|
|
2007 CANADIAN CHAMPIONS CROWNED AT THE CFR
November 11, 2007 |
 The 34th Canadian Finals Rodeo rode out of Edmonton, Alta. today with new champions crowned and reigning champions defending their titles.
Despite tearing ligaments in his neck yesterday, reigning Canadian Bareback Champion Dusty LaValley (Crooked Creek, AB) successfully managed to defend his title after scoring an 85.5 point ride on board Peters & Sons Rodeo Co. ‘s Gold Dust.
“Last night I could barely move my head and I was pretty worried about today, but I woke up this morning and the swelling was down. It felt pretty good. I couldn’t believe it.”
Todd Woodward (Magrath, AB) is the 2007 Steer Wrestling Champion. Turning his steer in 3.7 seconds, he acknowledged he had a little help from the best to help him win this title.
“I had world champion Blaine Pederson hazing for me, I had world champion Mark Roy working with me and world champion Lee Graves’ horse “Jesse.” I was pretty grateful he let me on him. Lee also helped me out in the arena.”
Justin and Brett McCarroll (Camrose, AB) retained their team roping title - the first team ever to win back to back Canadian titles.
“We are very blessed to have had this happen, we worked hard for it. Daryn Knapp and Dwight Wiegmyr are team roping legends in Canada and the U.S. and they are the real deal. They are friends of ours and our heroes.” said Justin.
Brett agreed adding: “It was kind of the same thing two years in a row. We kind of screwed up our last run, but it ended up working out.
Dustin Flundra (Pincher Creek, AB) came into the afternoon performance already declared 2007 Canadian Saddle Bronc champion.
Chad Johnson (Del Bonita, AB) was the fastest tie-down roper of the afternoon with an 8.2 second run, but the 2007 Canadian Tie-Down Roping Champion is Clint Robinson (Spanish Fork, UT). Robinson also won the Canadian High Point Championship.
“My goal coming up here was to rope well, but I don’t feel like I did. There were a few times when I felt I should’ve placed higher, but it came through in the end. I am glad I decided to leave my horses at home so I didn’t have to worry them and so I could just worry about winning.”
Deb Renger (Okotoks, AB) won her fifth Canadian ladies barrel racing championship. Set to compete for Canada at the upcoming National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Renger left the CFR with $38,452.38.
Despite placing third in the round with an 86 point ride aboard Head Banger from Big Stone Rodeo Co., twenty-two year old Nathan Roy (Lloydminster, SK) emerged as the new Canadian Bull Riding Champion. The sixth go-round and All-Around Championship was won by Steven Turner (Cochrane, AB) on the 2007 Bull of the Year - Rip n’ Dip from Girletz Rodeo Stock.
“Winning this is everything. It’s what we go all year to do. I’ve been coming up here five years and this was my first time to win a go-round, so that was a nice bonus.”
NOTES: Reid Rowan raised an incredible $7,000 to benefit the CPRA’s Cowboy Benefit Fund and family member David Wilkerson, who was diagnosed with AML (leukemia). Tanner Girletz and Cash Kerner joined Reid and shaved their heads to support the cause.
(l to r) 2007 Canadian Champions - Steven Turner, Nathan Roy, Dusty LaValley, Deb Renger, Dustin Flundra, Todd Woodward, Clint Robinson, Brett McCarroll, Justin McCarroll, Wyatt Daines, and Jake Vold.
Photo courtesy Mike Copeman
For results after the sixth performance click here...
|
SATURDAY NIGHT PERFORMANCE A WINNER!
November 10, 2007 |
 The 16,658 fans who came out to the fifth performance of the 2007 Canadian Finals Rodeo were pumped for the Saturday evening performance, but the McCarroll brothers nearly blew the roof off of Rexall Place.
After placing second in the afternoon performance, reigning Canadian Team Roping Champions Justin McCarroll (Camrose, AB) and Brett McCarroll (Camrose, AB) capped off the day with a 4.4 second run, and celebrated their second win of the week.
