The largest amateur rodeo in the province will get underway in Quesnel tonight. (Friday)
Performance number one of the 57th annual Quesnel Rodeo is set for 7 o’clock in the Gus Cameron Arena at Alex Fraser Park.
Ray Jasper, President of the Quesnel Rodeo Club, says there are around 540 entries this year.
“Total added money for this rodeo is about 49 thousand dollars. That is the biggest amateur rodeo purse in BC for sure.”
To accommodate the extra competitors there will be a pair of slack performances this year, one today (Friday) at noon and another tomorrow (Saturday) morning at 8.
Jasper says Eagle Vision will once again be providing video on the big screen but they also have something new this year.
“They’ve got this big arm that they’re testing out for the first time. It’s a big 60 foot arm that goes over the bucking shoots and over the front, so it will give a totally different perspective. I’m kind of excited what the view is going to be like.”
Performance number two of three will take place tomorrow afternoon at 1.
The top 10 from each of the major events and the top 5 from the junior and pee wee events will then qualify for Championship Sunday’s final show.
That also starts at 1 o’clock.