Article content material
‘Good golly, Kris Molle!’
It’s a phrase that took on a brand new sense of awe within the chuckwagon racing world after Thursday evening’s Calgary Stampede Canvas Public sale …
Article content material
As in an superior $210,000 paid by Graf Mechanical Ltd. to promote on Molle’s outfit for the 2024 Cowboys Rangeland Derby come July.
“I truthfully don’t know what to say,” mentioned Molle, who’s heard Stampede observe announcer Les McIntyre utter the phrases ‘Good golly, Kris Molle’ throughout his annual adventures across the loop at GMC Stadium. “I didn’t count on that. I’m speechless.
Commercial 2
Article content material
“Can’t consider I went for as excessive as I did.”
It was really a report evening when it comes to common purchase per wagon canvas for the Stampede occasion.
Corporations opened up their wallets to sink a complete of $3.115 million in to sponsoring the 27 drivers and their outfits.
That made for a highest-ever imply mark of $115,370.
The earlier excessive was greater than $111,000 in 2012.
“Fairly overwhelming — it’s exhausting to place into phrases,” mentioned Will Osler, president and chair of the Stampede board. “However it’s nice to see the assist that the sponsors have for the game of chuckwagon racing and the Rangeland Derby.
“The sponsor will get lots out of their sponsorship, however on this case, it’s extra than simply seeing their brand racing across the observe. It actually exhibits that they’re dedicated to the game, they’re dedicated to their drivers, they’re dedicated to their households …”
Graf Mechanical, a Saskatchewan heavy mechanics agency, definitely dedicated to Molle.
In actual fact, they went effectively over and above the bid that gained them the sponsorship of Molle final summer time.
Whereas it wasn’t the whopping report $300,000 shelled out for Stampede kingpin Kelly Sutherland by Tervita Company in 2012, it got here in as a tie for the occasion’s second-highest successful bid.
Midday Information Roundup
Article content material
Commercial 3
Article content material
“We’re from the identical city,” mentioned Colton Graf, co-owner — alongside together with his dad, Mike — of Graf Mechanical Ltd. in Watson, Sask. “Him and my dad return a great distance … Kris and my dad used to experience horses and do issues like that collectively, and Kris offered a few horses for my dad when he was away working.
“So it’s a detailed household connection. And right here we’re all these years later.”
Graf paid $170,000 for the co-top purchase ultimately 12 months’s public sale.
“I positive admire the assist they gave me,” mentioned Molle, now a resident of Chauvin, Alta. “They’re nice household buddies.
“Cash helps the world go spherical. It makes issues lots simpler happening the highway with the horses and every thing.”
Kurt Bensmiller, of Dewberry, Alta., additionally offered for $170k on the 2023 occasion, as the typical purchase was $101,852 for $2.75 million complete.
Whereas Bensmiller got here in at $175,000 this 12 months — as purchased by Gray Eagle Resort and On line casino for a $5,000 improve — a bidding warfare drove Molle’s value up.
“We don’t discourage it — it’s nice to see,” mentioned Osler, who lauded the group for getting behind the numerous bidding wars all through the evening and the sponsors for saluting the fast-paced motion.
Commercial 4
Article content material
Among the many different public sale highlights noticed De Havilland Plane of Canada Ltd. spending greater than $330 grand on three tarps — these of Evan Salmond, Wade Salmond and Preston Devoted — and MobSquad doling out $180,00 for drivers Darcy Flad and Ross Knight.
Final 12 months’s Rangeland king went for $140k to Shady Creek Ranch.
“We’re 85 days away from the beginning of Stampede. And for me, this canvas public sale is without doubt one of the begins to the countdown of the Stampede. If you’re in there and seeing what the sponsors are doing and the way they wish to win and wish to have enjoyable and wish to succeed, what a fantastic begin to the countdown.”
Certainly, it’s not lengthy off till the 2024 Cowboys Rangeland Derby, which runs July 5-14 at GMC Stadium.
And Molle for one expects to run scorching on the grand gala, though Thursday’s huge assist behind him brings on the warmth.
“Completely, there’s extra stress,” mentioned Molle, the 2022 Calgary Stampede chuckwagon champion earlier than having an off-year final 12 months. “If you get that sort of cash, you wish to do effectively. However it’s a superb feeling to have.
“It positively provides a man confidence. You don’t wish to let your sponsors down — you wish to do very effectively for them and make them proud.”
Commercial 5
Article content material
All the cash coming his means from sponsorship goes making his horses and rig “greater, higher, sooner,” added Molle.
“On the finish of the day, you all wish to be champions.”
tsaelhof@postmedia.com
http://www.x.com/ToddSaelhofPM
2024 STAMPEDE TARP AUCTION
- Kris Molle — $210,000, Graf Mechanical Ltd.
- Kurt Bensmiller — $175,000, Gray Eagle Resort and On line casino
- Chanse Vigen — $160,000, KMA Building Inc.
- Dayton Sutherland — $160,000, Truman Houses
- Jason Glass — $150,000, Associates of Jason Glass
- Cody Ridsdale — $145,000, O’Chiese Enterprise & Funding Centre
- Layne McGillivray — $140,000, Shady Creek Ranch
- Todd Baptiste — $125,000, S.O.R.E. Oilfield Companies
- Evan Salmond — $120,000, De Havilland Plane of Canada Ltd.
- Wade Salmond — $110,000, De Havilland Plane of Canada Ltd.
- Dallas Dyck — $110,000, NL Purple Nation Oil & Gasoline
- Danny Ringuette — $105,000, The Brakemen Basis
- Probability Thomson —$105,000, Lethbridge Lodging Affiliation
- Obrey Motowylo — $100,000, Shel-Bar Digital Industries Ltd.
- Probability Bensmiller — $100,000, EllisDon Building
- Preston Devoted — $100,000, De Havilland Plane of Canada Ltd.
- Mitch Sutherland — $100,000, Steelhaus Applied sciences Inc.
- Jordie Fike — $100,000, Subsurface Building Company
- Jamie Laboucane — $95,000, Buckle Vodka
- Probability Flad — $95,000, The CanWagon
- Darcy Flad — $90,000, The MobSquad
- Ross Knight — $90,000, The MobSquad
- Ray Croteau Jr. — $90,000, Cinch Oilfield Hauling and Crane
- Kirk Sutherland — $90,000, Pedal Pub
- Troy Dorchester — $85,000, Cowboys Night time Membership
- Chad Fike — $85,000, Shaw GMC
- Doug Irvine — $80,000, Tremendous Slings
Article content material
