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Veteran cowboy set to direct rodeo events |
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Written by TED CLARKE, Citizen staff
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Tuesday, 07 October 2008 |
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PRINCE GEORGE
He was good at what he did in the rodeo arena, but never in those 18 years did he make the kind of money his son, Davey Jr., bareback’s first million-dollar man, is pulling in now.
“He makes more in one year than I did in a career,” laughed Shields Sr., the arena director for the West of the Rockies Pro Rodeo Finals, Oct. 17-19 at CN Centre.
As arena director, Shields is the rodeo maestro, making sure all the pieces come together in a livestock symphony. Having performed those duties on a much larger scale as chute boss of the Calgary Stampede, Shields has all the right qualifications to make the three-day show in Prince George a crowd-pleaser.
“I’ll be there to keep the rodeo running smooth and try to get it run off in a certain amount of time -- 2 1/2 hours at most,” said Shields, from his home in Cochrane, Alta., just west of Calgary. “You just have to know the contestants and have a good rapport with them and just let them know what they have to do to make it quicker and they work with you then.”
Word has spread about Prince George hospitality and Shields is looking forward to the trip. Now in its fifth year and third in Prince George, the West of the Rockies Finals has gained a deserved reputation as an event cowboys and cowgirls shouldn’t miss. It’s also the last pro rodeo event in Canada leading up to the Canadian Finals Rodeo in Edmonton in November.
“It’s a long way to go for everybody, but they do like to go to Prince George,” Shields said. “They enjoy going there to have a circuit finals. If they don’t qualify for the CFR, there’s nothing for anybody to rodeo until March. With three rodeos, it’s like the PBR in bull riding where they go to one place and get to stay for three days.”
The Prince George rodeo also attracts a fair share of CFR contestants trying to hone their skills as they take a run at national titles.
“There’s some good talent coming over there,” said Shields. “The CFR qualifiers want to keep riding so they’ll be on top of their game when the (Canadian) finals come up. You have to keep yourself in shape and this will keep them tuned up.”
Davey Jr., who finished third overall this past weekend at the Canadian Pro Tour Finals in Calgary, won’t be coming to Prince George. According to his father, he’ll be on the beach in Cancun, Mexico, resting up for another kick at the CFR title.
Having dabbled in manufacturing rigging equipment for bareback riders, Shields and his wife now run the Ridin’ High bareback and saddle bronc rodeo schools in Cochrane, a business that is thriving.
“Amateur circuits were down for awhile, with only two or three contestants (in each event) but it’s on the upswing now -- there’s a lineup of kids wanting to get into our schools,” said Shields, who works in sales for a Calgary-based oilfield equipment firm.
“The biggest problem with contracting is they run colts in there that are wild, and it scares kids and they fall down or have the horses fall on them and they get hurt.”
Using horses that buck, but aren’t strong enough to intimidate young inexperienced riders, Shields also makes use of mechanical riding simulators and brings in athletic trainers and sports medicine professionals to help reduce the risk of injuries. If kids aren’t ready, they can still learn the theory until they’re ready to ride.
Shields has been to Prince George many times, having lived in Vanderhoof for a few years, where his youngest son Dustin and daughter Sierra currently live with their families. Dustin will help him run the show at CN Centre.
Shields knows stock contractors Roy and Earl Call and the animals they breed to kick up a storm at their C-Plus ranch at 150 Mile House and it’s guaranteed they’ll be bringing some rank performers to Prince George.
“They’ve got decent horses up there,” said Shields. “They’re the only contractors in B.C. and they’ve got the market cornered.”
Shields retired from riding bareback horses in 1997, and at 53, has no plans to re-enter the bucking arena.
“I still get the urge,” he said, “but common sense keeps me on the ground.”
West of the Rockies Finals tickets ($20 adult, $17 students/seniors, $15 kids 12-and-under) are available at all Ticketmaster outlets or at the CN Centre box office.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 07 October 2008 )
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