(submitted photo/Layne MacGillivray)

By Ben Tompkins

Fast Layne

MacGillivray first chuckwagon driver to win Calgary Stampede’s Rangeland Derby, Guy Weadick Award in same year

Jul 18, 2023 | 1:45 PM

Melfort product and reigning world chuckwagon champion, Layne MacGillivray, has come out on top at the 2023 Calgary Stampede.

Deemed the “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth”, this year marked the 100th anniversary of the chuckwagon races, as MacGillivray walked away with both the Cowboys Rangeland Derby and the Guy Weadick Award.

“I don’t even know if it’s truly sunk in totally,” MacGillivray told northeastNOW. “The emotions were definitely very high… when you start in this business, this is one that you always set your sights on that you want to win and we were lucky enough and fortunate enough to get it done.”

The Guy Weadick Award is given annually to the one chuckwagon or rodeo competitor who best represents what a cowboy stands for and embodies the spirit of the Calgary Stampede.

(submitted photo/Layne MacGillivray)

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The award is based on ability, appearance, showmanship, character, sportsmanship and cooperation with other cowboys, the arena crew, the media and the public.

It’s the first time that a chuckwagon driver received the Guy Weadick Award and won the Rangeland Derby in the same year.

“It’s a true honour and I actually didn’t realize that I was the first guy to win both on the last day, but that’s very neat and very overwhelming. I was pretty emotional that day when they called me up on stage for that part. My wife and everyone all knew about it, and they kept it from me, so it was a surprise. It was definitely an emotional time, and very honourable for sure,” MacGillivary added.

For MacGillivray, this was the first time he has won the championship as a chuckwagon driver, having previously won twice as an outrider with Hughie Sinclair in 2000 and 2004.

MacGillivray won the final from barely number two in heat number nine, by just 3,400 of a second, over four-time Rangeland Derby Champion Kurt Bensmiller.

(submitted photo/Layne MacGillivray)

Meanwhile, it was also a first for his outrider Trey MacGillivray, but the third consecutive for his other outrider Brendan Nolin, who won in 2019 with Logan Gorst and last year with Kris Molle.

Layne finished second behind Nolin and Molle last year, which was an experience he said ultimately helped him come out victorious this time around.

“It definitely helped to be there last year in that final heat. I felt that I was a little more keyed up and a little more nervous last year than I was this year, and I was a little more focused this year,” he explained.

MacGillivray and his team now walk away with a $50,000 cheque and a brand-new GMC truck (theirs to keep forever) as they continue on with the rest of the season, ultimately hoping to become back-to-back World Champions.

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter @BenTompkins_8