Rodeo season kicks off in east-central Alberta with Byemoor Bull-A-Rama

Published 2:05 pm Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Rodeo season has officially returned to east-central Alberta.

The Byemoor Bull-A-Rama, one of the longest-running events of its kind, took place April 17, bringing together 25 of the best bull riders on the Bull Riders Canada circuit.

In the house were top-ranked Cody Coverchuk, with over 1,400 points for the season, No. 2-ranked Hayen Mulvey, with over 1,100 points, and defending Bull-A-Rama champion Jeremy Maisonneuve, sitting in 22nd place with 165 points. Local talent taking part in the event included Carter Sahli of Red Deer and Wyatt Wiancko in his rookie year on the circuit.

The stands were packed for the event as the cowboys were introduced. As an added acknowledgement, the U13D Stettler Storm hockey team was brought out into the infield to be recognized for winning the provincial banner. As “O Canada” played, Riggin Buchwitz carried the flag on horseback.

Keian Munroe of Cold Lake, Alta., was the first rider out of the chute aboard a bull named Dismissed Witness. Munroe started the scoring early, with a 75.5-point ride, but it failed to be a harbinger of things to come.

The next person to score was the No. 10 man in the standings, Glen Erickson of Sundre, Alta., aboard a bull named Key-Lix Rent Free. Erickson picked up a score of 82.5 points, punching his ticket to the championship round.

After the first 16 riders, and a little unfinished business with a re-ride granted to Luke Ferber Sr., there was a brief intermission as organizers got things set up for the second half.

The second round saw a pair of back-to-back scorers to open, including Maisonneuve, who scored 77.5, and Dayton Leach, tying him.

In the second half, Coverchuk failed to score on his first ride, but was granted a re-ride by judges, where he earned an 82.5. Saskatchewan cowboy Kaden Piper and Mayerthorpe, Alta., cowboy Dusty Golden also earned points, 80 and 84, respectively.

The championship round was made up of cowboys who either earned points in the first round or made their way in via a lottery system, with the winner to be determined by whoever had the best score after two rides.

Of the eight in the championship round, only one was able to score on their second ride, with Coverchuk earning his way to the winner’s circle after an 85-point ride.

Stock for the Bull-A-Rama was provided by Big Stone Rodeo, Eno Bucking Bulls, Meston Rodeo Co. and S & M Bucking Bulls.

Austen Meston and Walker Hutton were in the arena as bullfighters, and Shay Marks was on horseback as safety man.

Following the bull riding action, a dance was held in the Endmoor Arena.

The Byemoor Bull-A-Rama has been running since the mid-1990s.