Rutledge and Zur do well at FCA Rodeo Finals.

Rose Lang, Contributor, Pincher Creek Voice

Cooper Zur at the Pincher Creek HS Rodeo
Rose Lang photo

The Foothills Cowboy Association held their finals on the weekend of Oct 7, 8, and  9 at Westerner Park, Red Deer, with two locals doing well.

In the Boys Steer Riding Cooper Zur of Lundbreck ended up in the #2 position.  This talented young man placed 2nd on the first and second performances, 3rd on the third and 4th on the fourth putting him in a tied position for the championship with Dayton Johnston.  To break the tie all the scores from the four rides were put together. Johnston had a couple of stronger cows and scored 4.5 points ahead of Zur.

The other local cowboy who put on a great showing was Cole Rutledge, also of Lundbreck.  Going into the final round Rutledge needed to be faster than 6.3 to win the Steer Wrestling Championship.  Rutledge got out clean (not breaking the barrier) and when he got to his steer the crowd was holding their breath as the steer dropped his head, which didn't allow Rutledge to get his feet in proper position, but this didn't affect Rutledge, as he quickly got back to his feet, and dropping the steer in 5 seconds.  Even though he did not place in the final round Cole won the average, emerging the winner of the 2011 FCA Finals.