BECKER AND DAINES SECURE SPOTS TO FINALS AT LAST WRANGLER TOUR STOP
September 9, 2009

It was a fine weekend for a couple of professional ropers this weekend looking to secure their next steps in the 2009 Canadian Professional Rodeo Association season.

Marty Becker and Steve Lloyd both competed at the Okotoks Pro Rodeo in Okotoks, Alta., the Nicola Valley Pro Rodeo in Merritt, B.C., and the IPE & Stampede in Armstrong, B.C., the last stop of the Wrangler Canadian Professional Rodeo Tour before the championships next month, and both of them placed at each and every one.

Tie-down roper Marty Becker placed first in Armstrong and split first in Okotoks, with times of 7.5 and 7.9-seconds, respectively. His run in Okotoks on Sunday afternoon was worth $1,183. He placed sixth in Merritt and picked up $245, but it was the cheque he received in Armstrong, worth $2,657, that really gave him the boost he needed. Becker jumped from 13th to fourth in the Canadian tie-down standings with total season earnings of $18,897, and brought his season attendance to 15 rodeos, giving him a more comfortable chance of competing at the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR) in his hometown of Edmonton, Alta. in November. That Armstrong rodeo also helped pave the way to a secure qualification to the Tour Final in Calgary.

For fellow tie-down roper Steve Lloyd, a trip to CFR was already in the bag. The Alix, Alta. cowboy has been hanging onto the top spot in the tie-down standings since surpassing Tyson Durfey two weeks ago. Now, Lloyd is more than $4,000 ahead of the 2008 Canadian tie-down roping champion with $28,752.

Lloyd, who picked up his own Canadian championship buckle in 2003, shared Becker’s first place win in Okotoks, and split second place with Randy Smith in Merritt with a time of 7.7 for combined winnings of $2,236. He picked up an additional $699 in Armstrong.

At the other end of the arena, saddle bronc rider Kyle Daines picked up $5,279 in Armstrong, launching the Innisfail, Alta. cowboy from 18th in the Canadian saddle bronc standings to 10th. The first place win on the Calgary Stampede’s Knife Money also bumped him from 18th to ninth in the Wrangler standings, securing him a spot at the Tour Finals in Calgary next month.