“We did all right this afternoon, we got second, but Friday night I missed one.” explained Brett “After you miss out on one, you just have to look ahead, you can’t ever think you are out, and we didn’t. We knew we had to come back and maybe it made it easier and we didn’t have to think about it.”
Added Justin “It’s a real advantage to rope with your brother and I’ve grown up with two of the best heelers in the world—Justin and my older brother Cody.”
They aren’t the only champion ropers in the family—dad, Dirk was the 1989 Canadian Champion Team Roper.
Meanwhile, Pincher Creek, Alta. cowboy Dustin Flundra has already secured his second Canadian Saddle Bronc Championship. With 190 championship points, no one will be able to catch him in Sunday’s final performance.
The evening’s other winners are: Heath Ford (Greenley, CO) who rose to the top of the bareback standings with an 87-point ride on the legendary Painted Smile from Kesler Rodeo Co. It was an unusual night in the steer wrestling as four cowboys shared top honours and the fastest time.Brothers, Baillie Milan (Cochrane, AB), and Tanner Milan (Cochrane, AB), as well as Todd Woodward (Magrath, AB) and Clayton Moore (Pouce Coupe, BC) all clocked in at four-seconds flat. The fastest time in the tie-down roping belonged to Clint Robinson (Spanish Fork, UT) with 8.3 seconds. Deb Renger (Okotoks, AB) posted her second win of the finals with a time of 15:30 seconds in the ladies barrel racing. Denton Edge (Marwayne, AB) bounced back from a buck off in the afternoon’s performance to win the bull riding go-round on Kesler Championship Rodeo’s Crocodile Tears. Jake Vold (Ponoka, AB) was crowned the 2007 Canadian Novice Bareback Champion and Wyatt Daines (Innisfail, AB) was declared the 2007 Canadian Novice Saddle Bronc Champion.
 Dale Butterwick was also honored for his years of commitment with the Canadian Professional Rodeo Sports Medicine Team.
The 2007 Canadian Finals Rodeo wraps up tomorrow afternoon at 1:00pm. Complete results and video highlights are available at www.rodeocanada.com and www.canadianfinalsrodeo.ca
Photos: (top) Reigning Canadian Team-Roping Champions, Brett and Justin McCarroll make a 4.4 second run on for first place on Saturday night.
(bottom) 2003 Canadian Saddle Bronc Champion Dustin Flundra tops off his runaway week with an 82.5-point ride on C+ Rodeo Co.’s Medevil Knievil.
Photos courtesy Mike Copeman
For results after the fifth performance click here...
|
FAMILIES TAKE THE SPOTLIGHT AT THE CANADIAN FINALS RODEO
November 10, 2007 |
 Family was the theme of the fourth performance at the 2007 Canadian Finals Rodeo on Saturday afternoon. The next generation of the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association stepped into the centre of the arena in front of 15,591 fans, confirming that the future of professional rodeo in Canada remains bright.
Eight-time Canadian Saddle Bronc Champion Rod Hay was joined by his three sons – Logan, Dawson and Devon, while bareback rider Troy Tattrie was escorted by his four sons – Brody, Jaxen, Dixon and Rhett.
When asked who their favourite cowboy is, the answers came quickly. “My dad” announced Logan Hay (age 10). Although Devon Hay (age 3) couldn’t commit, Dawson Hay (age 9) was quick to reconfirm that dad Rod is his favorite cowboy.
Tattrie’s four sons, also known as ‘Team Tattrie’ weighed in with their picks as well. Dixon (age 5) declared his top cowboy is Davey Shields Jr.
“Watching my dad is my favourite part of the rodeo,” added Jaxen (age 7), “He’s my favorite cowboy”. Rhett Tattrie (age 3) agreed with his older brother while ten year-old Brody Tattrie was very happy that Dustin Flundra is currently leading the saddle bronc event.
