Edmonton, AB (Nov 6, 2014) – A year ago Matt Lait won his first Canadian Championship. This year, the 9 time CFR bareback riding qualifier had what he describes as a ‘middle of the pen’ kind of year… coming into the 2014 CFR in 7th spot. Tonight, in CFR go round 2, Lait made a big move on Calgary Stampede’s Unfortunate Carma – riding for 87 points to collect the first place cheque and move to number two in the overall standings.

“I’d never been on Unfortunate Carma until tonight,” Lait explained. “but I saw him at the (Calgary) Stampede with Jake Vold and JR Vezain. He definitely tests you every jump. He really tried to rip me over the front end. I had to work to keep my hips forward and make a meaner face than he did.”

Lait admitted that there were times over the last year when he didn’t feel as though he wanted the 2014 title as much as he had the year before… but all that changed once he arrived in Edmonton. And with his success tonight, he’s bound to be pretty confident for the rest of the week.

It was a tough night in the steer wrestling with more than half the twelve man field experiencing barrier problems. But for three time Canadian Champion, Cody Cassidy of Donalda, Alberta, the winds were favorable as the Donalda, Alberta athlete ‘dogged’ his steer in 3.5 seconds to win the night and move into second place overall.

“I knew I had a good steer,” Cassidy said. “And I backed off a bit on the barrier after watching some of the guys but I still needed a good run.” With $11,809 for the night’s work, Cassidy moves to second spot overall.

Team Ropers Levi Simpson and Ryon Tittel proved once again why they are the 2014 Pro Rodeo Canada Season Leaders. For the second night in a row, the talented duo (Simpson from Ponoka, Alberta and Tittel from Pueblo, Colorado) split the win – roping tonight 1/100 of a second faster than last night (5.1 seconds) – maintaining the team’s lead overall and in the average. The win was shared by Kolton Schmidt and Rocky Dallyn.

Pincher Creek, Alberta’s Dustin Flundra enjoyed a solid performance aboard Outlaw Buckers’ Quittin Time, a horse he’d won on twice previously The three time Canadian Champion Saddle Bronc Champion won the round with an 85 point ride – good for his first CFR cheque of the year ($11.809).

Tie-down roper, Clint Robinson has made the Canadian Finals a regular destination in recent years. The Spanish Fork, Utah athlete, who won both the Canadian high point and tie-down titles in 2007, added the round win to a second place finish last night to take the lead in the tie-down standings.

First time CFR ladies barrel racing qualifier Sydney Daines demonstrated the athletic skill that has taken the young college student to success in several sporting arenas. The Red Deer County, Alberta cowgirl topped the field with a 14.622 run to win the round and earn her first ever CFR cheque.

In the bull riding, 2012 Canadian Champion, Scott Schiffner exacted some revenge as he showed once again, the skill that has earned the Strathmore contestant two Canadian titles and 14 CFR qualifications. Schiffner teamed up with Outlaw Buckers’ Rock Show—a bull that made short work of him earlier in the year--for 86.25 points and tonight’s top money.

Novice event round wins went to Lane Cust in the novice saddle bronc riding (74 points); Dantan Bertsch in the bareback riding (74 points) and season leader Coy Robbins (82.5 points) in the steer riding event.

Another highly regarded award was handed out during the second performance of CFR41. Eight time saddle bronc champion Rod Hay was named the 2014 Douglas Lake Ranch Cowboy of the Year.

“This award is special because it’s not about what you’ve won,” the Mayerthorpe, Alberta rancher commented. “It’s about who you are.” Hay added that he regards the award as an accolade he will share with those close to him. “I wouldn’t be the guy I am today without my family.”

