The presence of sign-carrying animal rights protesters at the entranceway to the Luxton fairgrounds Sunday didn't seem to sway the enthusiasm of attendees at the annual fair and pro rodeo.
Brilliant sunshine greeted fairgoers at the midway and rodeo spectators, who cheered on visiting cowboys and cowgirls in the final day of competition for the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association event. The rodeo saw athletes from around Western Canada and the U.S. test their skills and vie for prize money in such events as bull riding, bareback and saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, ladies barrel racing and team roping.
The rodeo had a scary moment on day 1 Saturday, when Okotoks, Alta. steer wrestler Coleman Kohorst was gored by a horn of the animal he was trying to bring to the ground. He was taken to Victoria General Hospital and was said to be recovering well the next day.
Find full results soon at rodeocanada.com.
Melissa de Meulles, organizer of Victoria Citizens Against Rodeo, which is lobbying to have the rodeo aspect removed from the annual fair, said the group has been placed on the agenda for tomorrow night's (May 20) Langford council meeting.
Mayor Stew Young has said in past that the municipality has no jurisdiction to remove calf roping or other events from the rodeo, or rodeo in general from the spring fair, based on claims of animal cruelty.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com