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“It costs a little more to do that, but you got a better chance to win a little more. And when you’re racing for a gold buckle, you’ll do whatever it takes.”

Whatever it takes to get points to qualify for the heralded National Finals Rodeo that is.

Indeed, Berry — who earned a berth from the event’s first pool of bareback riders into Showdown Sunday here at the Stampede — jumped on a private plane flown by former Canadian bull-riding star Scott Pimm and has made the rounds, making pretty good money along the way.

Of course, he has to ride some success to help pay for the costs of flying … er … in style.

“As luxurious as it sounds when you’re crammed into a plane with a bunch of stinky bareback riders and still making the rodeo and the horses are loaded, it’s pretty intense,” said Berry with a chuckle. “But it dang sure beats driving 50 hours a week.”

And during the Fourth of July week — or aptly-named ‘Cowboy Christmas’ — there’s been plenty of places to hit.

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With rodeos all over the map this past week, Pimm — using the plane owned by his company, Remuda Steel Corporation in Three Hills, Alta. — has been fast-moving a handful of cowboys around the U.S. and Canada to get them where they need to go.

“We donate our time and our aircraft to help them out,” explained Pimm. “They would help pay for some gas or give whatever donations they want towards it, but they don’t have to. We just do that because I rodeo’d for years, and it’s our way to give back to the rodeo community.

“We believe it’s a very important part of the Western heritage in Alberta.”

Berry, Cole Reiner and Mason Clements — all barebackers — were on Pimm’s six-seater flight into Springbank Airport, just west of Calgary, for the Stampede.

“Scott’s a lifesaver,” Berry said. “He’s a tough guy and all about his business, too.

“Without him, we would not have gotten places that we needed to go.”

The demand for private flights seems to be on the upswing these days given the recent obstacles of flying commercially.

Take for instance the WestJet labour dispute with plane mechanics, which caused a few cowboys to miss their ride at last week’s Ponoka Stampede.

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But getting on a private plane instead can’t always be an option, no matter the situation.

Alberta saddle-bronc star Zeke Thurston says he does “some” travel by private plane but admits the costs of such travel can often be a deterrent.

“It’s almost unaffordable for us rodeo guys,” Thurston said. “Just cuz anytime you get the wheels up on one of those planes — no matter where you’re going — it’s $10,000 or more. So you get three or four guys with you, it’s a few grand and you can make it work. But if you’ve got to go very far, it gets pretty pricy.

“Sometimes rodeo committees will pitch in for a plane and help get you there. Or different sponsors will help. When they do that, it’s really nice.”

And, of course, it’s definitely nice to have the option to fly privately during this part of the season.

While there’s no rest for the wicked, there’s even less at this time of year for rodeo stars.

“We just try to get as much rest as we can,” Berry said. “But at the end of the day, you’ve just got to be a cowboy and go do your job no matter how tired you are or where you’ve been or where you’re coming from, because you’ve got another rodeo the next day. I’ll honestly keep the ball rollin’ all the way through hopefully the short-round here and then go back down to the States for more rodeos.

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“It has been a whirlwind of a Fourth,” confirmed Berry. “A bunch of caffeine and no sleep. We’re just rodeoin’ and living the dream.

“And getting up here to Calgary to kind of top it off is my favourite. I’m always excited to get across the border up here into some great Canadian weather and get on some great Canadian bucking horses.

“It’s summertime, and we’ve been training for this all year. Belt buckles are on my mind, so you’ll see me at all of them.”

Thanks to pilots like Pimm and others in the private aviation business, it makes it easier.

tsaelhof@postmedia.com

X: @ToddSaelhofPM

CALGARY STAMPEDE

BAREBACK

POOL A

Sunday — Day 3

1. Cole Reiner (Buffalo, Wyo.), Twisted Tea, 88.5 points, $7,000; 2. Mason Clements (Spanish Fork, Utah), Zulu Warrior, 88.0, $5,500; 3. Leighton Berry (Weatherford, Texas), Two Buck Chuck, 85.5, $4,500; 4. Waylon Bourgeois (Church Point, La.), Misdemeanor, 85.0, $3,250; 5. Nick Pelke (Mondovi, Wisc.), Zastron Acres, 84.5, $2,000; 6. Cole Franks (Clarendon, Texas), Grandslam Baby, 84.0, $1,000; 7. Weston Timberman (Columbus, Mont.), Jungle James Sister, 81.0, $0; 8. Clint Laye (Cadogan, Alta.), French Agent, 79.5, $0; 9. Kade Sonnier (Carencro, La), Forged Warrior, 79.0, $0; 10. Dantan Bertsch (Ponoka, Alta.), Delicate Rose, 77.5, $0.

