One strong willed cowgirl kept people on the edge of their seats at the 34th Annual Calgary Police Rodeo on Saturday, August 13.
Local Drumhellerite Victoria Houghton was volunteering at the Calgary Police Rodeo in Cochrane, when she was surprised to find the Bull Poker event was named in memory of her father, Brent Houghton, who passed away in July of 2015.
Bull Poker involves a group of participants sitting around a table. A bull is unleashed in the pen and the last person to keep both hands on the table wins.
With an open spot left in the event, Houghton signed up last minute to participate, determined to win.
Houghton sat down and watched as the three cowboys next to her were picked off one by one by the bull. As the last one left at the table, she was deemed the Brent Houghton Memorial Bull Poker Champion.
“It was amazing. It was one of the best feelings in my life. I felt so overjoyed and felt like my dad was there with me,” says Houghton.
Brent Houghton was on the Board of Directors for the Calgary Police Rodeo before his passing.
“He did a lot of fundraising work for the charities they donate to and he did all the designs of the buckles. He organized the events and was just a really big part of the rodeo in general.”
Houghton shared with inSide Drumheller what was happening in her head during the event.
“I wasn’t scared. I was determined to win. I wasn’t going to move unless I was getting knocked out by a bull. Afterwards, all my friends and family shared a couple tears with me. Everyone was pretty shocked.”
Houghton plans on competing in the event again next year.
“I have always been interested in rodeo and I have always wanted to get into it. I’ll be doing it next year, for sure.”
The adrenaline rush after the event was unlike anything Houghton has ever felt before.
“It got the blood pumping, for sure. I was shaking. I had to do a shot of whiskey after to calm myself down.”
