CALIFORNIA DREAMIN' - May 21 - Redding, California provided solid paydays for a number of Canadian competitors this weekend.

World Champion saddle bronc rider Zeke Thurston led the way with an 85.5 point ride on Four Star Rodeo's Starbucks for $4,230. 2012 Canadian Champion Luke Butterfield shared a 7/8 split ($494). In the steer wrestling, Scott Guenthner, continued his climb up the world standings ladder with a first go-round win (3.9 seconds/$1869) and 4th in the average for an additional $1354. Two time Canadian Champion Tanner Milan split 3/4 in round 2 for $1064 and collected $2079 as well - for a 2/3 split in the average. 12 time Canadian title holder Curtis Cassidy was the third SW success story. The Donalda, AB athlete managed a 3/4 split in round 2 for $1064.

Reigning World Champion Team Ropers, Levi Simpson/Jeremy Buhler enjoyed a share of 3-6 in Round 1 for a $1040 each. Bareback rider Orin Larsen split 7/8/9 for $407 while Canadian Champion Jordan Hansen picked up an 8th place bull riding cheque of $474. And central Alberta barrel racer Melissa Thiessen picked up a share of 9th with a 17.50 second run for $770.

And in the Redding Rodeo Champion’s Challenge that wrapped up yesterday, 2016 WNFR qualifier Jake Watson (from Hudsons Hope, BC) posted an arena-record 87 point ride on Big Stone Rodeo’s Rubels for a $3944 payoff.

Team ropers Simpson and Buhler came back to add a 4th place 4.4 second run and another $1508 to each of their bank accounts.

For additional recent Canadian success stories ‘South of 49’, see prorodeo.com

March 24 - Defending RodeoHouston saddle bronc champion Clay Elliott punched his ticket into Saturday's Super Series Championship round with an 85 point winning ride in today's Wild Card round. Fellow Canadian, bareback rider Orin Larsen also qualified for the Championship and a shot at the $50,000 winner's cheque.

Elliott and Larsen bring the total number of Canadians heading into the Houston finale to six: Orin Larsen and Jake Vold in the bareback riding; Jake Watson, Layton Green, Clay Elliott and Tyrel Larsen in the saddle bronc event.

Each event champion will walk away with a $50,000 payout, in addition to previous winnings.

March 23 - Two Canadian saddle bronc riders - Jake Watson and Tyrel Larsen - qualified from tonight's RodeoHouston semi-finals to join previous qualifiers, bareback rider Jake Vold and saddle bronc rider Layton Green. Overall, four #CPRA competitors move on to Saturday's Championship.

Watson (from Hudson's Hope, BC) scored 86 points on Calgary Stampede's Peagan Warrior to share top spot and pocket $2500. Manitoba native, Tyrel Larsen marked 84 points on Calgary Stampede's Sergeant Whitney - good for $1000.

The top four from each event in the Semifinal rounds advance to the RODEOHOUSTON Super Series Championship on Saturday, March 25. The remaining six from each event in the two semifinals will compete in the Wild Card Round, Friday, March 24, where the top two from each event will advance to the Championship. Each event champion will walk away with a $50,000 payout, in addition to previous winnings.

RODEOHOUSTON Super Series V - Day Two

March 20 - Defending world champion team ropers Levi Simpson and Jeremy Buhler earned another second place finish (6.3 secs - $2000 each). Stavely, Alberta's Sam Kelts earned his first Houston cheque - 2nd spot in the saddle bronc riding (79 points - $2000) while defending Canadian bull riding champion, Jordan Hansen scored one of three qualified rides (75 points, $1000)... also his first Houston payday.

* Super Series V wraps up tomorrow with the semi-finals getting underway mid-week.

Canadians Continue Winning Ways at U.S. Spring Rodeos

Zeke Thurston, Jake Vold, Clay Elliott and Matt Mousseau were among the Canadians collecting big paydays over the last week in the U.S.

