The defending Calgary Stampede steer-wrestling champion has a different outlook going into the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth rodeo which begins on Friday.
Sure, Black Diamond’s Lee Graves has the usual bumps and bruises, but at least he won’t be going into the hospital being x-rayed for sore ribs just hours before the steers come out of the chutes at the Calgary Stampede as was the case last year.
Despite a no-time at the High River Rodeo on June 25 Graves said he was fit and ready for Calgary.
“I broke my ankle after Calgary last year, and it is still a bit sore but it is getting healed up now,” Graves said. “There are things that I have to work on, but hey, every day is a new day.”
Graves has got a new life in rodeo – if saying life begins at 40 is true, that is.
“I’m not a young kid any more,” Graves said. “I’m 40, but as time goes on there is a lot of wear and tear in rodeo and it makes for some challenges.”
Graves hasn’t won a lot of money this season, but he will be ready for the Stampede.
“Right now, I can feel things are turning around in terms of confidence in my ankle,” Graves said. “When we get to Calgary, I have to have my ducks in a row.”
He also has the best partner in the world, his horse Jesse.
“I probably would have quit if it wasn’t for Jesse,” Graves said. “He is one of the best horses out here and he makes me money. He’s a great horse.”
They had a good time in Williams Lake last week when Graves won $4,100.
Graves is in Pool A of the Calgary Stampede, which means he will be competing July 9-12.
Ready for the bulls
Tyler Thomson of Black Diamond is a glutton for punishment. He wants to get on the maximum number of bulls possible at the Calgary Stampede this year.
Thomson has made it to Showdown Sunday the past two years at the Stampede, but hasn’t been able to make it to the final short go-round to ride for the $100,000 first prize.
“I have been riding very well this year, I think as good as I have in my life,” said the 2009 Canadian champion. “I am confident and happy going into the Calgary Stampede.
“The bull riders are the best I have ever seen in Calgary, but my goal this year is to make it to the final round in Calgary. I have been close the last few years, but I haven’t made it.”
Thomson is in first place in the Pro Bull Riders Canada circuit as of June 30.
On the Canadian Pro Rodeo Association (CPRA) he won $1,500 in Williams Lake and $280 in Ponoka last week. He might have won more money on the CPRA, if not for a traveling mishap from Reno to Calgary on June 26.
“I ended up third in the average in Reno and won close to $6,000,” Thomson said. “I had a crazy week though. I was in Reno, then went back to Wainwright for a bull ride and then I flew back to Reno.
“I was supposed to head back to High River on Sunday (June 26) and in Wainwright for the short-go to ride that afternoon, but I never got out of Denver.
“It’s unfortunate because High River is kind of my hometown rodeo, and I had a good bull in both Wainwright and Denver… it can get crazy when you are trying to ride in both circuits (PBR and CPRA).”
Thomson is at a Canadian PBR event tonight (July 6) at the Ranchman’s in Calgary. He is in Pool B in the Calgary Stampede which means he will compete from July 13-16.
Other foothills area athletes competing at the Stampede are Davey Shields Jr. from DeWinton in the bareback (Pool A); Nanton’s Lindsay Sears (Pool A) and Sierra Stoney of DeWinton in barrel racing (Pool B).
