Local Sports

A Central Alberta umpires association is looking for members before the upcoming season. (File photo)

Central Alberta softball umpire association in need of members

With softball season just around the corner, the members of Central Alberta…

Zeke Thurston, of Big Valley, Alta., rides Business Girl during saddle bronc rodeo semi-finals action at the Calgary Stampede in Calgary, Alta., Sunday, July 17, 2022.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Big Valley’s Zeke Thurston wins third world saddle bronc crown of his career

Zeke Thurston of Big Valley, Alta., won a world championship in saddle…

Spittin Chiclets podcast personality and former professional hockey player Paul Bissonnette signs a bottle of Pink Whitney for a fan at Wine and Beyond Red Deer on Friday. (Photo by Ian Gustafson/ Red Deer Advocate)

Paul Bissonnette stops in Red Deer during Spittin Chiclets tour

The expedition was a way to meet fans

L-R: Miss Rodeo Stavely Jasmine Dahl, Miss Strathmore Stampede Martina Holtkamp, Miss Rodeo Canada Jayden Calvert and Miss Ponoka Stampede Mackenzie Skeels. (Janaia Hutzal/For Ponoka News)

PHOTOS: The best snapshots from the 2022 Ponoka Stampede

Highlights from the 86th annual Ponoka Stampede, held June 27 to July 3

L-R: Miss Rodeo Stavely Jasmine Dahl, Miss Strathmore Stampede Martina Holtkamp, Miss Rodeo Canada Jayden Calvert and Miss Ponoka Stampede Mackenzie Skeels. (Janaia Hutzal/For Ponoka News)
Lonnie West of Cadogan rides for 93.25 points aboard Hard Not to Get during the Ponoka Stampede Showdown finals. (Kevin Sabo/Black Press News Media)

PHOTOS: Ponoka Stampede Showdown wrap up

The Ponoka Stampede wrapped on July 3 with their always popular showdown.…

Lonnie West of Cadogan rides for 93.25 points aboard Hard Not to Get during the Ponoka Stampede Showdown finals. (Kevin Sabo/Black Press News Media)
Morgan Grant of Didsbury, Alta. has a time of 14.0 in the steer wrestling. (Emily Jaycox/Ponoka News)

PHOTOS: DAY 5 of the Ponoka Stampede

Women’s ranch bronc riders show what a cowgirl can do

  • Jul 1, 2022
Morgan Grant of Didsbury, Alta. has a time of 14.0 in the steer wrestling. (Emily Jaycox/Ponoka News)
(Janaia Hutzal/For Black Press News Media)

Night 3 of chuckwagon action at the Ponoka Stampede

Chucks recap and more kids day photos from June 30

  • Jul 1, 2022
(Janaia Hutzal/For Black Press News Media)
File photo

Rimbey to serve as rodeo ground for middle school riders

Over 100 participants from across the province will be in attendance

File photo
Carly Letourneau at Precision Gymnastics. (Shaela Dansereau)

Wetaskiwin gymnast competes on home soil

17-year-old Carly Letourneau is set on being the first gymnast in the Wetaskiwin Hall of Fame

Carly Letourneau at Precision Gymnastics. (Shaela Dansereau)
Wetaskiwin U15 Ice Queens at the Falun Female Frozen Challenge in December 2021. (Submitted)

Wetaskiwin U15 Ice Queens finish season at Provincials

The female hockey team won gold at Edmonton Minor Hockey Week and league playoffs this year

Wetaskiwin U15 Ice Queens at the Falun Female Frozen Challenge in December 2021. (Submitted)
Maddison Pearman skates in the 1500m during the ISU speed skating World Cup at the Olympic Oval in Calgary, AB on December 12, 2021. (Photo by Dave Holland/Speed Skating Canada)

Ponoka’s Maddison Pearman finishes 26th in Women’s 1,000 metres final at Olympics

Central Alberta speedskater Maddison Pearman finished 26th in the women’s 1,000-metre race…

Maddison Pearman skates in the 1500m during the ISU speed skating World Cup at the Olympic Oval in Calgary, AB on December 12, 2021. (Photo by Dave Holland/Speed Skating Canada)
Bentley U13 Canucks brought home gold from their trip to Coaldale over the Jan. 22 weekend. (submitted)

Gold for Bentley

Bentley U13 Canucks brought home gold from their trip to Coaldale over…

  • Jan 24, 2022
Bentley U13 Canucks brought home gold from their trip to Coaldale over the Jan. 22 weekend. (submitted)
Running back Elliot Wyse of the Lacombe Rams was named the high school football city league rookie of the year as the league handed out year-end awards earlier this month. (Advocate file photo)

Central Alberta high school football leagues hand out year-end awards

With the 2021 Central Alberta High School football season in the rearview…

  • Dec 17, 2021
Running back Elliot Wyse of the Lacombe Rams was named the high school football city league rookie of the year as the league handed out year-end awards earlier this month. (Advocate file photo)
Brett Monea and Kristopher Buffalo bullfighting at the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR) 2021. Submitted/ Nicole Monea.

