High River's Randy Niemens is the Calgary Stampede's tractor pull champion.

At least in the Class 5 Event, which is the big boys of tractors.

He pulled the most weight, the farthest and fastest in his Dad's vintage 1955 John Deere 80 to claim the title Monday night.

“This was my Dad’s tractor, his favourite tractor,” Randy says. “I’m just glad I was able to bring this thing here for him. He had his heart set on it. We were hoping he could have made it, but . . .” Bill Niemans, who competed for several years in Vintage Tractor Pulls, passed away a week prior to the Stampede pull.

Making his run 27th of the 28th tractors on hand gave Niemans a chance to study the field and avoid what he thought might be soft spots in the dirt, a veteran’s move.

Randy says he benefited from his father’s experience. “I did listen to him on some things, he says. “I just hope to live up to his legacy.”

This was just Niemens third tractor pull event in competition.

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