HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1990-08-08, Page 7Ludlow
TTe+dateittly, Aug eat wfl
Wild, wild west comes east
By Erie Beyer •
viz Ritchie of RRitchwuod Fps
suggests you arrive early if you're
Planning ou Miring"'•in the Great
Western Weekend "Rodeo by Port
Eight August 11 and 12.
":Last year, we had people come
in four h>oins before the roileo was
scheduled to start," Ritchie said,
"Their would just sit in the stand
and watch everything that was
going on."
I..ast year's rodeo, held at the
Ritchie farm, was a groundbreaking
endeavour, and one that received :a
surprising amount of visitors,.
lust over 4,000 people; from"such
diverse locales as New York,
Michigan, Quebec, Sarnia and
Chatham, took in the show,
The idea for a Great Western
Rodeo Weekend began when the
Ontario Rodeo Association :ap-
.proached Ritchie about ,holding a
local rodeo. She admits to having, a
love for horses, and decided to give
rodeo organizing a try,
itchie said looking after all.
is of rodeo organization,
incl' ding promotion, staff, stock,
and prize money, was more challen-
ging than she had thought,'
Put by the time the rodeo came
and went the sheer fun of it for
Ritchie outweighed any difficulties
there may have -been.
The rodeo is a°;sanctioned event,
'meaning eacli . comPetition is
measured and, monitored by rodeo
officials.; Events include bull riding,
bare back bronco riding, steel!
wrestling, calf roping, and ba rrel
racing, among others.
There were over 200 competitors.
present, from as far away as British
Columbia, Quebec, North Carolina,
Virginia#New York, Michigan, and
every corner of Ontario.
Duringintermissions between
events, children are invited to get
into the act with such events as
stick horse races, sack -races and,
Another steer falls prey to. the alder's rope - calf roping is a bug pert of any rodeo and Port Ebbe will be no
different when the with wild west comesEast August 11 and 1Z (Eric Bayer photo),
egg throwing competitions. Clowns
patrol the sidelines and everypne
comes away with a sense of the
rodeo's wild west atmosphere. As
Ritchie puts it, "It's just constant'
action throughout the whole show -
it's "great, just great."
This year's added feature is week
end camping. Ritchie said Many .of
the details have yet to be worked
out by organizers but chances `• look
good for the weekend camping
rodeo adventure.
. The country camp -out will stretch
from Friday night to Sunday night,
encompass both weekendshows,
and probably feature a central bon-
fire and dance on the grounds.
And Ritchie said a "Rodeo Week
within Port Elgin will begin with
the Civic Holiday weekend August
4 to 6. A kick-off dance Saturday
night will begin activities in the
town which have the week's rodeo
theme. •
This year Ritchie hopes that SOX)
people attend, and she will be
providin more seating and 'exhibits
"
to accommodate the added number.
Fees for each days rodeo, which
runs to late afternoon, is $8 for
adults, $6 for children and seniors,
and preschdolers areadmitted free.
She has yet to determine campin.,
fees.
Through all