Defending World saddle bronc champion, Zeke Thurston, led the way with a 1/2/3 split at the Southeastern Livestock Exposition in Montgomery, Alabama (87.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Popsicle for $3180) then added a 3/4 split at Mercedes, Texas for $1037 and a 2nd place ($767 at Goliad, TX) for a total of $4984. Right behind Thurston was three time Canadian champion bareback rider Jake Vold who posted a spectacular 90.5 on Frontier Rodeo’s Short Night at Montgomery for a sizeable $4893 cheque. Defending Canadian champion Clay Elliott shared in the saddle bronc win at the Alabama venue with 87.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Cross Fire ($3180). Ontario steer wrestler Mousseau also hit the winner’s circle there with a 3.3 second run for $2054 and a 2nd place finish at Lake City, Florida with a 4.5 ($818).

Manitoba’s Tyrel Larsen split 5/6 at Montgomery for an $818 payday and defending Canadian champion bull rider, Jordan Hansen shared 7/8 for $484 to go with his 4th place finish at the Mercedes, Texas Xtreme Bulls event (83.5, $1530).

Bareback riders Pascal Isabelle and Ty Taypotat were 3/4 at Mercedes for $932 each while steer wrestlers Scott Guenthner and Morgan Grant enjoyed part of a 5/6/7 split for $842. Layton Green split 3/4 for $1037 and Jake Watson earned $395 for part of a 5/6/7 finish.

Brownfield, Alberta native Luke Creasy earned 2nd at the Magnolia Stampede in Arkansas ($818); travelling partner Wyatt Maines split 3/4 for $409.

At Goliad, Texas, Morgan Grant collected $777 for a 3rd place result and Jake Watson added $511 to his total with a 3rd place ride.

And Brooks, Alberta barrel racer Lynette Brodoway earned $789 for a 3rd place 16.86 second run at Arizona’s Roots N Boots Queen Creek Pro Rodeo while Hanna's Amy Finnerty was 17.08 - good for 6th and $421

March 15 - Canadians Continue to Make Hay at Houston

Of note, 2015 world champion, Jacobs Crawley dominated Super Series lll - winning all three rounds. Crawley capped off the perfect performance tonight with an amazing 91 point ride aboard Calgary Stampede's Zena Warrior.

Reigning Canadian champion steer wrestler Cody Cassidy remains the only Canadian timed event competitor to have qualified for the Semi Finals so far.

Two more Super Series segments remain at RodeoHouston. Check back here as the action continues to unfold.

South of 49 February Wrap-Up

February 27, 2017 - Two Canadian cowboys added to their earnings in the Championship Finals at the 2017 San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo. Steer wrestler Scott Guenthner of Provost, Alberta posted a 4.3 to finish third in the Finals and add $7238 to give him a total of $11,693. Guenthner was the top Canadian money winner at San Antonio.

Reigning World Champion Zeke Thurston split 4-5 with an 86 point ride - good for an $1809 Finals payday to bring his San Antonio total payoff to $10.399. None of the other Canadians - bronc riders Dustin Flundra, Clay Elliott and Tyrel Larsen and bareback rider Wyatt Maines - placed in the Championship Finals.

Several additional PRCA events wrapped up this past weekend, among them, Tucson Rodeo where Sonnynook, Alberta bareback rider Mike Solberg earned a share of eighth place in the first round and eighth in the average for a total of 160.5 on two head and $543. As noted earlier, nine time Canadian high point champion, Curtis Cassidy won round one in the steer wrestling with a 3.8 second run - good for $2923. Fellow Canadian, Scott Guenthner picked up a share of eighth in the first round.

At the San Patricio County Rodeo in Sinton, Texas, reigning Canadian steer wrestling champion Cody Cassidy won his event (4.0 seconds, $489) while Quebec bareback rider Pascal Isabelle marked 80 points for a second place cheque of $338. Didsbury cowboy and reigning Canadian all around champion picked up fourth in the tie-down event ($141) while former Canadian champion barrel racer (now living in Texas) Dawn Link ran a 17.35 to end up third ($511).

Four Florida rodeos rounded out the recent PRCA rodeo roster. Ontario bull dogger, Matt Mousseau split first at Fort Myers Pro Rodeo in North Fort Myers (4.2 seconds, $872) and shared second at the Pasco County Fair Championship Rodeo in Dade City with a 4.3 second run ($529).

World Standings Update
At present, only reigning world champion saddle bronc rider, Zeke Thurston sits inside the top 15 - Zeke is in 4th place with $26,719. Clay Elliott is 20th. In the bareback riding, Clint Laye is 16th; Luke Creasy - 18th; Wyatt Maines holds down 22nd, Jake Vold is in 23rd and Orin Larsen sits 24th. Steer wrestler Scott Guenthner ranks 22nd.

