by Cyndi Rowat
The Calgary Stampede Team Cattle Penning competition started off with a big bang when the Open riders went head-to-head in the Saddledome, Saturday, July 8, 2006.
The Open event saw 162 teams compete for the 20 spots available in the final and a chance at the $78,000 total purse.
JT Bell, Crissy Santangelo, and Phil Mainey produced a consistent team effort throughout the competition netting them $21,000 in prize money and championship buckles courtesy of event partner CalFrac.
This year’s competition tallied aggregate scores from two qualifying runs at Okotok’s Hebson Arena in order to earn one of 20 spots in the finals at the Saddledome on Stampede Park. The top 20 had one shot to prove they were worthy as scores were tallied together, once again, to determine the top ten. The fastest aggregate score would win the competition.
“Anytime you are watching Open, you are watching the best penners,” says Western horse committee chairman Rob Stirling. “They’re fantastic at cattle handling, speed, and horsemanship.”
The event had spectators curling their toes when teams had to fight to get their cattle penned. The final got off to a rough start with two of the first three teams getting a no-time, and the fourth team only penning two. Finally, Bob Kennedy, and David and Sandra Dalzell of Ontario took the lead posting a 49.81 to an aggregate lead of 149.93.
The leader board swapped again when Wade Adams, Sal Howell, and Donna O’Reilly of Calgary posted a 35.94, but it was short lived.
Bell, Santangelo, and Mainey came into the final with the hammer. Mainey headed into the herd and quickly cut his cow. Another was right there, so Bell slipped in and peeled it out with Santangelo heading in right after. It was clean and smooth and well-orchestrated all the way to the pen to stop the clock in 34.61 for an aggregate total of 117.94 putting Adams, Howell, and O’Reilly in Reserve spot for $19,000.
“It’s the first time the three of us have penned together,” said Mainey. “We’ve crisscrossed a lot penning with one another in different combinations, but never all of us together.”
“I really didn’t think there was any pressure going into the final run. We had a cushion going in. The cattle separated a lot out for us. Our goal was to not get dirty (not get any wrong-numbered cows).”
“I think a lot of it is the chemistry and the experience,” explained Bell of the ability for the team to pull together for an event such as this. “It’s a team sport, but the individuals are all very capable.”
Bell grew up riding horses and has been penning since 1992. Riding a white Quarter Horse gelding named “Spud,” the horse’s strength as a good turn-back horse is a backbone for the team.
Santangelo started “Tucker” cutting as a two-year-old and introduced penning to him as a three-year-old. “I’m proud of this horse everyday!” she gushes. “He always gives one-hundred-and-ten per cent.”
Mainey is riding the same horse he rode to the championship in 2002. “Mandy,” named for his stepdaughter, has been with Mainey since she was a four-year-old. “She’s an awesome horse. She’s got so much attitude and tries hard. She’s like a snake in the herd.”
Both Bell and Santangelo are from Calgary, while Mainey hails from Montana and can often be found at pennings in Alberta.
“It’s real exciting when three can act as a team and dance together on the dance floor,” quips Rob Stirling.
This year’s Stampede penning also added two additional classes to the roster.
The #10 class had a $86,000 total purse with a $24,000 payout for the champions.
For the #7 class there was a $54,000 total purse with the champions taking home a $13,000 cheque.