CFR Thursday Evening Results

BAREBACK (CFR earnings to date) 1. Matt Lait, Cayley, AB, 87.00 points on Calgary Stampede’s Unfortunate Carma, $11,809.44; 2.JR Vezain, Cowley, WY, 86.00, $9,386.99; 3. Luke Creasy, Brownfield, AB, 82.00, $5,753.32; 4. Dusty LaValley, Bezanson, AB, 81.50, $3,330.87; 5.RC Landingham, Pendleton, OR, 80.25, $1,211.22.
 Total Season Earnings 1. Jake Vold, $40,002.84; 2. Matt Lait, $29,195.20; 3. Ky Marshall, $28,756.67; 3. Ty Taypotat, $26,785.84; 4. Logan Hodson, $26,405.08; 5. JR Vezain, $24,006.47

STEER WRESTLING (CFR earnings to date) 1. Cody Cassidy, Donalda, AB, 3.5, $11,890.44; 2. Jesse Lawes, Provost, AB, 4.8, $8,781.38; 3. Tanner Milan, Cochrane, AB, 5.0, $17,562.76. 4. Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, AB, 6.0, $4,693.50. 5. Trygve Pugh, Ponoka, AB, 7.4, $3,179.46.
 Total Season Earnings 1. Tanner Milan, $39,788.79; 2. Cody Cassidy, $37,782.02; 3. Curtis Cassidy, $33,177.44; 4. Justin Miller, $27,200.82; 5. Dru Melvin, $26,610.95.

NOVICE SADDLE BRONC (CFR earnings to date) 1. Lane Cust, Ardmore, AB, 74.00, $2,666.66; 2. Keenan Reinhardt, Calgary, AB, 72.50, $2,666.66.
 Total Season Earnings 1. Keenan Reinhardt, $9,451.81; 2. Lane Cust, $8,695.60; 3. Tyler Kampjes, $6,685.63

NOVICE BAREBACK (CFR earnings to date) 1. Dantan Bertsch, Eastend, SK, 74.00, $2,666.66; 2. Spur Lacasse, Mirabel, QC, 71.00, $1,066.66
 Total Season Earnings 1. Dantan Bertsch, $10,114.03; 2. Buck Moen, $7,182.59; 3. Spur Lacasse, $7,152.20

BOYS STEER RIDING (CFR earnings to date) 1. Coy Robbins, Camrose, AB, 82.50, $750.00; 2/3. Nick Tetz, Calgary, AB, 70.00, $375.00; 2/3. Norman King, Wainwright, AB, 70.00, 975.00.
 Total Season Earnings 1. Coy Robbins, $5,590.31; 2. Nick Tetz, $4,943.22 3. Owen Berreth, $4,560.52

TEAM ROPING (CFR earnings to date) 1/2. Levi Simpson, Ponoka, AB, $10,295.39 & Ryon Tittel, Pueblo, CO, $10,295.39, 5.1; 1/2. Kolton Schmidt, Barrhead, AB, $5,753.31 & Rocky Dallyn, Nanton, AB, $5,753.31, 5.1; 3. Clint Maddox, Eckville, AB, $2,876.65 & Todd Gallais, Olds, AB, $2,876.65, 5.4; 4/5. Justin McCarroll, Camrose, AB, $3,860.77 & Brett McCarroll, Camrose, AB, $3,860.77, 5.5; 4/5. Dustin Bird, Cut Bank, AB, $984.12 & Paul Eaves, Millsap, TX, $984.12, 5.5.
 Total Season Earnings 1. Levi Simpson, $38,068.83 & Ryon Tittel, $38,068.79; 2. Kolton Schmidt, $28,876.31 & Rocky Dallyn, $30,312.85; 3. Rhen Richard, $18,318.91 & Jeremy Buhler, $24,767.46; 4. Justin McCarroll, $21,245.81 & Brett McCarroll, $21,245.83; 5. Travis Gallais, $19,041.84 & Kevin Schreiner, $18,669.59

SADDLE BRONC (CFR earnings to date) 1. Dustin Flundra, Pincher Creek, AB, 85.00 points on Outlaw Buckers’ Quittin Time, $11,809.44; 2. Tyler Corrington, Hastings, MN, 84.75, $14,534.70; 3. Cort Scheer, Elsmere, NE, 84.00, $17,562.76; 4. Rylan Geiger, Bracken, SK, 83.25, $2,725.26; 5. Luke Butterfield, Ponoka, AB, 82.50, $2,422.45.
 Total Season Earnings 1. Rylan Geiger, $47,370.74; 2. Tyler Corrington, $45,056.34; 3. Dustin Flundra, $37,840.35; 4. Cort Scheer, $33.008.24; 5. Sam Kelts, $26,074.75.

