Jake Vold teamed up with the Calgary Stampede horse Muffled Cries to top the field of 12 bareback qualifiers on opening night of the 40th Canadian Finals Rodeo. The fifth visit to Rexall Place for the talented athlete, who spent much of this season recovering from an elbow injury, earned Vold an 87.25 score and $11,467.

“In the past, I’ve always looked at the (stock) draw and picked out the horses I hoped I’d get. I was always disappointed. This year, I decided I’d be happy with what I got… and it worked out tonight.” Vold grinned. “And with sitting out since the Ponoka Stampede, the CFR was the only thing I had to look forward to. I was fortunate to stay on top (of the standings) for most of the year.”

The Ponoka bareback rider climbed on only three practice horses before the first performance of the CFR. His first night win lands him back on the top of the bareback standings.

While all twelve men covered their horses in the bareback event, only three managed to do so in the bull riding. Big Valley’s Devon Mezei rode Kesler Rodeo’s Grand Slam for an impressive 86.75 to earn top money in a field of bull riders that included several former Canadian Champions. The round win jumped Mezei up several places in the overall standings.

And BC cowboy, Clayton Moore put aside any first night jitters in the steer wrestling as he ‘dogged’ his steer in 3.4 seconds.

“I knew I had a good steer, the one to have,” Moore said after his run. “I wanted to get a good start and not waste him. I’ve always had a slow start at the CFR in the past… this is my 6th trip. Maybe I’m getting used to this!” The Pouce Coupe bulldogger rode his 17 year old gelding, Pistol, 2012 Steer Wrestling Horse of the Year. Last year’s champion, Tanner Milan handled the hazing end.

Among the other first night highlights was the winning team roping run of 4.7 seconds – turned in by Kolton Schmidt and Tyrel Flewelling and Chet Johnson’s 86.75 point ride in the saddle bronc riding aboard Northcott’s Canadian Champion bucking horse, Get Smart.

As well, long-time steer wrestler and hazer Gerald ‘Hoover’ Hays was named 2013 Cowboy of the Year. “They (my family) did a good job of keeping it from me,” Hays said, right after accepting the award with his wife and sons alongside. “This is a great honour. I’ve helped both my boys (Rowdy and JD) make the finals. This award is number one in my rodeo career.”

In addition to the action packed first performance, fans enjoyed seeing several contestants and rodeo personnel mark the 40th anniversary with a tip of the hat to the styles of yesteryear. Vintage hats, shirts, boots and coats – many worn in decades past by parents and grandparents of today’s rodeo crowd - stood out tonight at CFR 2013’s first of six performances in Rexall Place. The Canadian Finals Rodeo runs from Nov 6 – 10 with six performances over the five day period.

CFR 2013 NOV 7 / Performance 1 Unofficial results:

BAREBACK 1. Jake Vold, Ponoka AB, 87.25, $11,467.84; 2/3.Colin Adams, Deloraine MB, 85.25, $7,057.13 & Caleb Bennett, Margan, UT, 85.25, $7,057.13; 4. Matt Lait, Cayley, AB, 83.00, $2.646.42; 5. Clint Laye, Cadogan, AB, 82.25, $1,176.19.

Total Season Earnings 1. Jake Vold, $36,639.87; 2. Kyle Bowers, $30,220.62; 3. Matt Lait, $25.809.42; 4. Caleb Bennett, $ 21,220.36; 5. Colin Adams, $20,597.36.

STEER WRESTLING 1. Clayton Moore, Pouce Coupe, BC, 3.4, $11,467.84; 2. Hunter Cure, Holliday, TX, 3.8, $8,527.37; 3. Justin Miller, Neepawa, MB, 3.9, $5,586.90; 4. Lee Graves, Calgary, AB, 4.0, $ 2,646.42; 5.Todd Woodward, Lethbridge, AB, 4.4, $1,176.19.

Total Season Earnings 1. Clayton Moore, $26,809.57; 2. Hunter Cure, $26,076.13. 3. Justin Miller, $25,322.59. 4. Cody Cassidy, $24,837.82; 5. Lee Graves, $20,585.83

NOVICE SADDLE BRONC 1. Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, AB, 74.00, $1,200.00; 2. Kale McKenzie, Rocky Mountain House, 68.50, $800.00.

Total Season Earnings 1. Zeke Thurston, $5.667.43; 2. Kale McKenzie, $5,554.59; 3. Jake Watson, $3,923.65

NOVICE BAREBACK 1. Kody Lamb, Sherwood Park, AB, 74.50, $1,200.00; Philippe Harvey, Cochrane, AB, 71.00, $800.00;

Total Season Earnings 1. Kody Lamb, $7,535.65; 2. Philippe Harvey, $6,130.98; 3. Jacob Stemo, $5,128.24.

