For over 40 years, Lakeland College Rodeo Club has hosted the Fall Classic Rodeo at the Lakeland College Equine Centre. Over the October 14–15 weekend, the rodeo brought in over 175 college contestants from all over Canada, making this the largest entry the Fall Classic Rodeo has ever had.
Lakeland hosts two rodeos each year: the smaller Fall Classic Rodeo helps get the season going, while the larger Little Royal Rodeo draws even more contestants in the spring.
Ashley Watt, Manager of Equine and Rodeo Operations as well as team advisor and head coach, explains that with a total of 72 members—63 of whom competed in the Fall Classic rodeo—Lakeland’s club is the largest of the seven rodeo teams that compete in the Canadian College Rodeo Association. The team had contestants in all of the events except for bareback and tiedown roping.
Lakeland team members excelled all weekend. Kamryn Gilliland won the barrel racing on Saturday and placed third on Sunday to win the average in the event. Holly Mulligan won the average in pole bending. Sarah Kirby won both days in the goat tying as well as the average in the event, and also won the first round in the breakaway roping and placed second in the average. Lonnie Dunn won the first round in the saddle bronc riding and the second round as well as the average. Cooper Traynor won the average in the team roping as the header.
Rodeo fans packed the arena Saturday night, making for a sold-out event. The money raised from the $15 tickets (12 and under could attend for free) helped offset rodeo expenses, with leftover profits going to Lakeland rodeo club practices and paying for coaches.