CROWDS TAKE IN EARLY START TO 2010 PRO RODEO SEASON
October 14, 2009

Over 9,800 enthusiastic rodeo fans cheered on the start of the 2010 Canadian Professional Rodeo Association's (CPRA) season last weekend at the New Holland Saskatoon Stampede Pro Rodeo in Saskatoon, Sask.

The Stampede, held October 9-11 at the Credit Union Centre, marks the first rodeo to count towards the coming year’s CPRA standings and is also co-sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA).

As the last CPRA rodeo stop before the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR) in Edmonton, Alta. on Nov. 11-15, it was also an opportunity for CFR qualifiers to keep their skills sharp and add another boost to their confidence as they set their sights on Canadian championships.

Saddle bronc rider Kyle Thomson (Black Diamond, Alta.), currently leads the All-Around and High Point standings and sits fifth in the bronc riding as he heads to Edmonton. He led the pack in Saskatoon with a 79-point ride on Franklin Rodeo's Majestic Wind.

In the bareback riding, defending Canadian champion Kyle Bowers (Brooks, AB) lead the aggregate after claiming the highest score of 78.5 in the first go-round and adding another 81 points in go-round two where he split second place with Matt Lait (Seven Persons, Alta.).

Saskatchewan bull rider Luke Ellingson (Val Marie, Sask.) took the lead in the bull riding aggregate, picking up 76 points in the first-go round and following it with a first-place score of 86 points in the second go.

At the timed event end of the arena, Rimbey, Alta.'s Dean Edge wrapped things up in 8.2 seconds in the tie-down roping on Saturday night, while earlier that day, Saskatchewan's own Kyle Felker (Sceptre, Sask.) turned his steer in a speedy 4.2 seconds during the steer wrestling slack.

Laura McPherson (Wolf Point, Mont.) completed the cloverleaf pattern in 13.59 seconds, the fastest time of the weekend. She was almost four-tenths of a second faster than her time in the Saskatoon last year, which saw her finish in second place.

Team ropers Klay Whyte (Bashaw, Alta.) and Dale Skocdopole (Big Valley, Alta.) set the bar for their fellow ropers early on with a 5.2 second run on Friday night that held up over the course of the weekend and saw them finish in first place.

The next Canadian pro rodeo action gets underway on Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. at the Canadian Finals Rodeo in Edmonton, Alta. Tickets on sale now at www.ticketmaster.ca or call (780) 451-8000..