Wetaskiwin County bullfighters find success on the professional circuit

Two Wetaskiwin County raised bullfighters fought side by side at the Canadian Finals Rodeo 2021

Brett Monea and Kristopher Buffalo bullfighting at the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR) 2021. Submitted/ Nicole Monea.
Jake Burwash of Nanton posts an 82.75 ride on Tiger Warrior during saddle bronc on Day 2 of the Canadian Finals Rodeo at the Peavey Mart Centrium. (Photo by Byron Hackett/Advocate staff)

Central Albertans in the hunt at CFR 47

Lacombe’s Justine Elliott is no stranger to the big stage. The 20-year-old…

  • Nov 5, 2021
Jake Burwash of Nanton posts an 82.75 ride on Tiger Warrior during saddle bronc on Day 2 of the Canadian Finals Rodeo at the Peavey Mart Centrium. (Photo by Byron Hackett/Advocate staff)
Obrey Motowylo, of Hoadley, is the World Professional Chuckwagon Association Champion for the 2021 season. (Photo by Shellie Scott)

Central Alberta man is chuckwagon world champion

After 16 years as a professional chuckwagon racer, central Alberta’s Obrey Motowylo…

Obrey Motowylo, of Hoadley, is the World Professional Chuckwagon Association Champion for the 2021 season. (Photo by Shellie Scott)
Zeke Thurston, of Big Valley, Alta., rides Lunatic Party during saddle bronc rodeo semi-final action at the Calgary Stampede in Calgary, Sunday, July 14, 2019. Thurston is among five Canadians competing in the 2020 world championship of rodeo Dec. 3-12 in Arlington, Texas. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Big Valley’s Zeke Thurston turns in big performances over August long weekend

Lacombe’s Justine Elliot third in ladies barrel racing in Strathmore

Zeke Thurston, of Big Valley, Alta., rides Lunatic Party during saddle bronc rodeo semi-final action at the Calgary Stampede in Calgary, Sunday, July 14, 2019. Thurston is among five Canadians competing in the 2020 world championship of rodeo Dec. 3-12 in Arlington, Texas. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Canada's Danielle Suzanne Lappage, left, and Russian Olympic Committee's Khanum Velieva during the women's 68kg freestyle wrestling match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, in Chiba, Japan. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Olds-born wrestler fails to advance to quarter-finals at Tokyo Olympics

Danielle Lappage, 30, lost 7-0 to Russian wrestler Khanum Velieva

Canada's Danielle Suzanne Lappage, left, and Russian Olympic Committee's Khanum Velieva during the women's 68kg freestyle wrestling match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, in Chiba, Japan. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Canada’s Margaret Mac Neil, left to right, Rebecca Smith, Kayla Sanchez and Penny Oleksiak celebrate a silver medal in the women’s 4 x 100m freestyle relay during the Tokyo Olympics in Tokyo, Japan on the weekend. (Photo by The Canadian Press) (From left) Canada’s Margaret Mac Neil, Rebecca Smith, Kayla Sanchez and Penny Oleksiak celebrate a silver medal in the women’s 4 x 100m freestyle relay during the Tokyo Olympics in Tokyo, Japan on Sunday. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn)

Red Deer’s Rebecca Smith, Canada win silver in 4×100-metre relay final at Tokyo Olympics

Australia wins gold

Canada’s Margaret Mac Neil, left to right, Rebecca Smith, Kayla Sanchez and Penny Oleksiak celebrate a silver medal in the women’s 4 x 100m freestyle relay during the Tokyo Olympics in Tokyo, Japan on the weekend. (Photo by The Canadian Press) (From left) Canada’s Margaret Mac Neil, Rebecca Smith, Kayla Sanchez and Penny Oleksiak celebrate a silver medal in the women’s 4 x 100m freestyle relay during the Tokyo Olympics in Tokyo, Japan on Sunday. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn)
The Sylvan Lake Gulls have won three of their last four games and sit third in the WCBL as the season moves into the final few weeks. (Photo by BYRON HACKETT/Advocate Staff)

Sylvan Lake Gulls on a roll heading into final stretch of WCBL regular season

Several Red Deer products help power Gulls to strong start

  • Jul 23, 2021
The Sylvan Lake Gulls have won three of their last four games and sit third in the WCBL as the season moves into the final few weeks. (Photo by BYRON HACKETT/Advocate Staff)