February 18 - RFD TV’s THE AMERICAN

Two Alberta-based saddle bronc riders are among the qualifiers for the Final of RFD TV’s The American - Sunday, Feb 19 at AT & T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Reigning Canadian Champion Clay Elliott from Nanton, who won the Friday Shoot-Out round with an 84.75 on Frontier Rodeo’s Lonesome Night (163 points on two) is joined by Layton Green who was 2nd in the Shoot-Out - and only a 1/4 point behind Elliott on two head. Elliott received a bye to the Semi-Final by virtue of his Canadian title while Green battled his way to the Semi Final via his success at an ‘American’ qualifier in Spokane, WA. Both men are eligible for the million dollar pay-off in Sunday’s Championship Final.

Joining Elliott and Green Sunday will be a number of fellow Canadians including defending world champion bronc rider Zeke Thurston, 2016 WNFR saddle bronc qualifier Jake Watson, bareback riders Jake Vold and Orin Larsen (also 2016 WNFR qualifiers) and 2016 world champion team ropers, Levi Simpson and Jeremy Buhler. This latter group, while not eligible for the million dollar payoff, will nevertheless, be in the hunt for the $100,000 first place cheques.

CANADIANS CHASE BIG TEXAS MONEY

February 18

Eight Canadians were among the money winners at the recently completed San Angelo Rodeo. The biggest pay cheque went to Manitoba native Orin Larsen (2nd in long go, 6th in the average) with $4367. Larsen was joined at the pay window by Cadogan, Alberta’s Clint Laye (2nd in short go, 5th in the average) for $2342 and Sherwood Park, AB’s Kody Lamb (5th in short go, 7th in average) for $974.

In the bronc riding, reigning World Champion Zeke Thurston of Big Valley, AB split 8/9/10 in the long go, added a fourth place finish in the finals to split 3/4 in the average for a total payday of $2333. Layton Green’s 3-6 split in the long go netted the Meeting Creek, AB cowboy $1155. In tie-down roping, Innisfail AB’s Ben Robinson collected two cheques, the result of a 6/7 split in the short go and 7th place in the average. Robinson took home $1959. Two time world champion Lindsay Sears parlayed a 7th place - 2nd go round run into a $1283 payoff while reigning Canadian Champion Jordan Hansen split 4/5/6 in the bull riding with an 85 score to give the Okotoks hand $2412.

Note: While the main San Angelo Rodeo is complete, the Cinch Chute Out runs Feb 18. It features eight contestants in five events: bareback riding, barrel racing, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping and bull riding.

San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo
Three time Canadian Champion Dustin Flundra (Pincher Creek, AB) won the first round of bracket four with an 83 point ride on Rafter H Rodeo’s Aces Wild for $2281. And in tie-down roping, McGrath, Alberta’s Logan Hofer split 1st in round 1/4th bracket with a $1711 cheque. Calgary Stampede horses continue to shine at San Antonio, the most recent being Saturn Rocket. The 11 year old Grated Coconut gelding carried Morgan Wilde to 82 points and 1st place in bracket four’s opening round.

* Two rounds remain in bracket 4 with the top four from the bracket moving on to the semi-finals. One more bracket remains prior to that semi-final with a number of Canadians already qualified.

CANADIANS ROCKIN' AT SAN ANTONIO

February 16

Two additional Canadians joined the roster of ’North of 49’ competitors who have earned qualifications in the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo semi-final with two brackets remaining.

Three time Canadian bareback champion Jake Vold was blanked in the third round of Bracket 3 but moved through with $3922 won in the first two rounds. Vold finished 2nd in round one with an 83 and won the second round with an 87 (on Three Hills Rodeo’s Bay City Kitty).

2012 Canadian saddle bronc riding champion Luke Butterfield also moved on to the semi final due largely to his win in the third go-round - an 85 effort on Rafter H Rodeo’s Spade - giving the Ponoka cowboy a total of $2851.

This brings the total of Canadian SASSR semi-finalists to a total of eight: bareback rider, Vold; steer wrestler Scott Guenthner and saddle bronc riders Lane Cust, Layton Green, Zeke Thurston, Clay Elliot, Tyrel Larsen and Butterfield.

