 Feb 21, 2020 - Canadian spring rodeo will see a couple of familiar names back in competition. And while rodeo fans are understandably excited to see two of our best back on the trail, that sentiment might not be shared by the guys who have to beat them week in and week out.
2017 Canadian saddle bronc champion Layton Green broke both bones (tibia and fibula) in his right leg last spring when his saddle horse stumbled and fell on him while riding the hills at a friend’s ranch.
“Nothing can make a guy hungrier and wanting to win more than sitting out a year,” grinned the Meeting Creek, AB cowboy. “I had to lie around inside for the first month but I got back outside as soon as I could.”
Green climbed on a saddle horse at home not long after the injury then progressed to riding colts and moving cattle at (former Canadian bull riding champ), Tyler Thomson’s, ranch in Black Diamond, AB as soon as he could handle the pressure on his leg. “I tried to take advantage of the time off by doing some riding and hunting - things I usually don’t have much time for.”
While Green’s leg is feeling pretty good, he’ll be looking at another small surgery when the time is right, to remove a couple of the screws used to repair his leg. The second generation bronc rider, along with travelling partners Coburn Bradshaw and Jesse Wright, is already enjoying success at the spring PRCA rodeos. Green is headed to the Finals this weekend at the San Antonio (Texas) Stock Show and Rodeo as well as at Fiesta de Los Vaqueros in Tucson, AZ.
 Three time Canadian bareback champion Jake Vold is also making the most of his return to competition. The Ponoka, AB athlete - who just relocated to Cremona, AB where he and his wife, Sara, bought a place - cracked out at San Antone after a seven month hiatus from the sport. Vold injured his shoulder at the 2018 WNFR, but returned to the Canadian rodeo scene successfully last spring. It was a second injury (incurred at the Calgary Stampede), this time a hyper-extended knee and bone bruise on his tibia, that put the fan favourite back on the DL.
“I needed a few months off,” the 32 year old commented. “I started feeling good in the fall (of last year) but by October, there was nothing left to go to.”
While Vold kept busy during the winter with the move and home renos, he’s excited to be back in action. “I still crave the competition and I’m glad to be back. I missed the camaraderie with the guys and rodeo is still my main source of income.”
Vold and Green join a number of CPRA athletes enjoying success on the ‘South of ’49’ spring rodeo run. And both rough stock riders hope to qualify for this year’s CFR. The first full CPRA rodeo of the 2020 season is the Broncs & Honky Tonks Spring Indoor Rodeo in Medicine Hat, AB April 17-19 which is part of the Maple Leaf Circuit. And it’s a good bet both Layton Green and Jake Vold will be there.
Yes, they’re back and it’s going to be a lot of fun watching two former champs do what they do so well.
Check out www.rodeocanada.com/rodeo_schedule.htm for a full list of 2020 CPRA events. |
