We’ll make this 2024 wrap-up quick and easy… a record was broken!
The 2024 edition of the Calgary Stampede needed a little over 78,000 people to go through the gates on the final day, and it nearly doubled that.
On Sunday, 146,673 people attended the Calgary Stampede, bringing the final attendance to 1,477,953, which is roughly 68,000 more than the previous record, set in 2012.
Calgary Stampede officials spoke to the media on Sunday about the record-breaking event, and you can read more about that here.
The Cowboys Rangeland Derby didn’t disappoint Sunday night, with an interesting outcome. Jason Glass finished as the Rangeland Derby Champion for 2024, locking up the $50,000 prize. He’d been a leader through a good portion of this year’s chuckwagon races.
Chad Fike, also a leader for much of the 2024 chucks, finished second in the aggregate, though he wasn’t in the final heat and the Dash for Cash. Chanse Vigen, who was sitting in second place overall going into the final night, had a slow time and seven seconds in penalties to end up third in the Dash for Cash, but seventh in the aggregate.
Layne MacGillivray finished second in the final heat and was third in the overall aggregate.
It was also time to crown this year’s champions at the Calgary Stampede rodeo. Here they are:
Bareback: RC Landingham – Castle, California: 94.0 aboard Virgil
Ladies Barrel Racing: Leslie Smalgyo – Shiatook, Oklahoma: 16.94 seconds
Tie-down roping: Haven Maged – Miles City, Montana: 6.7 seconds
Saddle bronc: Kade Bruno – Challis, Idaho: 92.0 aboard Mary Lou
Steer wrestling: Ty Erickson – Helena, Montana: 4.0 seconds
Bull riding: Chase Dougherty – Decatur, Texas, and Jeff Askey – Athens, Texas – split the top two prizes, after both were bucked off.
Guy Weadick Award (chuckwagon or rodeo competitor that embodies the spirit of the Calgary Stampede, based on appearance, showmanship, character, sportsmanship and cooperation.): Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, Alberta.
