Veteran chuckwagon driver Chanse Vigen went home a little bit richer and with a lot more swagger in his step after winning the 2025 Rangeland Derby.
The win was the first for Vigen, who described the feeling as though it was something he had been working for his entire life.
“I just feel so relieved. I put everything into this every day, every night, in the race season and the off-season. So proud of my team, the outriders. The best night of my life,” he said.
His time of 1:11.24 just edged out Jason Glass’s 1:12.51, who himself took home the title of Rangeland Derby champion in 2024.
As for being nicknamed a rockstart by the voice of the chucks, Les McIntyre, Vigen said that his winning race in heat 10 was anything but trying to rock.
“I wasn’t trying to rock anything. I just wanted to win the race, and I’ve never wanted something so bad,” he said.
He said that going up Glass and Jamie Laboucane were tough competitors, and that racing them was anything but comfortable.
“They’re the two fiercest competitors out there, probably not to take anything away from anybody. They’re just so tough and consistent and loaded with horsepower, and it was a tough race,” Vigen said.
“I don’t know if there was a favourite to win the race tonight. Anybody could have won that race. Our horses just responded and answered the bell, and I’m so proud of them.”
The derby was delayed by a heavy downpour and strong wind, but Vigen said the track was likely improved by the extra moisture.
“If anything, it might have tightened the track up and sped things up a little bit, actually. The beginning being on [barrel] three, I was kind of hoping for a little bit of rain,” he said.
“Sometimes that slows the rail down and is advantageous to the guy on the outside. But everything played out the way it did, and I’m happy. Sometimes things happen for a reason.”
For his efforts, Vigen took home $84,450, followed by Glass with $59,500, and Laboucane with $51,600 for the 10 days of racing.
The final day of the derby was free from issues besides the weather, except when one of Todd Baptiste’s chuck horses ended up jumping over the number three barrel, causing McIntyre to remark that the horse should be performing at Spruce Meadows.
Wade Salmond had the fastest run of the day at 1:13.18.
Full chuckwagon results can be found here.
2025 Calgary Stampede rodeo winners
Earlier in the day, at the Stampede rodeo infield, cheques were handed out to the top cowboys and cowgirls of the competition.
Alberta competitors did the crowd proud, too.
Cooper Cooke from Victor, Idaho, hopped aboard Disco Party and stayed alive for the eight seconds to score a 94 and take home the $50,000 top prize in the Bareback event. In Saddle Bronc, Alberta’s own Zeke Thurston from Big Valley, Alta, took Virgil for a ride, scored a 92.5 and the big pay day. Fellow Albertan Dawson Hay from Wildwood, Alta, was second with a 90 aboard Yesterday’s Delivery. Hay pocketed $20K for his efforts. Wacey Schalla from Arapaho, Oklahoma, was the lone rider to score in Bull Riding, with an 86 aboard Haunted Hotel, to take away his big cheque on Championship Sunday.
In Tie Down Roping, Shad Mayfield from Clovis, New Mexico, had the fastest time (6.8) to wrangle the top spot, while Langdon, Alta’s Shelby Boisjoli-Meged dusted the competition in Breakaway roping, beating her competitors by 10 seconds, locking up a run of 2.2 seconds, and $50,000. In Steer Wrestling, Scott Guenthner from Provost, Alta, had a blistering 3.7 seconds to win the Championship Sunday payout of $50,000. Anita Ellis of Blackfoot, Idaho, broke the 17-second barrier to score her $50K win in Ladies Barrel Racing.
Full rodeo results can be found here.
RODEO PHOTOS BY SEAN LIBIN FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARY
