L-R: Joel Cowley, Calgary Stampede CEO and Calgary Stampede First Nations Princess Pacey Strangling Wolf Presenting,
Rod Lyman, Clint Johnson, Josephine Mitsuing, Gary Gorst, Calgary Stampede Princess Breanna Correia,
Stuart O’Connor, Calgary Stampede President & Chairman of the Board, David Pratt Chief of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Presenting
Photo By Ted Stovin
The Calgary Stampede handed out it’s prestigious Pioneer’s of Rodeo Awards July 7, 2025. The class of 2025 included Chuckwagon Drivers Ray Mitsuing and Gary Gorst, Saddle Bronc Rider Clint Johnson and Steer Wrestler Rod Lyman.
Ray Mitsuing made his debut at the Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby in 1984 and placed a very respectable 12th overall in the aggregate standings. But it was 1986 when Ray really showed the world that he could not only compete at chuckwagon racing’s highest level, but that he would be a legitimate contender for the Rangeland Derby Championship when he won first place on consecutive nights, and finished in ninth place overall. Two years later in 1988, Ray qualified for the Championship Final Heat at the Rangeland Derby for the first time, and was the reserve champion to Dave Lewis by just 69 one-hundredths of a second.
1992 was arguably Ray Mitsuing’s finest moment at the Calgary Stampede. He made his second appearance in the $50,000.00 Championship Final Heat, where he qualified in first place overall after winning the Calgary Stampede Aggregate title.
Between 1984 and 2019, Ray Mitsuing would be among the top ten money winners at the Calgary Stampede’s Rangeland Derby twelve times, qualified for the Championship Final heat twice, and in 2018 his horse Royal Victor would be selected as the Calgary Stampede’s Equine Athlete of Excellence Champion Left Wheeler.
In his final appearance at the Calgary Stampede in 2019, Ray won the day money on night 8,and crossed the finish line first in his final race on night 10. His streak of 36 consecutive appearances at the Rangeland Derby is among the longest of all time.
Ray Mitsuing “Went West” suddenly and unexpectedly as the result of a tragic accident on Thursday, April 25, 2024 at the age of 70. As a champion both on and off the racetrack, Ray Mitsuing was a mentor and inspiration to many young chuckwagon competitors, indigenous youth, and was a fan favorite at the Rangeland Derby.
Gary Gorst first came to the Calgary Stampede as an outrider for Bill Greenwood in 1973, and eventually started competing as a chuckwagon driver as a replacement driver for hi father Art Gorst in 1980. Over 40 years later, Gary Gorst remained one of the toughest competitors the Rangeland Derby has ever seen.
Gary assembled his own chuckwagon outfit in 1997, and qualified it for the Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby in 1998. With the exception of 2000, Gary Gorst would be a staple at the Calgary Stampede every year until 2019.
His first taste of success came in 2004 when he placed eighth overall in the aggregate standings and picked up his first aggregate cheque, and would factor in the aggregate payout in 12 of the next 16 years. When the Calgary Stampede instituted the Semi-Final format in 2009, Gary made the semi-final round for the first time in 2010, and just missed qualifying for the Rangeland Derby’s Championship final by just 11 one-hundredths of a second.
Gary Gorst would go on to qualify for the semi-final round 6 out of 11 years, the second most outside of Jason Glass and Kurt Bensmiller, and in 2016 he set a Calgary Stampede record for the most consecutive trips to the Rangeland Derby’s Semi Final Saturday with five.
The Calgary Stampede’s Centennial Celebration of 2012 was a breakout year for Gary Gorst at the Rangeland Derby, when he won his first of what would be four career Calgary Stampede Day Monies, and made it to the $100,000 Championship Final Heat for the first time. He returned to the Rangeland Derby’s $100,000 Championship final again in 2014, and competed for the final time at the Calgary Stampede in 2019.
Clint Johnson first came to prominence at the Calgary Stampede back in 1978 when he split 8th place overall in the North American Saddle Bronc competition with Hall of fame cowboy Bill Smith. But as the 1980’s came to be, Clint Johnson would become one the successful rodeo athletes the rodeo world and the Calgary Stampede would ever see.
In 1984 Clint made his first trip to the Calgary Stampede’s $50,000.00 showdown round in Saddle Bronc Riding. And although things didn’t work out that year, Clint bounced back in 1985 when he rode Go Wild to an 80- point score and won his first North American Saddle Bronc Riding Championship and the $50,000.00 bonus.
Clint would make the Calgary Stampede’s $50,000.00 showdown round for a third time in 1987 and found himself in a ride off with four-time world and two time Calgary Stampede Champion Brad Gjermundson. With Clint Johnson aboard Vern Franklin’s Coconut, and Brad Gjermundson aboard the Calgary Stampede’s Jericho Gold, it would Clint Johnson who would emerge as the North American Saddle Bronc Riding Championship for the second time by a single point over his good friend Brad Gjermundson, ultimately tying Gjermundson as the only two-time winners of the Calgary Stampede $50,000.00 in Saddle Bromc riding.
Clint returned to the $50,000.00 showdown round for a fourth time in 1988, and for the second consecutive year he was involved in sudden death ride-off situation, this time with future World Champion Saddle Bronc Rider Tom Reeves. However, after both cowboys marked 78 points in the ride-off, the two would have to go to a second ride-off, where Clint made history by capturing his third North American Saddle Bronc Riding Championship on the Calgary Stampede’s Smokey, and becoming the first man to win the Calgary Stampede’s $50,000.00 bonus in Saddle Bronc Riding three times.
In 1985 a former Montana State Football Player came to the Calgary Stampede for the first time, and over the next 20 years, Rod Lyman would win the hearts of the Calgary Rodeo Fans.
In 1987 Rod made his first trip to the Calgary Stampede’s $50,000.00 showdown round in Steer Wrestling after qualifying in first place overall. It was a lead he would not relinquish as Rod Lyman would made it count by claiming his first North American Steer Wrestling Championship and the $50,000 bonus that accompanied the victory.
The next year in 1988, Rod Lyman would again qualify for the Calgary Stampede’s $50,000.00 showdown round. Looking to become the Calgary Stampede’s first two-time $50,000 Steer wrestler, Rod would have to settle for second place behind his good friend, Canadian Steer Wrestling Champion Blaine Pedersen.
But 1989 would be a history making year for Rod Lyman at the Calgary Stampede. Not only would Rod would make a record setting third consecutive trip to the final four in the Stampede’s $50,000.00 Steer Wrestling showdown, but for the second time in three years, he would walk off with the Calgary Stampede North American Steer Wrestling Championship, becoming Calgary’s only two-time $50,000 Steer wrestling Champion.
Although he would never make the showdown round again, with the exception of 1997 when injury kept him out of competition, Rod Lyman would continue to compete consecutively at the Calgary Stampede for 20 years. In 2002, nearing the twilight of his career, Rod Lyman again made Calgary Stampede history by posting a time of 3.3 seconds – an arena record that still stands to this day.
Congratulations to all four recipients for this well earned honor.
Billy Melville
