It’s a busy time for Canadian Professional Rodeo Association athletes. Sawyer Eirikson is a perfect example.
The 24 year-old bronc rider isn’t about to relax and put his feet up with the wrapping up of the 2024 regular season. In fact, the Okotoks cowboy jumped straight into the 2025 campaign by cashing cheques at all four of the September CPRA events that count for the next year.
The talented second-generation bronc rider put together an outstanding 86-point ride on Northcott-Yule’s S65 Smokin’ Hippy for $1071 at the Hanna Pro Rodeo, and added a split of 3rd place for $874 with an 84 point ride at Oldstoberfest.
“I wanted to get a quick jump start to the 2025 season.” Eirikson acknowledged. “I’m in a pretty good groove right now. I’ve got a boatload of confidence and I’m riding the best I have all year.”
The timing for Eirikson’s rounding into top form couldn’t be better as he prepares for two finals this fall—the upcoming CFR October 2-5 at Rogers Place in Edmonton and the Maple Leaf Circuit Finals, slated for Agribition in Regina, SK November 27-30. Eirikson will take an 11th place spot into the CFR and sits 5th (unofficially) going into Regina.
It was the first time the third-year pro had gone to the pay window on Smokin’ Hippy. “That was the third trip I’ve had on him. Yesterday I had some tough luck with my first horse and got a re-ride and I knew there was no way I wasn’t going to throw my saddle on him. The first couple of times I kind of thought I was winning the fight but this time he really brought it to me and it worked out good.”
And just to put an exclamation point on the weekend, Eirikson won his second Wilf Girletz Memorial all-round buckle in Hanna. The award named for the Hall of Fame cowboy meant a lot to the young athlete who in addition to his bronc riding skills is a solid team-roper.
“It’s a pretty big-time accomplishment in my eyes,” Eirikson stated. “A lot of guys really want to win it so to win it twice in a row it’s a pretty good feeling. And it was pretty cool. I was walking out of the arena with my heading horse and a lot of times the fans—they see so many guys, they don’t really know you—but a few people pointed me out and said, there’s the All-Around cowboy, so that was really nice.”
When you think about consistency in rodeo, there aren’t a lot of athletes more consistent than the Whiteside sisters. Both Kylie and Bradi are two event cowgirls and both have been to the CFR in barrel racing and breakaway roping. And once again the talented siblings were at their consistent best on the weekend.
Kylie got the breakaway win at Olds with a 2.2 second run for $1864 while Bradi was right behind her sister in a 3-5 split with her 2.6 second run for $1135. Then at Hanna, Kylie was at it again collecting cheques in both events (12.78 for 8th and $249 in barrel racing) and (2.3 second for a split of 8th and $40.00 in breakaway). Typical of their many successes was their breakaway roping results at the recently completed Okotoks pro-rodeo where Kylie split 1-2 with a 1.9 run with Bradi in 3rd with a 2.1 second effort.
Both Whitesides will be at the CFR—Bradi will head to Edmonton as the 7th place barrel racer and 4th ranked breakaway roper with Kylie right behind her in 5th place in breakaway. Then it’s a trip to Regina where Bradi and Kylie will go into the Maple Leaf Circuit Finals (unofficially) in 1st and 3rd respectively in the breakaway roping.
Next up for CPRA rodeo athletes is CFR 50. Returning to Edmonton after five great years in Red Deer, the Canadian Finals Rodeo will feature five performances over four exciting days Oct 2-5 and for the first time will be staged in Rogers Place. Hope to see you there!!
For complete unofficial CPRA rodeo results, head over to www.rodeocanada.com.
For ticket information and further details about to the 2024 Canadian Finals Rodeo, see www.cfr.ca
PHOTO: Sawyer Eirikson, Oldstoberfest. Gralyn Boyd photo