Covy Moore/Rocky View Publishing

Cochrane's Steven Turner rides Jack Flash during the Airdrie Pro Rodeo, June 30.

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Turner brothers have winning rodeo weekend

After a slow start at the Airdrie Pro Rodeo, Cochrane’s Steven and Jody Turner came out of the Canada Day long weekend with first-place finishes.

While both finished out of the top 10 in the Pro Rodeo’s bull riding event, Steven Turner placed eighth in the steer wrestling competition.

However, both rebounded in the bull riding discipline, as Jody finished first at the Ponoka Stampede with a score of 84.5, bringing home a cheque for $1,750 and Turner placed first at Williams Lake, winning $4,614.

“It was okay,” Turner said of the weekend.

“I didn’t do very good at Ponoka and I didn’t do anything at bull riding in Airdrie, but in Williams Lake, I knew I had a good bull. It saved my weekend for me.”

Airdrie is a small blip on what has so far been a successful season for the Cochrane-born brothers. Jody also finished first in bull riding in Trail, B.C.

He also finished third in Stavely and fifth in High River in the same event.

A multi-event cowboy, Turner finishs two points behind Jody in Trail to take second place, placed third in Hand Hill and tied for fourth in Lea Park.

In the steer wrestling event, Turner recorded three second-place finished at rodeos in Luxton, B.C., Leduc and Rocky Mountain House.

“(The season has) been good,” he said.

“It started off pretty good and I was at the top of the standings, but lately it’s been average.

“It hasn’t been real good. I’ve been on par with everyone in every weekend I’ve placed.”

The Turner brothers were born and raised in Cochrane, which is where they got their start in rodeo.

Their father competed in rodeo as a young man, and the brothers also grew up alongside another well-known rodeo family in the Milan brother:, Straws, Tanner and Baillie.

It has created a close friendship and competitiveness between the families.

“We were all rodeo kids,” Turner said. “As kids, we wanted to be cowboys and we fed off each other. You want to compete against friends and you always want to win. You don’t want to be the one losing.

“We’re competitive that way, but as long as everyone’s winning we’re happy.”

The same goes for competing against his brother.

“We’re the first ones helping each other on,” he said.

“I’m more nervous when he rides. You always want your brother to win.”

The two will continue to go head-to-head as the season progresses, and both are hoping to make the Canadian Finals Rodeo, which take place in November.

“Some, like (the Milan brothers) have a place in the finals locked up, but the rest of us have to keep plugging along,” Turner said.

“Hopefully, I keep winning money every weekend, keep going on the same path I’m on and get some wins underneath me.”