Canadian Professional Rodeo Association
For immediate release
Airdrie, Alberta
Medicine Hat, Alberta (April 23, 2012) -- Sunday was ‘Celebration Day’ at Medicine Hat.
There were smiles aplenty during the final performance of Medicine Hat’s ‘Broncs and Honky Tonks’ spring rodeo. But none bigger, than the one worn by Longview cowboy Steele DePaoli. While DePaoli has made a number of winner circle appearances and Canadian Finals qualifications in the Team Roping, this was his first pro win in the Tie-Down Roping. DePaoli posted a 9.6 second run to top the field and earn a cheque for $1687.
“The calves were typical spring calves, not a lot of fun, but I drew one of the better ones. I grabbed my slack like a team roper,” DePaoli grinned, “which kind of messed me up. But I was able to finish it off okay and, lucky for me, everyone else was slower.” The modest roper pointed to three days of practice at (soon to be Hall of Famer) Larry Robinson’s Innisfail place a couple of weeks before Medicine Hat as a key to his success. “It’s always helpful to be around Larry. He doesn’t say a lot, but what he does say is important.”
Veteran Chad Johnson of Del Bonita was second in the roping, one tenth of a second behind DePaoli and Nanton’s Logan Bird was third at 10 flat.
Bareback rider, Matt Lait, was another Sunday champion courtesy of an 82 point ride on the snappy Kesler gelding Trail Smoke. The win earned Lait $1238, which coupled with a second place finish at Camrose a month earlier, has the one time Seven Persons resident off to his best start ever.
Manitoba bull rider, Zane Lambert, posted a huge 90 points ($1723) on the Kesler bull Whiskey Jack to top the 2010 Champion, Jesse Torkelson (85 points) and a strong field of bull riders.
Rylan Geiger of Duchess was the fourth Sunday Medicine Hat Champion as his 82 point ride on Kesler’s Dark Shadow earned him a Saddle Bronc riding split of first with Lundbreck’s Kyle Thomson who marked his 82 on Kesler’s Sheer Persuasion Saturday night. Each earned $1166.
Rounding out the titlists at Medicine Hat’s spring event were the American Team Roping duo of Matt Robertson and Miles Kobold with a 4.8 second run to earn them $1,232 each, and Browning, Montana’s Rian Conway whose lightening quick 3.9 garnered him a $2119 payday in the Steer Wrestling. 2009 Canadian Barrel Racing Champion, Gaylene Buff of Westwold, BC saw her time of 12.941 in the Friday morning slack hold up through the weekend to win her a cheque of $2043. The Novice Saddle Bronc was won by Cole Neely with 69 points and Logan Biever earned top spot in the Junior Steer Riding with 76.5.
Next Canadian Professional Rodeo Association action is slated for Coleman, Alberta April 27-29 and Trail, British Columbia Saturday, April 28.
Canadian Professional Rodeo Association
Airdrie, Alberta
Phone: (403) 945-0903
Email: cpra@rodeocanada.com
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