The inaugural Canadian Rodeo Tour Championship (Oct. 3 – 5) will be a high-octane, exciting time, giving enthusiasts a chance to get up close and personal with Canada’s best rodeo athletes. But before the crowds arrive, or the athletes show up, there’s plenty of prep work to take care of including dumping tons of dirt, hauling over 100 animals and preparing some big cheques.

Preparations for the new event have been in the works for many weeks. Here’s a glimpse at what kind of numbers are involved in putting on the event:

• 96 of Canada’s top professional rodeo athletes and 12 amateurs will make their way to Calgary to compete in a total of 9 events;
• $213,500 in prize money is up for grabs, $122,500 of which will be handed out on Final Sunday;
• 500 bags of shavings and 300 bales of hay will be used for the event;
• 135 of the world’s toughest bucking stock ready to test the cowboys’ fortitude;
• 50 truckloads of dirt have been spread in the Corral, transforming the concrete floor into a rodeo ring;
• 864 bone jarring, teeth rattling, non-stop seconds of world-class bucking; and
• 12 determined youngsters against four wild ponies nightly. 

Spectators will be able to follow their favourite rodeo athletes through all three days of competition. Team roping will make its thrilling debut, joining the staples of bull riding, bareback, saddle bronc, ladies barrel racing, tie-down roping, steer wrestling and the wild pony races.

And to top things off, the 2009 Royal Trio will be crowned on Sunday, Oct. 5, just before the final go-round.

The Canadian Rodeo season got underway March 14 in Camrose, Alta. with some of the cowboys competing in 48 rodeos before arriving in Calgary. The top two competitors in each event will earn a spot in this year’s Canadian Finals Rodeo in Edmonton and a coveted berth in the world’s top rodeo, the 2009 Calgary Stampede.

To book tickets, click here or contact the Stampede ticket office at 403.269.9822 or 1.800.661.1767.