TIE-DOWN ROPING (CFR earnings to date) 1. Clint Robinson, Spanish Fork, UT, 7.7, $20,590.82; 2. Randall Carlisle, Athens, LA, 7.9, $14,534.70; 3. Morgan Grant, Granton, ON, 8.3, $5,753.32; 4. Chad Johnson, Del Bonita, AB, 9.0, $2,725.26; 5. Clint Arave, Blackfoot, ID, 10.0, $1,211.22.

Total Season Earnings 1. Clint Robinson, $39,468.93; 2. Matt Shiozawa, $37,204.25; 3. Randall Carlisle, $32,806.26; 4. Chad Johnson, $22,198.63; 5. Lee Rombough, $21,896.75.

LADIES BARREL RACING (CFR earnings to date) 1. Sydney Daines, Red Deer County, AB, 14.622, $11,809.44; 2. Brook Robertson, Ponoka, AB, 14.640, $9,992.60; 3. Steffanie Mather, Medicine Hat, AB, 14.752, $14,534.70; 4. Lisa Zachoda, Okotoks, AB, 14.812, $2,725.26; 5. Julie Leggett, Kamloops, BC, 14.897, $1,211.22

Total Season Earnings 1. Britany Diaz, $42,525.01; 2. Steffanie Mather, $35,367.48; 3. Tara Muldoon,
$30,628.87; 4. Lisa Lockhart, $26,690.43; 5. Sydney Daines, $26,614.57.

BULL RIDING (CFR earnings to date) 1. Scott Schiffner, Strathmore, AB, 86.25 points on Outlaw Buckers’ Rock Show, $11,809.44; 2.Tyler Thomson, Black Diamond, AB, 85.00, $8,781.38; 3. Beau Hill, West Glacier, MT, 84.75, $5,753.32; 4. Jesse Torkelson, Warburg, AB, 84.50, $3,936.48; 5. Tyler Pankewitz, Ponoka, AB, 84.00, $6,964.54.
 Total Season Earnings 1. Dakota Buttar, $47,684.15; 2. Tyler Thomson, $41,231.13; 3. Beau Hill, $33,306.18; 4.Chad Besplug, $32,751.43; 5.Scott Schiffner, $30,376.59

ALL AROUND: 1. Ky Marshall, $33,501.77; 2. Kyle Thomson, $28,196.05; 3. Travis Reay, $16,785.62

HIGH POINT: 1. Curtis Cassidy, $50,657.04; 2. Ky Marshall, $33,501.77; 3. Logan Hodson, $28,956.33

 Other Information:

Other Information:
Attendance for Wednesday, November 5, 2014 evening performance was 12,413

For more information and full results on Canadian Finals Rodeo, visit cfr.ca or rodeocanada.com.

Watch the Live Stream of the CFR at www.worldplaylive.com/cfr41 or listen live on CFCW 790 (cfcw.com)

About the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association: The Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA) with it’s headquarters in Airdrie, Alberta, is the sanctioning body for professional rodeo in Canada. The CPRA sanctions over 50 events annually with a total payout exceeding $5.1 million. Join us for the 41st edition of the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR) November 5th to 9th, 2014 in Edmonton, Alberta at Rexall Place, our association’s premiere event. For more information please visit RodeoCanada.com or call (403) 945-0903. Follow us on Twitter, or like our page on Facebook, and watch the action on YouTube throughout the year.  

For more information, please contact:
Canadian Professional Rodeo Association
272245 RR 2, Airdrie, AB T4A 2L5
email: cpra@rodeocanada.com
Telephone: (403) 945-0903
Fax: (403) 945-0936