Back in the arena, the race in the bareback riding intensified as Dusty LaValley (Crooked Creek, AB) celebrated another win with an 84-point ride on Dirty Diana from Harvey Northcott Rodeo, trailing Cimmaron Gerke (Brighton, CO.) by only five championship points; BJ Zieffle (Consort, AB) and Clint Robinson (Spanish Fork, UT) split the steer wrestling with a time of 3.9 seconds. Travis Gallais (Olds, AB) and Rocky Dallyn (Nanton, AB) stopped the clock at a quick 5.2 seconds in the team roping. Dustin Flundra (Pincher Creek, AB) padded his lead in saddle bronc with a second win of the finals, an 85-point ride aboard Calgary Stampede’s Lynx Mountain. In the tie-down roping, Alwin Bouchard (Scandia, AB) claimed a win with a quick 8.0 seconds. Rana Walter (Lethbridge, AB) had the fastest time of the week so far at 15.21 seconds in ladies barrel racing; Chad Besplug (Claresholm, AB) flew out of the gate in bull riding to win the afternoon performance with an 83 point ride on Afro Man from Franklin Rodeo Co.
 NOTES: “Wildman” bareback rider Reid Rowan will shave his trademark locks after Sunday’s championship performance, in support of the CPRA’s Cowboy Benefit Fund and family member David Wilkerson, who was diagnosed with AML (leukemia). Donations are accepted to Reid’s efforts on the main concourse at Rexall Place until intermission on Sunday.
Photos: The next generation of professional rodeo in Canada.
(top - l to r) Team Tattrie - Dixon, Rhett (front), Jaxen, Brody with Chase Kesler. (bottom - l to r) Kurtis Kesler with Logan, Dawson and Devon Hay.
Photos courtesy Mike Copeman
For results after the fourth performance click here...
|
FRIDAY NIGHT MARKS THE HALF WAY POINT OF THE 2008 CANADIAN FINALS
November 9, 2007 |
 The race for Canadian titles heated up during the third performance of the 2007 Canadian Finals Rodeo on Friday night. Halfway through the race for 16,482 fans came out to watch as new contenders emerged and other contestants tried to extend their lead in the race for a Canadian championship.
Nathan Roy (Lloydminster, SK) posted the best bull ride of the week to date with a 91-point ride on Franklin Rodeo Co.’s Garfield. The ecstatic 22 year-old, competing in his first Canadian Finals Rodeo, couldn’t be happier with tonight’s results, even if he had a less than stellar dismount.
“Yeah, I land on my head every once in a while,” chuckled Roy. “But I’ve rode all my bulls here and I’m doing pretty good and will keep going for another three days, I guess. I feel like I’m in a zone, but I will just try and have fun and stay consistent, even if I land on my melon.”
Other third go-round winners were: Cimmaron Gerke (Brighton, CO) spurred the best bareback ride of the night with an 85.5 point ride on Big Country Rodeo’s Whisky Bent, moving him into the top of the standings in his event. Steer wrestler Clayton Moore (Pouce Coupe, BC) turned his steer in a rapid 3.8 seconds to celebrate his first win of the Canadian Finals Rodeo; Jim Randle (Okotoks, AB) and Stacy Cornet (Mossleigh, AB) clocked a quick 5.2 seconds in the team roping; Pincher Creek, Alta.’s Dustin Flundra paired up with Calgary Stampede’s Lynx Mountain to extended his lead in the saddle bronc with an 85-point ride; Tie-down roper Clint Robinson, out of Spanish Fork, UT, took first place honours tonight with in 7.7 seconds, also making his move into the lead in the high point race. Making her Canadian Finals Rodeo debut, Cathy Grant (Granton, ON) was the fastest barrel racer of the night with a 15.37 second run.
Miss Rodeo Jasper Jenna Berreth (Rolly View, AB) was crowned Miss Rodeo Canada 2008 during the evening performance. Miss Rodeo Okotoks Sharyl Malin was first runner-up.
