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Loading...Local cowboys tested their skills in their own backyard this winter against top competition. Four Intermountain Professional Rodeo Association santioned events were held at the indoor arena at Deseret Peak Complex December through February. Cowboys can thank rodeo producers 7-C Buckers owned by Wes and Heather Clegg of Tooele for the opportunity.
“The IMPRA is an Idahobased association and we wanted to have something contestants from Utah could easily attend during the winter months,” Heather Clegg said. A rodeo was held each month in November, December, January and February.
The IMPRA is just one step down from the Rocky Mountain Rodeo Association. Points earned by cowboys at the Deseret Peak Complex rodeos this winter will be added to their totals for the 2013 season.
“We had quite a few spectators watch the rodeos, but we could have used a few more contestants. We had more in the rough stock events than in the timed events,” Clegg said. “Next year we might try to produce a few more IMPRA rodeos during the summer.”
The next IMPRA rodeo for Tooele County is slated June 21-22 at the Grantsville Rodeo Complex.
Several local cowboys earned top honors when the points were tallied from the four winter rodeos at Deseret Peak.
Winners included: Brodi Jones, Erda, in tie-down roping; Jamie Christensen, Erda, in breakaway roping; Jones as team-roping header; Robby Hopper, Lake Point, as team-roping heeler; Anthony Brown, Grantsville, in ranch saddle bronc riding; Alexis Jensen, Grantsville in junior barrel racing and Tyler Williams, Grantsville, in bull riding. Winners received Gist Silversmiths belt buckles and prize money.
“I go to a lot of rodeos throughout the year and having this series during the winter was kind of cool to get me out of my box. I got to go up against a lot of the top cowboys who have gone down the pro rodeo trail who I look up to,” Jones said. “I’ve been rodeoing since the since I was in the sixth grade and it takes a lot of perseverence and hard work.”
Christensen is on the rodeo team at Utah Valley University. “We could have used a few more contestants out at Deseret Peak this winter — I would say we had 15 competing in barrel racing for the series,” Christensen said. “People think that rodeo is just a summer thing, but for those who have a passion for riding horses we’re out there the whole year.”
