Third generation Laker’s and cousins, Carter McLeod, 16, and Dusty Patapoff, 22, have been bucking big time in the shoots of the Central Alberta Rodeo Association (CARA) this summer.

Not only does the pair compete against one another in CARA’s bareback division – they also take to one another’s sides as team mates in the team roping division.

Currently, both the level of competition and team work are at an all time high for the cousins, after McLeod took home first place at the Eckville Rodeo and Patipoff brought home the win the week before at Alder Flats Rodeo – leaving them tied for first place in the division.

First came Patapoff’s big day. He explains the last ride of the day as a tough one but enough to inevitably take home the win.

“I kinda got tossed off the horse and into the fence,” he explained. “Buggered my ribs up, so I wasn’t able to ride in Eckville.”

This left only McLeod to ride with Patapoff on the sidelines to support his cousin.

Mcleod explained the night as being a tough one to take. Being the youngest rider in the division, with the other riders around him ranging in age from 20-30 years of age, he could feels his nerves begin to rise.

“It was a bit much to bare when they had all gone and I was the last to go,” recalls McLeod. “Having Dusty there made all the difference.”

With the final ride beating McLeod up, he recalls he felt himself slipping slowly from the horse but using his strength he straightened himself, squared up the ride and finished strongly with a score of 67.

“I really wanted to do it for Dusty since he was out for that one – I really wanted to bring home the buckle,“ said McLeod. “It felt really good to have won and so close to home because I knew a lot of people there.”

The remainder of the season will see the pair battling it out on the broncs, with rodeos in various locations each weekend until the finals take place at Bowden in the middle of August.

“It’s quite a heavy competition right now,” said Mcleod’s mother, Sandra. “They’re just going into it full force – it’s quite remarkable they’re pulling this off with it and they are doing quite well.”

“Then you throw in the team roping – they’re not winning in that event but it keeps them fit and makes them work together because in bareback they are competing against each other.”

Despite the high level of competition, the cousins say they will always be a team in both bareback and roping. They train together at a local gym multiple times per week as well as ride and rope together.

The pair agree they wouldn’t be at the level they are without the other one their to encourage and support them every step of the way.

They add their goal is to make four wins this season – ultimately they’d like more – but four first place rides will get them the chance to ride in the novice bareback division of the CalgaryStampede.

editor@sylvanlakenews.com