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Aggregate — after three rounds

1. Leighton Berry (Weatherford, Texas), $17,750; 2. Waylon Bourgeois (Church Point, La.), $11,625; 3. Mason Clements (Spanish Fork, Utah), $8,750; 4. Cole Franks (Clarendon, Texas), $8,250; 5. Cole Reiner (Buffalo, Wyo.), $8,000; 6. Nick Pelke (Mondovi, Wisc.), $7,500; 7. Weston Timberman (Columbus, Mont.), $4,000; 8. Kade Sonnier (Carencro, La), $3,875; 9. Dantan Bertsch (Ponoka, Alta.), $0; 9. Clint Laye (Cadogan, Alta.), $0.

bolded — advances to Showdown Sunday

BARREL RACING

POOL A

Sunday — Day 3

1. Emily Beisel (Weatherford, Okla.), 17.10 seconds, $7,000; 2. Ashley Castleberry (Montgomery, Texas), 17.33, $5,500; 3. Taylor Manning (Yellowhead County, Alta.), 17.36, $4,500; 4. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi (Lampasas, Texas), 17.37, $3,250; 5. Jessica Routier (Buffalo, S.D.), 17.39, $2,000; 6. Lisa Lockhart (Oelrichs, S.D.), 17.43, $1,000; 7. Karli Cowie (Mankota, Sask.), 17.47, $0; 8. Tiany Schuster (Krum, Texas), 17.68, $0; 9. Sue Smith (Blackfoot, Idaho), 17.82, $0; 10. Bailey Smith (Marwayne, Alta.), 18.17, $0.

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Aggregate — after three rounds

1. Ashley Castleberry (Montgomery, Texas), $12,500; 2. Lisa Lockhart (Oelrichs, S.D.), $12,000; 3. Tiany Schuster (Krum, Texas), $11,500; 4. Taylor Manning (Yellowhead County, Alta.), $9,750; 4. Jessica Routier (Buffalo, S.D.), $9,750; 6. Emily Beisel (Weatherford, Okla.), $7,000; 7. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi (Lampasas, Texas) $5,250; 8. Karli Cowie (Mankota, Sask.) $1,000; 8. Sue Smith (Blackfoot, Idaho), $1,000; 10. Bailey Smith (Marwayne, Alta.), $0.

bolded — advances to Showdown Sunday

NOVICE BAREBACK

Sunday — Day 3

1. Denver Leitch (Grimshaw, Alta.), Deputy Sue, 75.5, $4,000; 2. Brady Schlesiger (Sturgeon County, Alta.), Expose Not, bucked off, $0; 2. Chase McNulty (Biggar, Sask.), General Lynx, BO, $0; 2. Jace Lomheim (Hughenden, Alta.), September Skies, BO, $0; — Rhett Tattrie (Hanna, Alta.), turned out, $0; — Morgan Frail (Weyburn, Sask.), turned out, $0.

Final — after three rounds

1. Denver Leitch (Grimshaw, Alta.), $4,000; 2. Jace Lomheim (Hughenden, Alta.), $2,500; 3. Brady Schlesiger (Sturgeon County, Alta.), $1,500; 4. Chase McNulty (Biggar, Sask.), $1,000; 5. Rhett Tattrie (Hanna, Alta.), $700; 5. Morgan Frail (Weyburn, Sask.), $700.

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bolded — advances to Showdown Sunday

TIE-DOWN ROPING

POOL A

Sunday — Day 3

1. Shad Mayfield (Clovis, N.M.), 6.4 seconds, $7,000; 2. Tuf Cooper (Decatur, Texas), 7.4, $5,500; 3. Kyle Lucas (Carstairs, Alta.), 8,1, $4,500; 4. Blane Cox (Stephenville, Texas), 12.3, $2,625; 4. Logan Bird (Nanton, Alta.), 12.3, $2,635; 6. Chance Thiessen (Tuttle, Okla.), no time, $0; 7. John Douch (Huntsville, Texas), NT, $0; 8. Shane Smith (Wimborne, Alta.), NT, $0; 9. Caleb Smidt (Bellville, Texas), NT, $0; 10. Marcos Costa (Iretama, Brazil), NT, $0.

Aggregate — after three rounds

1. Tuf Cooper (Decatur, Texas), $17,500; 2. John Douch (Huntsville, Texas), $10,250; 3. Logan Bird (Nanton, Alta.), $7,875; 4. Shad Mayfield (Clovis, N.M.), $7,000; 5. Chance Thiessen (Tuttle, Okla.), $6,500; 5. Shane Smith (Wimborne, Alta.), $6,500; 7. Kyle Lucas (Carstairs, Alta.), $5,500; 8. Marcos Costa (Iretama, Brazil), $5,000; 9. Blane Cox (Stephenville, Texas), $2,625; 10. Caleb Smidt (Bellville, Texas), $0.

