There will definitely be another Valley West Stampede, after the Langley pro rodeo saw attendance rise at the three-day competition that wrapped up on Labour Day Monday at the Langley Riders Society venue at 208th Street and 43rd Avenue.
Valley West president Sheila Hicks confirmed it on Tuesday, Sept. 5, telling the Langley Advance Times “we are absolutely doing this next year.”
“We’ll be here Labour Day long weekend and we encourage everyone to come on out and check us out and see what we’re all about,” Hicks said.
“And if they don’t know what rodeo is, that’s fine, we’re friendly. Come on down, we’ll show you what we do, and we’ll explain our lifestyle.”
At 9,867, attendance was up substantially from the first year, when the event sold out with 6,000 turning out.
This year, organizers doubled capacity by adding bleachers around the arena bowl, and a covered 300-seat area called the Train Station Bar used for entertainment after the rodeo events wrapped each day.
READ ALSO: Langley’s Labour Day weekend rodeo doubling capacity
“We’re super thankful for the community support and everybody coming out and being so positive and welcoming all weekend,” Hicks said.
“It couldn’t have gone better.”
Riders from Canada, the U.S., Mexico and Australia competed in four events.
First place finishes were recorded by bare back rider Dantan Bertsch on Duane Kesler Championship Rodeo’s 68 Knock Out, Saddle bronc rider Kole Ashbacher on Duane Kesler Championship Rodeo’s 476 Double Red, Barrel racer Sissy Winn, and bull rider Coy Robbins on on Duane Kesler Championship Rodeo’s 826 Fallen Angel.
Total prize payout in all categories $101,131.50.
“These are the best two-legged and four-legged athletes in North America,” Hicks enthused.
“We want to make sure that they come back, because without them we don’t have a show. And so we’re so thankful that everybody was treated so great and welcomed, and had a great time and an amazing experience. We just hope to continue that,” she continued, “and we’re just thankful that they they trusted us to come on out and make it fun.”
READ ALSO: VIDEO: A damp day two at Valley West Stampede in Langley