(Submitted photo/Lonnie Dunn)

By Ben Tompkins

Calgary Stampede

Local rider finishes fourth at Novice Saddle Bronc in Calgary Stampede

Jul 19, 2024 | 5:31 PM

A local novice saddle bronc rider had a very respectable first appearance at the Calgary Stampede this past week.

Big River native Lonnie Dunn finished fourth overall in the Novice Saddle Bronc portion of the stampede, taking home $1,000 in the process.

“It was surreal to compete in my first stampede, I couldn’t really believe it, it’s cool to be the next generation. The $1,000 was pretty good for three days of riding, especially when I was living the dream,” Dunn told northeastNOW.

“It’s really cool to represent the small towns and kind of make a name for yourself, you’re trying to put your town on the map. I got an overwhelming amount of support from them, everyone knew I was going and I was getting a bunch of text messages.”

The 19-year-old, whose mother Carla Withrow (from Choiceland) was posting all over Facebook in his support, is hoping to be right back at the same event, come next year.

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Dunn was close to winning, as he actually had the best aggregate after the first two days, which included a victory lap after Day 1.

Unfortunately, he fell off less than a half-second before he needed to on the third and final day, which had he made it the distance, he would’ve won.

Instead, it was his travelling partner Quinn Tallmadge from Meadow Lake who won the three-day event.

The novice age group at the stampede is 16- 21, so Dunn could ride in it for the next two years if he wants.

There are numerous qualifiers throughout the year to get to Calgary, which Dunn will be competing in.

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news@northeastnow.com

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