The CPCA's tentative schedule for the 2022 season has the first three stops in Prince Albert, Meadow Lake and the Battlefords. (File photo/battlefordsNOW)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

Full season

CPCA tentative schedule features Prince Albert, Meadow Lake, Battlefords

Jan 18, 2022 | 1:10 PM

The Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Association is preparing for the 2022 season, with a tentative schedule in place.

Barring changes, the CPCA tour begins in Prince Albert from June 3-5. Competition will occur every weekend for the rest of the summer, ending with the CPCA Finals in Lloydminster. Prince Albert was originally going to kick off the 2021 season, but was pushed back to 2022 as a result of a delayed start last year.

(CPCA)

“Prince Albert was one we we’re looking forward to and they were excited to have us there,” Vice President Greg Buchanan told battlefordsNOW. “As long as everything is according to plan, we’ll be there to kick off the season. We’re hoping everything comes together and we’ll be in North Battleford and P.A.”

The second and third stops are in Meadow Lake June 9-12 and North Battleford June 16-19. Last year, the Meadow Lake event was won by Preston Faithful, who ran a 03:06.53 over the three days of competition. Local driver Logan Gorst didn’t fare well that particular weekend, but finished his CPCA return in championship style.

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If the schedule holds, this would be the first stop in the Battlefords since 2019, given the 2020 season was canceled and the North Battleford stop on last year’s tour was also called off because of the delayed start to the campaign. Poundmaker Cree Nation instead hosted the North Battleford event in addition to its own tour stop.

Buchanan said having a better idea of the season moving forward is not only beneficial to the association, but more importantly, the drivers.

‘During the off-season, they’re getting their horses ready while going out to get sponsorship for their wagons,” he said. “[Right now], there’s a lot of optimism out there, with a lot of fans and sponsors excited for the season ahead. We feel like the landscape ahead is looking promising.”

Safety will remain a priority for every sports organization. When asked about this hurdle, Buchanan said that’s the million dollar question, adding things could change closer to June.

“We’re hoping because it’s outdoors that it’s a little different for us,” he said. “But we have to make sure it’s safe for all of our fans and, drivers and staff and that we abide by the guidance from the health authority.”

The tarp sale for the CPCA Finals is expected to take place in early April, while the North American Chuckwagon Championship Tarp Sale (which debuted last year) will take place in March.

“We put that show together last year in five weeks and pulled it off,” he said. “We’re looking forward to both those big shows in Lloydminster, one in July and one to end the season.”

In addition to Gorst, some of the contenders include Ryan and Todd Baptiste, The brothers’ hail from Red Pheasant Cree Nation and were runners up at the finals. Older Brother Todd was the 2019 champion. Buchanan noted that the CPCA is looking forward to future talent, after seven rookies made their debut last summer.

“There’s a lot of rookie drivers out there in the pony chuckwagons that may be looking for a bigger role ahead,” he said.

(file/battlefordsNOW Staff)

More details on CPCA drivers and events are available online.

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On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW