STAMPEDE HEATS UP
Dakota Buttar, of Kindersley, Sask., comes off bull Wyoming Storm at the Stampede rodeo Friday as the Greatest Outdoor Show On Earth got into full swing.
Bull rider Jess Lockwood found out first hand what it’s like to compete at the Calgary Stampede rodeo on Friday.
For years, he had heard stories about the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth from his aunt, Lisa Lockhart, who won the Ladies Barrel racing championship title in 2015.
“Me and her talk so regularly, every day or every other day,” said Lockwood, 19, who made the trip up north to Calgary from his hometown of Volberg, Mont. “She’s had world- title barrel- racing runs. She’s been in tough situations, and she handles the pressure so well.
“I look to her for advice a lot because she’s such a great athlete. She said, ‘Just do what you know how to do and just soak it in, and it’s going to be awesome.’”
Lockwood heeded his aunt’s advice to perfection Friday as he posted a score of 87.5 points atop Goose Bumps to win the top daymoney prize of $5,500 as well as a shiny new bronze trophy.
“This is one of a kind,” he said with the trophy in his hands. “This is the coolest thing ever.”
Garrett Smith, of Rexburg, Idaho, finished second and won $4,500 Friday thanks to an 86.5-point ride aboard Night Moves, while Ryan Dirteater, of Hulbert, Okla., locked up third spot and $3,500 by posting a score of 85 atop Lone Butte.
Although Dakota Buttar took a hard fall after being bucked off Wyoming Storm, Lockwood said he expects that the cowboy from Kindersley, Sask., will bounce back.
“He’s good,” said Lockwood. “We’re pretty tough, we like to think. We go through this pretty often. If you have any doubts that you’re going to get hurt, then you may as well stay at home. As soon as you start thinking things will go bad, they’re going to go really bad.”
Lockwood also received some advice from a fellow bull rider once he found out that he was going to ride Goose Bumps.
“One of my good buddies, Stetson Lawrence, actually had him here last year,” Lockwood said. “I gave him a call this morning, and he said, ‘He’s going to fit you just right, buddy,’ and luckily he did.”
The only hiccup Lockwood experienced Friday was when he took his victory lap aboard a lessthan-co-operative horse around the infield.
“That horse, I don’t think he liked my bull riding spurs,” said Lockwood. “I was more nervous when he started bucking than when the bull did.
“I’m afraid of bucking horses, so when that thing started bucking, I was pretty nervous. That scared me even more because I thought he was going to flip over on me.”
Lockwood is definitely hoping to have more victory laps, especially considering that his mom, Angela, and aunt Lisa are arriving in Calgary soon.
He plans to stay in Calgary to watch his aunt compete in Pool B of the ladies barrel racing competition from Tuesday to Friday.
Although Lockhart described the experience of competing at the Stampede to him, Lockwood was a bit taken aback before his inaugural ride.
“I stepped out on them shoots and looked at this place, and I was in awe,” said Lockwood, who currently sits fourth in the Professional Bull Riders standings. “The PBR world finals is about as big as it gets for bull riding, but for outdoor events, this is on a level of its own.”
While Lockwood’s mom and aunt will be in Calgary shortly to cheer him on, his dad, Ed, stayed behind in Montana.
“My little brother (Jake) rides bulls as well, and he’s 16, so Dad said, ‘I’ll just stay at home with the little brother and help him.’’ said Lockwood, while noting his dad previously competed at the Stampede as a saddle bronc rider.
The day after the Stampede, Lockwood will head to Gillette, Wyo., to watch his younger brother compete at the National High School Finals Rodeo.
“He won our state finals,” Lockwood said. “I get there the day before he rides, so it worked out good.”