BOYS STEER RIDING 1. Griffin Smeltzer, Claresholm, AB, 76.00, $750.01

Total Season Earnings 1. Dawson Hay, $5,921,61; 2. Kagen Schmidt, $4,
619.87; 3. Cameron Brown, $4,143.28; 4. Connor Faucher, $4,041.74; 5. Griffin Smeltzer, $3,346.04

TEAM ROPING 1. Kolton Schmidt, Barrhead, AB, $5,660.01 & Tyrel Flewelling, Lacombe, AB, $5,660.01, 4.7; 2/3. Roland McFadden, Vulcan, AB, $3.483.09 & Trent Tunke, Medicine Hat, AB, $3,483.09, 5.8; 2/3. Braidy Davies, Medicine Hat, AB, $3,483.09 & Chase Simpson, Claresholm, AB, $3,483.09, 5.8; 4. Clay Ullery, Two Hills, AB, $1.306.16 & Matt Fawcett, Stettler, AB, $1,306.16, 6.5; 5. Clint Buhler, Okotoks, AB, $580.51 & Brett McCarroll, Camrose, AB, $580.51, 12.8.

Total Season Earnings 1. Clint Buhler, $20,563.08 & Brett McCarroll, $18,014.52; 2. Levi Simpson, $18,125.71 & John Robertson, $17,348.75; 3. Kolten Schmidt, $15,326.98 & Tyrel Flewelling, $17,499.31; 4. Braidy Davies, $15,336.20 & Chase Simpson, $15.336.23; 5. Steele DePaoli, $14,233.84 & Kasper Roy, $14,233.83.

SADDLE BRONC 1. Chet Johnson, Douglas, WY, 86.75, $11,467.84; 2. Tyrel Larsen, Inglis, MB, 83.75, $8,527.37; 3. Cort Scheer, Elsmere, NE, 81.75, $5,586.90; 4/5. Jim Berry, Rocky Mountain House, AB; 79.50, $1,274.20; 4/5/5. Cole Neely, Duchess, AB, 79.50, $1,274.20; 4/5. Sam Kelts, Millarville, AB, 79.50, $1,274.20.

Total Season Earnings 1. Chet Johnson, $35,020.80; 2. Cort Scheer, $31,085.29; 3. Tyrel Larsen, $25,441.71; 4. Tyler Corrington, $22,805.95; 5. Dustin Flundra, $22,427.16.

TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, AB, 8.1, $11,467.84; 2. Chad Johnson, Del Bonita, AB, 8.5, $8,527.37; 3. Eric Dublanko, Thorsby, AB, 8.9, $5,586.90; 4/5. Logan Bird, Nanton, AB, 9.3, $1,911.31; 4/5. Alwin Bouchard, Scandia, AB, 9.3, $1,911.31.

Total Season Earnings 1. Curtis Cassidy, $27,425.87; 2. Timber Moore, $26,659.56; 3. Chad Johnson, $21,970.24; 4. Morgan Grant, $21,365.89; 5. Logan Bird, $20,050.43.

LADIES BARREL RACING 1. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, SD, 14.629, $11,467.84; 2. Kim Shulze, Larkspur, CO, 14.741, $8,527.37; 3. Wacey Hollingsworth, Valleyview, AB, 14.874, $5,586.90; 4. Britany Diaz, Mandan, ND, 14.884, $2,646.42; 5. Cranna Roberts, Lacombe, AB, 14.946, $1,176.19.

Total Season Earnings 1. Lisa Lockhart, $35,721.28; 2. Kim Shulze, $25,255.42; 3. Brenda Mays, $24,696.58; 4. Britany Diaz, $23,313.11; 5. Wacey Hollingsworth, $15,831.68.

BULL RIDING 1. Devon Mezei; Big Valley, AB, 86.75, $11,467.84; 2. Tanner Byrne, Prince Albert, SK, 81.25, $8,527.37; 3. Dakota Buttar, Kindersley, SK, 81.00, $5,586.90

Total Season Earnings 1. Tanner Girletz, $33,665.24; 2. Tanner Byrne, $30,697.72; 3. Devon Mezei, $30, 351.64; 4. Dakota Buttar, $29,259.23; 5. Scott Schiffner, $25,899.68.

ALL AROUND: 1. Travis Reay, $20,022.43; 2. Ky Marshall, $19,945.96

HIGH POINT: 1. Curtis Cassidy, $39,150.74; 2. Morgan Grant, 39,127
65, Chad Johnson, $30,919.87

Other information:
Attendance for Wednesday, November 6, 2013 evening performance was 10,986.

* 40th Anniversary of the Canadian Finals Rodeo—Rexall Place, Edmonton, Alberta, Nov 6-10, 2013

For more information:
Pro Rodeo Canada
Airdrie, Alberta
Phone: (403) 945-0903
Email: cpra@rodeocanada.com
Web: www.rodeocanada.com