The Jasper Rodeo went off without a hitch – unless you count the one hooking the mini horse to a carriage that pulled happy little cowgirls and boys during the Little Britches Corral on Saturday. 

“This year is probably one of the smoothest, if not the smoothest we’ve ever run,” said Steve Pavlov, president of the Jasper Heritage Rodeo committee. The rodeo averaged about 800 people per night during the four-day event. 

One big seller for the weekend was the dance on Saturday night. This year the rodeo welcomed back a live band in the form of Canadian Country Music Award nominee Brett Kissel. Pavlov said about 700 people attended the live band. “People just loved it,” he said. 

Pavlov said the selection of the band had a huge impact on the attendance, and he hopes to see future attendance return to the 1,000 guests they used to average at the dance. 

Kissel performed several sets with a DJ filling in between for constant music all night. At the end of the night Kissel performed a rock set that Pavlov said was well received. “Brett really appealed to this community. 

Technology played a big part in keeping the concert-goers entertained. Pavlov said they had a live feed in the bar area of the show that filmed the entire performance. 

“People were able to leave the dance floor, grab a beer and still watch the band,” Pavlov said. 

Pavlov said the many volunteers who pitched in made the event a success. Those volunteers included the municipality that contributed equipment; sports teams that cleaned and provided security; and more that served beer, set up and tore down the event. 

“It just could not have happened without these people helping,” Pavlov said. 

Each community group that helps out gets a significant donation for their time. Pavlov said they will put about $8,000 back into the community after the final cheque is written to each of the sports groups and clubs that contributed. That is in addition to the $5,000 or so that will be donated in grants to other community groups when the rodeo’s profits are tallied. 

As for the actual rodeo action, Pavlov said the competition was tight, with many of the events split between more than one cowboy and cowgirl.

The Jasper rodeo welcomed Canadian and national champions, as well as national qualifiers. 

“The calibre of the cowboy that came again was quite high,” Pavlov said. 

The Jasper Heritage Rodeo is a sanctioned event that can qualify cowboys for the Canadian National Rodeo. Pavlov did not have the final results of all who managed to qualify. Steer wrestler Todd Woodward was 900 points short of the 15th spot on the team (points are earned per dollar won at each rodeo), and earned $1,620 in Jasper, Pavlov said. 

Pavlov is already looking ahead to next year to improve on a seemingly perfect model they have developed for 2010. Next year he is hoping to secure an instant replay scoreboard that can not only replay the action, but keep the crowd up-to-date on the scores of previous nights. 

Pavlov said a sponsor is needed to complete the deal, but the possibility for filmed ads on the screen will further help defray the costs. As an indoor rodeo, Pavlov said they have the opportunity to do things the Canadian Nationals does, such as fireworks displays after a good ride. 

“It was a good weekend for sure,” said Patti Pavlov, one of the many tireless volunteers who helped make the event a success. “I think we’re all happy with how it went.”

Patti helped organize the family events, such as the Little Britches Corral which welcomed over 300 kids plus their families. Patti, who ran the popcorn machine at the Little Britches Corral, estimates about 500 people participated. 

“I never got my head out of the popcorn machine for the whole two hours,” Patti said. The event was not just for the kids either, she added.

“Everybody’s a kid between noon and two on Little Britches day,” Patti said. 

The day was capped off by a draw for a brand new bike, which Eli Beauchamp was lucky enough to take home. 

“He was so excited,” Patti said. Eli rode the bike excitedly around the arena as he celebrated his big win. 

Joining the rodeo as Little Miss Rodeo Jasper was Andrea Leitch and Jada Moorehouse. The two girls got to tour the rodeo with the royalty, Princess RaeAnn Hall and Queen Laura Leonard. 

Both princess and queen have roots in the area. Hall is from Hinton and Leonard’s grandfather was one of the original outfitters in Jasper. She is also one of four cousins that have held the queen position at the Jasper rodeo. Patti said the girls worked hard throughout the entire rodeo. 

“They were everywhere. They didn’t stop,” she said. “They left here tired but happy.”

Patti hopes next year they will have a boy apply to spend the day with the rodeo clown. “I wish one little guy would just bite the bullet and try it,” she said. In her history of helping out at the rodeo, she has never had a boy even apply. The position is open to girls if they would like to see what being a rodeo clown is all about. 

“It would just take one,” Patti said. 

Next year they hope to revamp the popular children’s events, Patti said, but the free horse rides will be staying put. They hope to add more events to the already popular ones they have. 

The Jasper Heritage Rodeo results are as follows: Bull Riding – 1. Ted Stovin 91.5, 2. Scott Schiffner and Brett Thompson 88, 3. Steven Turner 85.5; Steer Wrestling – 1. Todd Woodward 3.7, 2. Chance Butterfiled and Rowdy Hays 3.8, 3. Morgan Grant and Straws Myland 3.9; Saddle Bronc – 1. Dustin Thompson 81.5, 2. Kyle Thompson 80, 3. Sam Kelts 77.5; Bareback – 1. Luke Creasy 86, 2. Michael Solberg 80, 3. Reid Rowan, Dusty Lavally and Matt Laitt 79; Team Roping – 1. Matt Fawcett and Dale Skocdpole 6.1, 2. Rowland McFadden and Clark McCarroll 6.4, 3. Ryley Wilson and Marty Lillico, and Chase Simpson and Rocky Dallyn 6.6; Ladies Barrel Racing – 1. Casey Crandall 13.35, 2. Ramona Nask and Amanda Kotun 13.38, 3. Sherri Lynn-Johnson (13.41); Tiedown Roping – 1. Curtis Cassidy 8.2, 2. Alvin Bouchard 8.3, 3. Clint Robinson 9.2.