It was fun in the mud when cowboys and cowgirls from ranches throughout the Interior gathered in Falkland for the North Okanagan Cowboy Challenge.
The competition provided an opportunity for them to show off their skills and horsemanship while undertaking tasks often done on a working ranch.
Events included the ranch horse competition, one-man doctoring, two-man trailer loading and two-man wild horse race. There was also an optional stock saddle bronc riding event, where riders came out of the chute using their everyday work saddle.
Top hands for the day were Kurt Martindale (Douglas Lake Ranch Portland Division, Williams Lake), Ed Russell (River Ranch, Riske Creek) and Gib Schneider (Frolek Cattle Company, Kamloops).
Top bronc riders were Cam Jacobs (Douglas Lake Ranch) and Joe Robertson (Douglas Lake Ranch Portland Division, Williams Lake).
Other competitors in the day-long event were Hayley Rutherford (Lazy L Ranch, Merritt), Karen Caldwell (Kane Lake Ranch, Merritt), Chance Holmes (Douglas Lake Ranch Portland Division, Williams Lake), Greg Speller (Sealin Creek Ranch, Westwold), John Lauder (Lauder Ranch, Lillooet), Robin Coutlee (Guichon Ranch, Merritt), Adian Cox (Douglas Lake Ranch Portland Division, Williams Lake), Kayo Toews (Douglas Lake Ranch Northern Division, Riske Creek), Brad Rymer (Chilco Ranch, Williams Lake) and Chad Seelhoff (Woodjam Ranch, Horsefly).
Although the weather was cool and overcast, enthusiasm was high and spectators enjoyed a great day. Gord Collier donated his time as announcer and did stellar job keeping everyone informed and entertained.
Congratulations to the committee who pulled this inaugural event together with full intentions of doing it again next year: Joe Bariesheff, Brandon and Katelyn Abel, and Thomas Linford.