Organizers of the 2024 Indoor Spring Classic Rodeo in Williams Lake are making some bold new changes to the annual springtime rodeo, dropping traditional timed events while hoping to increase the entertainment side of the popular event.
Longtime rodeo organizer Roy Call said the new format follows the same changes made at the Cloverdale rodeo in years past, where calf roping, steer wrestling, team roping and breakaway roping were dropped.
“It’s a new format and it’s probably overdue,” said Call, noting while the larger cities in the south face pressure from animal rights groups, this decision was made more for logistical reasons and to keep the entertainment fast-paced.
“The biggest thing is it takes us away from some of the events that maybe aren’t best-suited for a hockey arena.”
Parking lot congestion will be reduced without the timed event competitors. The change will also allow for on-the-dirt floor seating for fans.
“We didn’t want it to be just a rodeo, we wanted to entertain and we think this is going to be a really good show.”
The 2024 Indoor Spring Classic Rodeo will showcase four major rodeo events that Call said are the ‘big ticket items:’ bareback riding, saddle broncs, bull riding and ladies barrel racing. Junior, pee wee barrels, and junior steer riding will augment these four fan favourites. Mini-bull riding and wild horse racing are two more fan favourites that will round out the roster of events.
Call said the changes to the format will have many positive factors. The performances will now all be filled with more highly skilled and exciting rough stock competitors. The three complete go-arounds in the bareback, saddle bronc and bull riding events will generate roughly forty trips per performance. The mini bull riders will compete in all three rounds, with approximately six in each performance. Eight will be the number of junior steer riders out each day, and there will be six teams of wild horse racers each day from Friday to Sunday.
The barrel racing will also have a new twist. To ensure the top contestants will be in front of the paying public, there will now be a Thursday night “qualifier.” The qualifier will have no entry limit and will be open to the world. Also, both the juniors and peewees will be included in the Thursday event! The top twenty ladies will advance to the weekend’s festivities. Ten racers will compete in each of the first two performances, with the top ten coming back to determine the champion on Sunday afternoon. The top five juniors and the top five peewees will be invited to compete in all three performances on the weekend.
Organizers are bringing back the Eagle Vision replay board and using it during the opening and intermission presentations as well as during the events. They also secured entertainer Bert Davis and his Muttley Crew. Davis is known for his comedy and barrel work and the show’s other stars, the “Muttley Crew,” are dogs from rescue shelters all across North America, performing an amazing array of tricks. Call said Bert’s love of the animals and their response to him is a truly heartwarming act that fans of all ages will enjoy.
Call said the two new seating options will enhance the fan experience utilizing the floor as well as the players’ benches. Approximately twenty seats in each home and visitor’s players’ box will be available. These will feature special food and beverage options as well as designated washroom facilities.
The Indoor Spring Classic Rodeo is set to take place April 19 to 21, 2024.