 The Canadian Finals Rodeo runs through Sunday with afternoon shows on Saturday and Sunday at 1:00pm. Complete results and video highlights are available at www.rodeocanada.com and www.canadianfinalsrodeo.ca
Photos: (top)Nathan Roy and Franklin Rodeo Co.’s Garfield combine their talents for a 91 point ride. (bottom) B.C.’s Clayton Moore stopped the clock on Friday night in a speedy 3.8 seconds.
Photos courtesy Mike Copeman
For results after the third performance click here...
|
THE LADIES SHINE ON NIGHT TWO OF THE CANADIAN FINALS RODEO
November 8, 2007 |
 Pink was the color to wear during the second performance of the 2007 Canadian Finals Rodeo Thursday night at Rexall Place. Canadian Finals Rodeo competitors, personnel, judges and volunteers along with a Thursday record crowd of 14,767 all wore pink during the second annual Tough Enough to Wear Pink night in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.
After a moving tribute and opening ceremonies, attentions turned back to the business at hand and the quest for the 2007 Canadian Championships.
Four-time Canadian barrel racing champion Deb Renger (Okotoks, AB) had the fastest time of the night with 15.44 seconds on her horse Reiner.
“Last night we had trouble with the ground, but they worked on it today and it was definitely better. Reiner is working well. He had about five days off and was really running well before the break and is feeling really good right now.”
Other Second go-round winners were:
Reigning Canadian Bareback Champion Dusty LaValley (Crooked Creek, AB) showed he is still a force to be reckoned by winning this evening’s performance with 88 points on Calgary Stampede’s Knife Money; Todd Woodward (Magrath, AB) turned in the fastest time of the night in steer wrestling with a speedy 3.9 seconds; 2006 Canadian Team Roping Champions Justin McCarroll (Camrose, AB) and Brett McCarroll (Camrose, AB) won the team roping with a lightning-fast 4.4 seconds; the ladies continued to shine this evening as Miss Congeniality from Peters & Sons Rodeo Co. took Rod Hay (Wildwood, AB) to the winner’s circle with a 85 point ride in the saddle bronc; Edmonton Alta.’s Marty Becker thrilled the hometown crowd by winning the tie-down roping in a quick 7.3 seconds; Chad Besplug (Claresholm, AB) topped all bull riders with an 86 point ride on Archie from Peters & Sons Rodeo Co.
 Cheques were presented to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation from: Wrangler - $250,000; Chrysler Canada - $15,000; Lammles - $35,000; Stride Management - $10,500 and Northlands - $25,000.
The Canadian Finals Rodeo runs through Sunday with performances at 7:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday as well as afternoon shows on Saturday and Sunday at 1:00 p.m. Complete results are available online at www.rodeocanada.com and www.canadianfinalsrodeo.ca.
Photos: (top)Deb Renger and Reiner win the second performance at the 2007 Canadian Finals Rodeo in Edmonton, AB. (bottom) Reigning Canadian Bareback Champion, Dusty LaValley on board Calgary Stampede’s Knife Money.
Photos courtesy Mike Copeman
For results after the second performance click here...
|
The 34th Annual Canadian Finals Rodeo Kicks off in Edmonton
November 7, 2007 |
 The first performance of the 2007 Canadian Finals Rodeo busted out of the chutes in Edmonton, Alberta this evening in front of 12,665 energized and enthusiastic rodeo fans at Rexall Place. Total prize money of $1.158 million dollars up is up for grabs.
Only the best of the best compete in Canada’s largest indoor rodeo. There are 102 cowboys and cowgirls vying for Canadian titles in the six major events (saddle bronc, bareback, bull riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling and ladies barrel racing), team roping, as well as novice saddle bronc and novice bareback. The stakes are high and the excitement is electric.
Dustin Flundra (Pincher Creek, AB), the 2003 Canadian Saddle Bronc Champion began his quest for a second gold buckle by winning the first performance of the 2007 Canadian Finals Rodeo with a score of 82.5 points on Kesler Rodeo Co.’s Seat Sale.
“Consistency is the key. To jump out and get a start like this, especially when they started out with the eliminator pen like they did tonight. Everything will be a little bit nicer now until Saturday night when they bring them back out. It will be a lot more easy going and happy-go-lucky in there tomorrow night.”
