Latest news with #chuckwagonracing
CTV News
11-07-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Defending Rangeland Derby champion Jason Glass makes move up leaderboard on Day 7
Defending Rangeland Derby champ Jason Glass moved into third place overall after winning the day money Thursday night at the Calgary Stampede. Defending Rangeland Derby champion Jason Glass is very much in the conversation to repeat as the chuckwagon racing champion in 2025 after winning the day money Thursday night at the Calgary Stampede. Glass ran the top time of the night, 1:12.15 in the eighth heat, defeating 2019 Rangeland Derby champion Logan Gorst by 89 one-hundredths of a second. Darcy Flad finished third, Obrey Motowylo fourth and Chanse Vigen fifth. Racing in the ninth and final heat of the night, Vigen won but was penalized one second, while Jamie Laboucane was penalized two seconds when one of his outriders missed going around a barrel. Despite their missteps, Vigen continues to lead the aggregate after seven nights with a total of 8:28.47, giving him a 3.37-second lead over second-place Laboucane. Glass has vaulted from seventh up to third place, where he narrowly leads Gorst and Motowylo, respectively, both trailing by less than a second. The top three after Saturday's races advance to Sunday's championship final heat. The winner of Sunday's heat is the 2025 Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby champion.
CTV News
10-07-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Chanse Vigen kicks it into high gear to take the day money Wednesday night at Rangeland Derby
Chanse Vigen jumped the gun Wednesday night but even a one-second penalty couldn't slow him down as Vigen claimed the day money at the 2025 Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby. After a brief shower ahead of Day 6, the sun came out for the late heats, bathing the track in magic hour sunlight, as Vigen squared off against Jamie Laboucane and Rae Croteau Jr. Vigen started to roll forward just ahead of the horn, costing him an extra second, but still managed to finish with a 1:12.85, putting him 23 one-hundredths of a second ahead of defending champ Jason Glass. 2019 Rangeland Derby champ Logan Gorst placed third, while Chad Fike finished fourth despite a one-second penalty. Motowylo finished fifth. Vigen took the day money for the second time at the 2025 Rangeland Derby. In the chase for a spot in the top three who will compete in Sunday's final, Vigen leads with a six-day aggregate total of 7:14.85. He has a 2.56 second lead over Laboucane, who had a two-second penalty Wednesday when one of his outriders knocked a barrel. Ray Croteau Jr. is in third, Gorst is fourth -- only 76 one-hundredths of a second out of third -- while Motowylo sits alone in fifth. Motowylo is mourning the death of his mom earlier this week. and said on the broadcast Wednesday night that he's dedicating his 2025 Rangeland Derby to her memory. The Rangeland Derby resumes Thursday night at 7:30 p.m.
National Post
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- National Post
After stepping down for Poilievre to run, Alberta MP lands role at government relations, lobbying firm
Les McIntyre had aspirations of one day competing at the Calgary Stampede rodeo as either a tie-down roper or a bronc rider. Article content Little did he know that he would instead become the voice of the Rangeland Derby, calling all 10 nights of chuckwagon racing action for fans in the stands at GMC Stadium. Article content Article content After life threw some curveballs his way, McIntyre wound up hitting it out of the park when he took over from the legendary Joe Carbury as the Stampede's track announcer in 2009. Article content Article content 'I'm fortunate because I was blessed with a strong voice,' said McIntyre, who's also celebrating his 40th anniversary as a track announcer on the World Professional Chuckwagon Association circuit. 'I try to make it entertaining and exciting. Wagon racing can make itself exciting. I've been at shows where the power went off and (fans) didn't hear me at all and it was still exciting. I'm fortunate to be involved in the sport.' Article content Article content Growing up east of Vulcan, Alta., McIntyre has vivid memories of watching rodeo events and chuckwagon races at the Stampede with his family. Article content 'We, as kids, got to go to the Calgary Stampede maybe every other year, every third year, or whatever,' McIntyre recalled. 'We watched it back in the old wooden grandstand with the pillars up the middle.' Article content Article content 'I would like to have been a tie-down roper. I would like to have been a bronc rider, but when you're 14 years old and you're six foot two, that's not happening. And when you're 18 years old and you're six foot four, it's really not happening. I would like to have gone down that road just because I grew up at home riding and ranching and stuff.' Article content Article content Although his rodeo aspirations didn't pan out, McIntyre turned his attentions toward the chucks, travelling down the road with the likes of Ross Nelson and Ward Willard. Article content 'Everything happens for a reason and when I got to be older, I got involved in the wagons with a couple of neighbours of mine and then they give me the opportunity to drive a little bit,' said McIntyre, who unfortunately suffered a bad back injury in the mid-1980s that derailed his driving desires. Article content His announcing career started in 1984, when he called accepted the opportunity to call some races at a fundraising show in Vulcan. 'I did this little fun show at Willard's place down here,' said McIntyre, while noting he must have done something right because he was asked to work at a show in Trochu. 'So anyway, I started there in '85 that spring in Trochu and then over the summer High River got a hold of me and wanted to come do the High River show.' Article content Eventually, McIntyre was a regular calling races on the WPCA Pro Tour and also worked as a radio and then television announcer at the Calgary Stampede before eventually taking over from Carbury in the Eye In The Sky. Article content 'I thought someday Joe will probably retire and I would like to be in a position to take that job,' he said. 'It's pretty special to me because it's been a dream of mine. I was fortunate enough to have it come into fruition.' Article content After Chad Harden won it all in Calgary in '09, McIntyre called Kelly Sutherland's record-breaking 11th Rangeland Derby title the following year. Article content 'Dick Cosgrave held that record and then when Kelly broke it, I was fortunate enough to be there,' said McIntyre, who described the action when the King (one of Sutherland's nicknames) claimed his 12th crown in 2012. Article content Without the endeavours of the drivers thrilling the fans below him, McIntyre wouldn't be able to do what he loves. Article content 'Every time somebody wins that Calgary Stampede, it's a challenge,' he said. 'The hardest cup in sports to win in my opinion is Stanley Cup, and I don't know anything about hockey, but as far as wagon racing goes, this is the toughest one to win just because of the level of competition that's here and the pressure that's on you. Article content Article content 'It's a 10-day endurance test and it takes some horsepower and some skill at managing a business and driving and all the rest of it. There's a lot of things that you have to be on top of if you're going to be successful in Calgary.' Article content Article content Top 10 Les McIntyre calls, which you may hear during Rangeland Derby Article content 10. He's rounding the fourth turn on a burn. Article content 9. Are you ready for another thriller from Bensmiller? Article content 8. Rein to rein, like a runaway freight train. Article content 7. On the homestretch drive, Calgary it's your turn to come alive. Article content 6. Outriders, hit the showers. Mothers, hide your daughters. Article content 5. Let 'er rip chip dip. Article content 4. Quiet on the set. Article content 3. There's the horn and the charge is under way. Article content 2. Wire to wire with his wheels on fire. Article content 1. The louder you cheer, the quicker they'll get here. Article content
