Pain at the pumps put brakes on touring

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BENALTO, Alta. - Even professional rodeo cowboys are feeling a wallop in their wallets from skyrocketing gasoline prices.

The sturdy lot more used to bronc riding and steer wrestling is trying to ride out the escalating costs of driving around the circuit this summer, but it's not easy.

Competitors at the Benalto fair and rodeo in central Alberta on the weekend said they're doing what they can to reduce travelling expenses.

"It's definitely hurting the rodeo circuit competitors everywhere," said Max Radford, whose wife and son competed on the weekend.

Radford drove up with a four-horse trailer and truck from Dewinton south of Calgary. Partially filling his tank cost $300.

"We draw a three-hour circle around Calgary and try to stay within that," said Radford.

"My son wants to go to a lot of rodeos this year, but the cost is just ridiculous when you've got to drive to Peace River or Grande Prairie."

Radford said more competitors are catching rides with others to split the costs.

Rodeo manager John Bystrom said event committees made their budgets last December or January. That means people like him must now ask for more money to deal with the cost of bringing animals in for competing cowboys.

"It's taken quite a toll," Bystrom said. "The fuel for the contractor to bring stock here is a third again of what it was last year. It takes a big chunk out of his bottom line."

Bystrom said the Benalto rodeo didn't see fewer competitors, but he predicted that will happen.

"We're going to have to plug more sponsors and get more money so we can offset our contractors' costs and get more money for our contestants," he said. "That all takes work and volunteers."

LaRue Olson, 19, of Ponoka, Alta., said he will attend 25 per cent fewer rodeos this season.