This will be the year to remember…it all changed in 2003! The Manitoba Rodeo Cowboys Association (MRCA) rodeo finals have been traditionally held in November, during Manitoba Livestock Expo at the Keystone Centre in Brandon, Manitoba. Well, hang on to your “Resistol”, or you could miss this year’s version! The totally revamped event has been moved up – by almost three months – to August 15 – 17, 2003, and it will now be known as the Manitoba Finals Rodeo or “MFR 2003”.

Earlier this year, the MRCA was advised by the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba that curling will replace the traditional rodeo in the main arena of the Keystone Centre in November, 2003. On very short notice, the Virden Indoor Rodeo and Wild West Daze Committee rose to the challenge and committed to hosting this homeless rodeo as their 15th anniversary edition of their long-established Indoor Rodeo and Wild West Daze weekend.

Schedule of Events
MFR 2003 will be a featured part of an exciting list of events to be hosted in Virden, Manitoba over the weekend of August 14 – 17, 2003. According to committee member, Steve Dryden, “There is town-wide promotion and the businesses and Chamber of Commerce are very involved in this whole weekend of festivities that will take place as follows:

• Thursday, August 14:
  afternoon – downtown: sidewalk sales and a chili cook-off;
  evening – downtown: human chuck wagon races, a timed event with top teams advancing to the arena during Saturday night’s rodeo intermission; and kick-off party in the Beer Gardens from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
  
• Friday, August 15:
  afternoon - downtown: sidewalk sales;
  evening - first performance of MFR 2003 at 6:30 p.m.; Beer gardens 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.
  
• Saturday, August 16:
  morning – pancake breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m.; parade at 10 a.m.; Manitoba Team Penning event all day; Manitoba High School Rodeo at 11 a.m.;
  afternoon - Beer Gardens 12 noon to 5:00 p.m.; Cowboy Golf Tournament at 12:30 p.m.;
  evening - second performance of the MFR 2003 at 6:30 p.m.; rodeo dance featuring “The Poverty Plainsmen” from 10 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
  
• Sunday, August 17:
  morning – Cowboy Church, Manitoba Team Penning event all day;
  afternoon - demolition derby at 1:30 p.m.; final performance of the MFR 2003 at 1:30 p.m.

A Shortened MRCA Season For 2003
What’s in store for MRCA cowboys and cowgirls? Some changes, sure ... and lots of excitement! The 2003 rodeo season is going to be short – just 25 rodeos between November, 2002 and the rodeo to be held August 2-3, 2003 in Gladstone, Manitoba. The attendance rule of competing in a minimum of eight rodeos to qualify still applies. The top ten competitors in the season’s standings in the major events of Bareback Bronc Riding, Saddle Bronc Riding, Bull Riding, Calf Roping, Steer Wrestling, Team Roping and Ladies Barrel Racing, and the top six competitors in the Junior Steer Riding and Junior Girls Barrel Racing, will qualify to compete at “MFR 2003”.

“Sudden Death Finals”... not fearsome words … they get the blood of any serious competitor pumping! All competitors will begin the first performance on Friday night of the MFR 2003, on a level playing field – zero points accumulated. After three go-rounds points, scores and times will be tallied, including a bonus round (Vegas style) to determine the MFR 2003 champions. Everyone should be on the edges of their seats as the champions rise to the top!

MRCA awards are always awesome. This year’s extra special award is a complimentary year’s lease of the 2003 MRCA High Point Horse Trailer, generously sponsored by John Penner, Penner Trailers of Steinbach, Manitoba. If you are one of the top ten qualifiers in a major event in the Finals, you’ve got a shot at pulling this trailer. It’s time to cowboy or cowgirl up!

Another long-standing tradition will continue – the MRCA Annual Ranch Horse Raffle. This raffle horse will help to pave the road to the new MFR 2003, as all proceeds from the sale of raffle tickets will be used toward funding the event. This year’s featured horse is HP, a seven-year-old red roan gelding, bred by equine ranchers, Warren and Kim Boles, B and B Ranch at Erickson, Manitoba. HP is sired by the Boles’ registered Quarter Horse stallion, Izzy Ezzy, a grandson of Easy Jet. Kim Boles said, “We are proud that MRCA has chosen a raffle horse which is a product of our breeding program. We’ve seen the Hagan’s riding him at some rodeos, and he looks good and seems quiet. Our sire, Izzy Ezzy, puts good dispositions on his colts, and they’re very ‘cowy’, so they’re versatile horses.”

HP is trained and promoted by Alistair and Erin Hagan, Lucky H Ranch at Virden, Manitoba, on behalf of the MRCA. Alistair Hagan’s said, “We have owned HP since he was a three-year-old. We broke him to ride and he enjoys every aspect of ranch work, and he has moved into the arena as a heading horse. Erin took HP with her to Wickenberg,Arizona, this past winter, while training with Judy Myllymaki. He has potential as a future barrel racer.” Raffle tickets are only $20 and are available at MRCA rodeos, or from any MRCA member. For more information about HP or obtaining raffle tickets contact Alistair or Erin Hagan (204) 748-1545. View raffle horse "HP".

Please check back here for more finals updates as the date draws nearer, or call the MRCA office. The MRCA elected executive and directors are working hard to ensure the success of “MFR 2003”. Give them a hand where you can and encouragement if you can’t. Let’s make this the year to rememember.