Another former Champion started off his Canadian Finals Rodeo with a win. Twenty-eight time qualifier and five-time Canadian Champion Cliff Williamson (Madden, AB) along with his horse Salty won the round in 7.8 seconds.
Other winners during the first performance were: bareback rider Cimmaron Gerke (Brighton, CO) on Calgary Stampede’s Licorice Baby for 85 points; Tanner Milan (Cochrane, AB) and Jason Miller (Lance Creek, WY) tied in the steer wrestling event at 4.3 seconds; bull rider Cole Collins (Fort St. John, BC) was 87 points on Peters & Sons Rodeo Co.’s Little Hoya; Lindsay Sears (Nanton, AB) currently ranked second in the world standings ran the fastest cloverleaf pattern in 15.55 seconds; team roping saw two teams stop the clock at 4.8 seconds - Shane Schwenke (Harlem, MT) & Marty Becker (Edmonton, AB) and Daryn Knapp (Mayerthorpe, AB) & Dwight Wigemyr (Brooks, AB) share the lead in the team roping standings.
The Canadian Finals Rodeo runs through Sunday with performances at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday as well as afternoon shows on Saturday and Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
Photos: (top) 2003 Canadian Saddle Bronc Champion, Dustin Flundra, aboard Kesler Rodeo Co.’s Seat Sale.
(bottom) 28-time CFR qualifier Cliff Williamson ropes a win during the first performance of the 2007 Canadian Finals Rodeo. Photos courtesy Mike Copeman
For results after the first performance click here... |
CPRA ANNOUNCES 2007 COWBOY OF THE YEAR - TOM BARR
November 1, 2007 |
 For 2007, the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association is pleased to announce that the Cowboy of the Year award will go to Tom Barr, a former steer wrestler and CPRA Board
member who now serves as a rodeo judge.
The Pincher Creek, Alta. cowboy was shocked to get the phone call from president Dale
Leschiutta on Wednesday.
“I said ‘What?’, It was kind of shocking, I was trying to buy cattle at the same time and Dale
was telling me. It took a minute to sink in and then it was, ‘Oh, that’s pretty Neat’!”
There is no doubt that Tom Barr meets the criteria set out for Cowboy of the Year nominees.
He made his first Canadian Finals appearance in 1988 in the steer wrestling event. He went
on to compete at the CFR 10 more times. He also qualified for the National Finals in Las
Vegas in 1991, where he won a go-around in the steer wrestling on Canada Night.
When reflecting back on his career, Barr humbly stated, “I had a good career. I never won
a championship buckle, but I’ve always thought I had a good career.” It would appear that
others feel the same way.
The four years that he sat on the CPRA board was a learning experience for him. He saw it as
an opportunity to see how the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association operates behind
the scenes, how they handle situations, and work to keep the association going.
Keeping the association going, and working to make the sport of rodeo better is something
that Tom is more than happy to do whenever the opportunity presents itself. Over
the years, he has kept busy serving on the Judging Commission, and while he may not
be competing at rodeos, he is still going to rodeos—as a judge. He was selected to judge
the 2006 Canadian Rodeo Finals.
When talking about the future of rodeo he said, “We need to build it up as much as possible.
The numbers are going down, so we need to build it up.” One way that Tom is working to
make this happen is by promoting the sport to the youth. In the Pincher Creek area, he has
been involved in organizing youth rodeos and high school rodeos, as well as making himself
available for practice nights at the high school to help the kids improve in their events.
The Cowboy of the year award is presented annually by Douglas Lake Ranch to the cowboy
judged best in ability, sportsmanship, appearance and personality, who has contributed
most to the betterment of rodeo. The selection committee consists of Mr. Joe W. Gardner
(representing Douglas Lake Ranch), the president of the CPRA (Dale Leschiutta) and the
previous recipient of the Cowboy of the Year award (Darrell Cholach). |
| |
|
|
|
