September 14, 2018 - Cool temps won’t dampen the spirits of competitors or fans headed to the Oldstoberfest Pro Rodeo in Olds, Alberta this weekend. With performances scheduled for Friday, Sept 14 and Saturday, Sept 15 - along with many additional entertaining elements, the event is guaranteed to offer up a great time.

Added to the mix is the fact that Oldstoberfest is the final CPRA rodeo to count for the Grass Roots standings and one of only three rodeos remaining overall in the regular Rodeo Canada season. There are a number of athletes who are hoping to secure a berth at the Sept 27-28 Grass Roots Final and in turn, a spot on this year’s CFR roster. All in all, this makes the upcoming weekend hugely important in the overall scheme of things.

Saddle bronc rider Tyler Corrington is hoping to parlay his Oldstoberfest bronc ride into a money making result and a spot among the top 10 Grass Roots series qualifiers competing later this month in Calgary. Torrington (who is currently 11th in the Grass Roots standings and 13th in the Canadian standings) could really help hedge his bets on a CFR berth if he could use an Olds placing to qualify for the Grass Roots Final. The Hastings, MN CFR-NFR cowboy will climb on C5 Rodeo’s Black Moon.

In the bull riding, just over $1300 separates a number of young guns vying for a first time CFR berth. Nick Tetz, Austin Nash, Kane Larsen and Jacob Gardner hold down 11th to 14th in the Canadian standings. With Nash, Gardner and Larsen all secure on the Grass Roots Final roster, there is greater pressure on Tetz this weekend as he is trying to hang onto 10th position and a Grass Roots spot.

Several barrel racers need to make ‘money runs’ this weekend to keep their CFR hopes alive - among them Rene Leclercq, Lynette Broadway, Kirsty White, Renee Willis and Sydney Daines who sit 13th to 17th in the Canadian standings with only $1500 separating them. To make things extra interesting, of that group, Renee Willis holds down the 10th spot in the Grass Roots standings with Cochrane’s Rylee Shields only $5.00 behind in 11th GR. If things go well for Shields in Olds, she too may earn a GR qualification… which could morph into a potential CFR berth as well.

Tight races characterize the tie-down roping where Josh Eirikson, Murray Pole and Logan Hofer hold down 13, 14 and 15th in the Canadian standings. This trio is chasing Erik Dublanko… but what’s interesting is that all three of those ropers are currently qualified for the Grass Roots Final; Erik Dublanko is not.

Steer wrestling is equally exciting. Only $2700 separates the 9th to 17th place competitors in the CFR standings. Brock Butterfield is the dogger in 12th place. Right behind him are cousin, Chance Butterfield, Dallas and Derek Frank, Straws Milan and Curtis Cassidy. These five athletes are in the Grass Roots standings whereas Brock and Chance are not at present and Straws Milan is 11th GR.

Looking at the team roping event, several headers will be feeling the pressure. Jesse Popescul and Dawson Graham hold down 11th and 12th CFR positions with Dustin Bird, Logan Bonnett and Brett Buss hot on their heels. Popescul and Bird have virtually secured Grass Roots Final berths; Buss will be trying to earn a cheque this weekend - large enough to earn a GR spot. And don’t count out NFR roper and former Canadian Champ Kolton Schmit who is 19th in the CFR standings and 11th in the GR. On the heeling side, 2016 World Champion Jeremy Buhler is 13th in the Canadian standings and holds down 10th place in the GR. Buhler is trying to catch up to partner, Levi Simpson, who is more secure in the CFR standings in 9th and solid in the GR in 3rd spot.

Overall, lots of fun, pressure and excitement to be had as we embark on the last few weeks of the season. For detailed Canadian and Grass Roots standings, as well as in progress event results, head over to rodeocanada.com

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It’s nail-biting time.

With only four regular season rodeos remaining, two of them qualifiers for the Grass Roots Final, the battles for the last few CFR qualifying berths are intense.

To add to the drama of these last weeks of the CPRA season, only today’s Medicine Lodge Roundup and next week’s Oldstoberfest rodeo count towards the all-important Grass Roots Final September 27-28 at Stampede Park in Calgary.

One of the tightest races going into today’s afternoon performance at Medicine Lodge is in the bronc riding where Sherwood Park’s Kolby Wanchuk is clinging to the 12th and final qualifying spot in the CFR standings. Less than $100 behind him is Dawson Dahm (Duffield, AB) with 2014 Canadian Champion, Tyler Corrington, another $1000 back. Justin Berg, Lane Watt, Dustin Flundra and Ricky Warren all have an outside shot at a trip to Red Deer. Of that group, Wanchuk, Berg, Dahm and Watt are all on the 10-man roster for the Grass Roots Final.

Looking at today’s Medicine Lodge stock draw, seven time CFR qualifier, Justin Berg, has Duffy Rodeo’s Tool Time, the horse that carried Clay Elliott to 87.5 points and the win at Drayton Valley earlier this year. Flundra’s draw is Duffy’s Domestic Shadows. (Tyrel Larsen captured the Cranbrook Rodeo title on this horse a few weeks ago.) Hudson Hope, British Columbia’s Ricky Warren will be climbing on the sensational stallion, Bootilear, one of the bright lights of the Duffy remuda. And Kolby Wanchuk will match up with Duffy’s Gene Allen - as he tries to put some distance between himself and his pursuers.

All in all, should be a great day in Medicine Lodge. Check back later for results.