There is nothing like coming back to the foothills to boost a cowboy’s confidence.
Millarville’s Marty Vernon won the saddle bronc at the Foothills Cowboy Association’s (FCA) Longview Rodeo July 15-16 when he rode Twister to a 68 on Saturday night.
“I have been going to a lot of pro rodeos this year and I haven’t been doing very well,” Vernon said. “This is my first FCA rodeo. I want to find some success and build some confidence… You can get discouraged when you aren’t winning money.”
It also didn’t hurt Longview is just down Highway 22X from his Millarville home.
“It has a hometown feel here for sure,” Vernon said. “There are a lot of guys who are here who taught me how to ride broncs. Curtis Geier ran the Hebson Arena when I first started getting on. He was the pick-up man tonight and I think I jumped off on him.”
Vernon jumped on Geier’s horse after a workman-like eight seconds on Twister. Nothing fancy, but more than enough to earn the top ride in Longview.
Vernon came into Longview on a bit of a streak. He won approximately $1,300 at rodeos in Washington and Oregon the week prior to the Longview rodeo.
Jordan Hansen of Okotoks finished third in the bull riding at Longview when he rode Revenge to a 74 on Saturday. Revenge was kicking up a fuss in the chute while Hansen was getting on board.
It allowed Hansen to get some advice from a Canadian champion. Tyler Thomson – fresh from winning the Wildcard Saturday at the Calgary Stampede – was helping at Hansen’s chute.
“I would love to ride as well as Tyler some day and to have him helping me out makes me want to ride much better,” the 17-year-old Hansen said. “Tyler was making sure that I wasn’t going to get jerked down and smash heads with the bull. He was also giving me tips.”
Hansen stayed on Revenge for a blink over eight seconds. It was touch and go as to whether he rode to the eight-second whistle.
“I knew it was close and I didn’t know for sure if I had made it,” Hansen said.
Hansen’s goal this year is to qualify for the FCA finals. He missed last year’s finals due in part to not going to enough rodeos.
Calgary’s Jacob Stemo won the bull riding with a 78 on Prairie Dog.
The FCA is ideal for young rodeo athletes with aspirations of making the sport a career, he explained.
“The FCA teaches you how to take the game of rodeo both mentally and physically,” the 18-year-old Stemo said. “You learn how to deal with getting bucked off one night and maybe win the next night. The FCA helps you get to the next level.”
It didn’t take a winner’s cheque for him to become fond of Longview.
“I love Longview,” he said. “For an FCA rodeo, you get an enormous crowd. It’s run well and just look at the scenery.”
Jonny Webb of Okotoks was second in the steer wrestling in Longview at 7.8 seconds.
BRCUE TRY TO GET RESULTS
