Renfrew hosts Ottawa Valley Team Penning Association for the summer

The month of May is notorious in the Ottawa Valley for the traditional swatting of the blackflies.

However, another outdoor event begins at the Renfrew Armouries and instead of swarms of blackflies looking for their next meal, the Renfrew fairgrounds is transformed into a Team Penning contest where instead of blackflies chasing unprepared visitors, you see the sight of men and women in western gear and riding horses as they attempt to steer some assigned cattle into a pen.

The bi-weekly contest began on May 19 and runs until mid-October and it is organized by the Ottawa Valley Team Penning Association (OVTPA). Beginning on late Friday afternoon, the first of several horse trailers, RVs and campers begin to arrive. Temporary animal pens are set up, horse feed is prepared in the feeding bags and the once-vacant field is filled horses being led off the trailers and many of the group are anxious to have a look at the 80-head of cattle being transported in either that night or early Saturday morning.

Two quick lessons this writer discovered was never wear open sandals when attending an event featuring more than 40 horses and 80 cattle. Secondly, never joke with the membership the field looks like a rodeo took it over.

Although it may appear to be similar to a rodeo, the members of the OVTPA take great pride in pointing out the group has been established to promote and develop the sport of Team Cattle Penning. The current OVTPA President and senior rider of the group, 72-year old Willie O’Rourke of Fitzroy Harbour, said one of the strengths of the 100 member association is its commitment to children and getting them involved at an early age.

“I think once again the size of our young riders has grown and that is the best news for the future of our club and the sport itself,” he said. “We all take great pride in helping to coach and teach them the unique skills of penning because believe me when I tell you that to the outsider it can all look disorganized trying to pen the cattle but I can assure you it is not.”

On this perfect sunny Saturday afternoon, O’Rourke is seated in the temporary bleachers with some fellow members when he points to a young rider preparing for her team’s call to try and corral some of the cattle.

“That young lady and all the other kids are the future of our sport and she has really come a long way and you can see that in how she approaches the cattle,” he said. “All kinds of sports and activities build up a young person’s self-awareness and lets them build their skills so they have fun out there. But in Team Penning, the kids not only have to be aware of what they are doing, but suddenly they are in charge of a horse that is a few hundred pounds more than they are.”

The OVTPA has moved around eastern Ontario since it was established 25 years ago beginning in South Mountain then moved to Arnprior for a 10 year stretch until they were forced to vacate the fairgrounds due to town development.

“Four years ago we needed a new home so we began looking at potential sites like horse ranches, and fairgrounds and then we made a proposal to the Renfrew Fair Board and this has been our home ever since,” he said. “We lost almost two years because of COVID, but now we are back and our numbers are up as well. It is hard to find a better spot like this for team penning.”

O’Rourke draws on his 72 years not as an obstacle, but he draws on his years of volunteering and helping others to help lead the OVTPA through the post-COVID era.

“Nobody knows what is going to happen but for our members, getting the chance to be outside and doing something they love will be a big part of it, especially our younger members.” he said. 

Prior to his match on this early Sunday morning, O’Rourke took a moment to reflect on the good fortune his club received.

“The folks here at the fairgrounds have been absolutely incredible,” he said. “They don’t want to see a giant field like this go unused all year except for the fair and Team Penning is just a natural fit. They have the infrastructure our group needs and if we need something all we have to do is ask.”

He is quick to point out they receive support from other sources as well.

“We have 80 new cattle for this year’s edition and it is going to be interesting because these are all new to penning,” he said. “They have never been here so they will be confused for the first while but by late summer they will be accustomed to the sport. But none of this would have happened if not for people like Bob Dick out on Highway 60 near Douglas. He transported all those cattle here from his farm and he will be back out here on again on Sunday night to take them home.”

With the competition in full swing, one of the early morning teams is called to the “on-deck” section to ready themselves and their horses for their turn to try and pen the assigned cattle. One of the riders glances over and it is impossible not to recognize the big moustache and bright eyes.

When the exceptionally loud horn signals the beginning of the event, Willie O’Rourke and his two team-mates dash towards the cattle. Guiding his horse around the steel fencing, he glances over to the bleachers and one thing stands out and it is obvious to many.

The 72-year-old competitor has the exact same look of joy and confidence as the young 11-year old rider he pointed out the day before.