bolded — advances to Showdown Sunday

SADDLE BRONC

POOL A

Sunday — Day 3

1. Zeke Thurston (Big Valley, Alta.), After Party, 88.5 points, $7,000; 2. Lefty Holman (Visalia, Calif.), York Alabama, 87.0, $5,500; 3. Parker Fleet (Axtell, Texas), Uvid Bubbles, 86.0, $4,500; 4. Layton Green (Millarville, Alta.), Y U R Frisky, 85.0, $2,625; 4. Sage Newman (Melstone, Mont.), Sargeant Whiskey, 85.0, $2,625; 6. Statler Wright (Beaver, Utah), Miss Chestnut Legacy, 83.5, $1,000; 7. Logan Cook (Alto, Texas), Yuppie Bubbles, 82.5, $0; 7. Tanner Butner (Daniel, Wyo.), Peigan Warrior (re-ride), 82.5, $0; 8. Riggin Smith (Winterset, Idaho), Umber Bubbles, 79.5, $0; 10. Sterling Crawley (Stephenville, Texas), Chrome, bucked off, $0.

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Aggregate — after three rounds

1. Zeke Thurston (Big Valley, Alta.), $15,500; 2. Riggin Smith (Winterset, Idaho), $12,500; 3. Lefty Holman (Visalia, Calif.), $10,000; 4. Layton Green (Millarville, Alta.), $9,666,67; 5. Sage Newman (Melstone, Mont.), $8,041.67; 6. Sterling Crawley (Stephenville, Texas), $7,041.67; 7. Parker Fleet (Axtell, Texas), $4,500; 8. Logan Cook (Alto, Texas), $1,500; 9. Statler Wright (Beaver, Utah), $1,000; 10. Tanner Butner (Daniel, Wyo.), $0.

bolded — advances to Showdown Sunday

STEER WRESTLING

POOL A

Sunday — Day 3

1. Jacob Talley (Keatchie, La.), 4.5 seconds, $7,000; 2. Justin Shaffer (Hico, Texas), 5.0, $5,500; 3. Scott Guenthner (Provost, Alta.), 5,1, $4,500; 4. Stephen Culling (Fort St. John, B.C.), 5.9, $3,250; 5. Walt Arnold (Coleman, Texas), 6.0, $2,000; 6. Don Payne (Stephenville, Texas), 7.3, $1,000; 7. Will Lummus (Byhalia, Miss.), 14.9, $0; 8. Dalton Massey (Hermiston, Ore.), 15.6, $0; 9. Nick Guy (Sparta, Wisc.), no time, $0; 9. Tucker Allen (Ventura, Calif.), NT, $0.

Aggregate — after three rounds

1. Dalton Massey (Hermiston, Ore.), $11,500; 2. Stephen Culling (Fort St. John, B.C.), $11,250; 3. Don Payne (Stephenville, Texas), $11,000; 4. Scott Guenthner (Provost, Alta.), $10,000; 5. Jacob Talley (Keatchie, La.), $9,000; 6. Justin Shaffer (Hico, Texas), $8,750; 7. Walt Arnold (Coleman, Texas), $5,250; 8. Tucker Allen (Ventura, Calif.), $2,000; 9. Nick Guy (Sparta, Wisc.), $1,000; 10. Will Lummus (Byhalia, Miss.), $0.

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bolded — advances to Showdown Sunday

BULL RIDING

POOL A

Sunday — Day 3

1. Wyatt Gleeson (Sundre, Alta.), Red Rocker, 86.5, $7,200; 2. Hayes Weight (Goshen, Utah), Dark Mark, 86.0, $5,700; 3. Maverick Smith (Mountain Grove, Mo.), Calibration, 82.5, $4,075; 3. Ashton Sahli (Red Deer, Alta.), Stray Bullet, 82.5; $4,075; 5. Mason Moody (Letcher, S.D.), Thunder Dome, 80.0, $2,200; 6. Nick Tetz (Calgary, Alta.), Black Panther, bucked off, $0; 6. Luke Mast (Hutchinson, Kan.), Money Talks, BO, $0; 6. Jacob Gardner (Fort St. John, B.C.), Rock Salt and Nails, BO, $0; 6. Edgar Durazo (Moctezuma, Mexico), Church Bells, BO, $0; 6. Tristen Hutchings (Monteview, Idaho), BO, $0.

Aggregate — after three rounds

1. Nick Tetz (Calgary, Alta.), $26,700; 2. Wyatt Gleeson (Sundre, Alta.), $12,900; 2. Hayes Weight (Goshen, Utah), $12,900; 4. Mason Moody (Letcher, S.D.), $6,900; 5. Maverick Smith (Mountain Grove, Mo.), $4,075; 6. Ashton Sahli (Red Deer, Alta.), $4,075; 7. Edgar Durazo (Moctezuma, Mexico), $2,200; 8. Jacob Gardner (Fort St. John, B.C.), $0; 8. Tristen Hutchings (Monteview, Idaho), $0; 8. Luke Mast (Hutchinson, Kan.), $0.

bolded — advances to Showdown Sunday

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