Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby – the chuck wagon finals

Sunday was the last day of the Calgary Stampede.  The final event at the grandstand was the Rangeland Derby where the chuckwagon teams who had successfully vied for a place in the last heat ran for the $100,000 first place prize.  The final four drivers were Kelly Sutherland, Reg Johnstone, Jerry Bremner and Kurt Bensmiller based on their record over the previous nine days of racing. 

Kelly Sutherland is the king in the world of chucks.  Last year he surpassed legendary driver Dick Cosgrave for most wins at the Calgary Stampede with 11.  This year, he came out of the barrel turns clean and held on to the lead tightly all the way down the stretch.

Lined up for the race here is the calm but crowded start to the final. 

(I’m still not sure if this slow shutter, zoomed focal length image works or not but thought I’d include it anyways).

Coming out of the barrel turns, Sutherland was tight on the rail and even with Reg Johnstone.  He pulled away through over the open track and beat the Bashaw Flash (Johnstone) by just over a second.

Kelly Sutherland’s thumbs up is a trademark move and with the success he’s earned, the Stampede crowd has seen it many times.  Here Kelly celebrates the win with the grandstand crowd.

And here are some more images from the Sunday evening heats that preceded the final.

Jason Glass guides his team around the barrel on his way to winning Heat 1.

Another of Jason Glass showing the intensity that has carried him to a very successful career – including 3 world champion chuckwagon titles .

The horses of Ray Mitsuing and Hugh Sinclair in a flurry of motion as these two lead wagons race free of the barrel turns and out onto the racetrack.

One of the outriders pulls his horse towards the starting line for the next race.

Devin Mitsuing rounds the one barrel during the demonstration race before the heats start.  The announcer narrates the race to help spectators new to the sport understand the rules and some of the nuances of chuckwagon racing.

The last image in this post is of Troy Dorchester as he rides by the crowd during the cool down trot following the race.

This year’s showdown final was great fun and was a fitting way to close out the Stampede sporting events just ahead of the last Grandstand Show and the fireworks display.  I am already looking forward to next year.