The San Antonio success for Vold comes on top of a big payday at the Dixie National Rodeo in Mississippi where he split 1/2 with Bill Tutor. Vold’s score was 86.5 - earning the Airdrie resident $5499.

Meanwhile over in San Angelo, with one day remaining, Manitoba native Orin Larsen has already cashed a cheque for $3587 courtesy of his 87.5 second place finish in the first round of the bareback riding event. Other San Angelo winners to date include 2016 World steer wrestling rookie Stephen Culling (Fort St John, BC) who posted a 3.6 for $322 in the first round; Meeting Creek, AB’s Layton Green who split 3/4/5/6 in the bronc riding with an 80 score for $1155 while Big Valley's Zeke Thurston (now 8th in the World Standings) added a $116 paycheque for splitting eighth with 78.5 while reigning Canadian bull riding Champion Jordan Hansen is splitting 4/5/6 with an 85 point score.

SAN ANTONIO STOCK SHOW & RODEO UPDATE

February 14, 2017 - Four additional Canadian competitors have moved through to the semi-final at the lucrative San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo. Steer wrestler Scott Guenthner placed in two of the three rounds comprising his bracket to move on. Guenthner was 4.5 in the first round for a third place cheque of $1141 and finished second in the second round with a 3.9 - good for $1711.

In the saddle bronc riding, Canadians earned three of the four qualifying spots for bracket two. Reigning World Champion Zeke Thurston placed in all three rounds with an 86 point ride to pick up second place money, $1711. The Big Valley, AB cowboy added a third place 79, $1141 in the second round then spurred out an impressive 88 point score on Calgary Stampede’s Redon Acres to split the third round with Sterling Crawley who posted a similar 88 on the Calgary Stampede’s Uvid Bubbles. Both men earned $1996 for their efforts.

Also moving through to the semi-final are Nanton’s Clay Elliott who split 3/4/4 in the first round (81 points, $570) then added a second place 80.5 in the second round for $1711 and a fourth place cheque in the third round for $570.

And Manitoba’s Tyrel Larsen was part of 3/4/4 split in the first round ($570) and captured third spot with an 81 for $1141.

With the completion of bracket two, Canadians have captured five of the eight semi-final qualifying berths to date. Thurston, Elliott and Larsen join Lane Cust and Layton Green who qualified out of bracket one.

There are five brackets with three rounds in each that send four contestants on to the two semi-final rounds - with the championship finale to follow.

Also in Texas, two time WNFR qualifier, Orin Larsen, put together an 87.5 point ride to move into second place in the bareback riding at San Angelo. And in bull riding, Canadian Champion Jordan Hansen is splitting 3/4 - courtesy of an 85 point ride while two time World Champion Lindsey Sears is sitting sixth in the second round with a time of 14.31.

At Jackson, Mississippi, three time and defending Canadian Champion bareback rider Jake Vold is in his customary spot atop the leaderboard with an 86.5. The Ponoka cowboy is joined by Brownfield, Alberta native, Luke Creasy, who sits sixth with two performances remaining at the Dixie National Rodeo.

The Yuma, AZ Jaycee’s Silver Spur Rodeo wrapped up on the weekend with Nanton, Alberta’s Logan Bird winning third in the tie-down roping (10 flat for $844) while World title holders Levi Simpson and Jeremy Buhler managed a fourth place finish in the team roping with a 7.0 - earning the duo $941 each. Former Canadian All Around Champ Jeremy Harden was 5.9 in the steer wrestling for $194.

CANADIAN SUCCESS AT WINTER RODEOS CONTINUES

Innisfail's Ben Robinson capped off a productive week at the winter rodeos as he topped the tie down roping field at the PRCA event in Bismarck, ND. His 8.5 second run netted the son of Hall of Fame roper Larry Robinson a cheque for $1315 to add to his solid showing at Fort Worth.

Okotoks bull rider and reigning Canadian champion, Jordan Hansen, posted an 84 point ride at Bismarck to split 2/3 for a $1711 haul. Earlier, Hansen had collected a fifth place cheque of $915 at the Bismarck Xtreme Bulls event on Feb 2.

