 One of the loudest moments of the 2019 CFR came on Sunday afternoon in the bareback riding when Canadian Orin Larsen rode his way to his first Canadian Championship. The Inglis, Manitoba veteran capped off a brilliant week to cruise by 2018 titleist, Richmond Champion of Dublin, Texas, en route to the victory.
“It’s unbelievable,” Larsen grinned moments after his winning ride. “Ever since I was a kid running my hand in a riggin’ this is what I’ve wanted to do and I dreamed of being in this position. Now that dream has come true.”
The four time CFR qualifier wasted no time in his dogged pursuit of the title as he cashed second and third place cheques in the first two go-rounds before settling for an eighth place finish in the third round at Red Deer’s Centrium. But Larsen was saving his best for the weekend. On Friday, he posted the first of three successive go-round wins with an 87.5 on Outlaw Buckers’ dependable Buckwheat. Then came Saturday night and one of the three or four best rough stock rides of the entire CFR as the #3 ranked man in the world standings teamed up with the Calgary Stampede superstar stallion, Special Delivery, for a spectacular 90 point ride.
That set the stage for Championship Sunday and his head to head showdown with Richmond Champion. Larsen was the last man to ride and once again he brought the crowd to its feet with his brilliant 89.5 on Calgary’s outstanding Zulu Warrior. The win put another $10,530 in the Larsen bank account and clinched first in the aggregate as well, resulting in another $15,795. When the dust settled and the final computer key strokes were made, it was official. Orin Larsen was the 2019 Bareback Riding Champion with a CFR haul of $60,345 and season earnings topping out at $80,578.
The 28 year-old was philosophical about both the title and his spectacular season. “This year I’ve wanted to be more in the moment. I realize this won’t last forever. I just try to enjoy what I do and appreciate the sport because the day will come when it will just be a memory.”
But what a memory--like the roar of the CFR faithful during that Sunday afternoon ride. “I was pretty busy doing what I was doing but when you hear the crowd roar like that you know you must be doing something kind of special.”
Special is just about the right word to describe both the championship and the man who won it—Orin Larsen, 2019 Canadian Bareback Riding Champion. |
