Kootenai River Rodeo draws riders and visitors to county fairgrounds

By ELAINE SANDMAN

Staff writer

At last Friday and Saturday's Kootenai River Rodeo, cowboys pitted themselves against C & C rodeo stock, which are some of the best stock in the rodeo business. Cowgirls raced their nimble mounts against the clock, and riders came from throughout the Northwest to vie for first place in a wide range of events.

The 2007 Rodeo Queen Lacie Langford, royalty from rodeos past, and visiting royalty from neighboring states and Canada came thundering in on their horses with flags whipping for the ceremonial opening. The audience heard a beautiful vocal rendition of both Canada and America's national anthems on both days.

During one of the bucking horse events, pick-up riders and the crowd held their breath as a rider caught his hand in the rigging and dragged alongside his horse. Once freed, the rider rested for a bit on the ground before getting to his feet to the cheers of the crowd. The Boundary County Ambulance crew checked him out while he joked and talked about what he'd do the next time he rode.

With the setting sun in their eyes, calf ropers found it difficult to lasso the calves. Animated by the thrill and excitement of the events, the crowd cheered at the cowboys successes and groaned in sympathy when they missed. The rodeo clowns protected the cowboys with their own unique set of antics, while also entertaining the crowd.

The steer wrestling was fast and furious with Brahma Bulls loaded like bullets into the release chutes. Faced with a bull who attempted to climb vertically out of the chute, skilled handlers finally calmed him down enough for the rider climb on for that furious eight second ride.

Barrel racers from far and wide kept everyone on the edge of their seat as each horse and rider twisted through the course.

Residents and visitors shared a collective moan a barrel fell, and cheered in unison as the riders thundered toward the finish line.

Many of the Selkirk Saddle Club members and other participants in the rodeo wore pink blouses for cancer awareness and as a reminder of the funds needed to fight the disease.