Canadian bareback riders, Linden Woods, Pascal Isabelle and Dantan Bertsch split 5/6/7, also at Bismarck, each with a 76 score and a cheque for $399. Canadian rodeo entertainer of the year, Dennis Halstead, was the clown/barrel man at both events.

Cochrane, Alberta steer wrestler, Straws Milan, managed a third place finish at the McAlester (Oklahoma) Pro Rodeo, with a 3.8 second run - good for $1281.

And a trio of Canadian barrel racers made it to the pay window at Lake Charles, LA. Cranna Roberts of Lacombe split 5/6 (15.31 - $500), Deb Guelly of Okotoks was 8th (15.35 - $222) while Cathy Grant of Granton, ON split 9/10 (15.39 - $139).

At Rapid City, South Dakota, Carstairs tie down roper, Kyle Lucas, saw his 9.0 run hold up for fourth place and a sizable $3348 payday. WNFR qualifiers, Kolton Schmidt (Barrhead, AB) and his Colorado/Texas partner, Shay Carroll nailed a sixth place finish with a 4.6 second run for a $2661 payday for each man while verteran bareback rider, Luke Creasy who came into the weekend in 12th place in the world standings, put together an 80 point effort, good for $931.

Reigning World Champion Saddle Bronc rider Zeke Thurston of Big Valley, AB also enjoyed a profitable stay at the iconic Texas rodeo. He split 3/4 in the first round, then split 8/9/10 in the second go and split 4/5/6 in the short go to wind up third overall and take home $7131.

Other Canadian bronc riders to hit pay dirt were Jake Watson of Hudson’s Hope, BC who won the first go for $4986 and reigning Canadian Champion Clay Elliott (Nanton, AB) who split 3/4 in go-round 2 for $2327.

Tie-down roper, Ben Robinson, of Innisfail split 2/3/4 in the second round at Fort Worth to collect $4708.

* Complete Forth Worth results available at prorodeo.com

* A number of other rodeos are still in progress... more results to come.

National Western Stock Show and Rodeo - Denver, CO

“Since I was old enough to ride, my goal has been to get to the NFR - those yellow chutes are the dream I live for and ride for.”

Reigning Canadian Champion Jordan Hansen of Okotoks took a solid step toward achieving that goal with an excellent performance at the Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver. Hansen won the first go-round, split 2/3/4 in the second and finished 4th in the average for an $8041 haul.

Hansen’s success is a continuation of a come-back story that began last July in Cheyenne with a bull ride that left the 23 year old bull rider with a shattered ankle and three plates and ten screws holding it together. Hansen defied the odds (and doctors’ predictions) by returning to action for the 43rd Canadian Finals Rodeo where he captured his first Canadian title.

Also hitting the winner's circle in Denver was Sherwood Park, AB bareback rider Kody Lamb who finished second overall for a $4900 payday courtesy of his 6/7/8/9 placing in the second go along with a 5th in the short round - good for the runner up spot overall.

And in the bronc riding, reigning World Champion Zeke Thurston (Big Valley, AB) collected $2912 with a second place 85.5 point ride in the second go-round.

On the livestock side, a pair of Calgary Stampede horses played a big part in the final outcome. WNFR qualifier Jake Brown rode Reckless Margie to 88 points to win the bareback short round while two time World Champion Cody Wright combined with the Stampede’s Tokyo Bubbles for 87 points and the short go win.

... complete Denver results here - courtesy of the PRCA

Earlier this month:

Tie-down roper Logan Hofer earned the RAM Montana Circuit Finals tie-down title in mid-January. The win earned the 7 time CFR qualifier $6,105, which now counts toward the PRCA world standings

Kudos to CPRA contract personnel, 2016 Canadian Comedy Act of the Year Dennis Halstead and CPRA bull fighter Daryl Thiessen - both of whom appeared at the MT Circuit Finals as well.

Two time Canadian steer wrestling champ, Tanner Milan picked up the win at the Sandhills Stock Show Rodeo in Odessa with a 3.6 second run - good for $3,862. Clint Laye, is back from the injury list. The Cadogan, AB bareback rider was on the leaderboard with a share of 6th spot.

And congratulations to CPRA bareback riders Cole Goodine & Mike Solberg who earned 1st & 2nd respectively at the Mid-Winter Fair And Rodeo in Lafayette, LA.


... more to come as the early rodeos continue.