It was the moment the huge Rogers Place crowd had been waiting for. Two men – the champion and the challenger – about to square off. One ride to determine the 2026 Saddle Bronc Riding Champion of Canada.
The champion would ride first. Zeke Thurston, six times (consecutively) Canadian champ and four-time World titleist had drawn a tremendous bronc in the Calgary Stampede’s D-19 Dandy Delight. Thurston came into the 52nd edition of the Canadian Finals Rodeo with the lead in the standings but had relinquished that edge to Eckville, Alberta cowboy, Ben Andersen, who had overcome a $17.000 deficit and, by virtue of two firsts and two seconds on his first four CFR horses, entered that final round with the lead in both money earned and the CFR aggregate standings.
Still, CFR fans were waiting expectantly for the Big Valley, Alberta superstar to work his magic one more time and claim an unprecedented seventh consecutive champion’s buckle. Thurston and Dandy Delight stood ready in the chute. Then came the nod; the gate swung open and the eight second dance began. And the fans were right. Thurston, as was the case so many times before, was electric in riding the ten year-old mare to 91.5 points in a masterpiece performance.
Now the pressure was back on the challenger. Andersen climbed over the back of the chute and onto Macza Pro Rodeo’s 6 Squash Blossom Steely Dan, ironically the horse with which Thurston partnered a year prior, for 91.5 points, to clinch his 2025 Canadian title. Andersen wasted no time as he nodded for the gate. And the crowd erupted as the recently married 27-year-old talent went to work, spurring maybe as aggressively as he ever had. The result was 88.75 points and while it didn’t win the go round, earned him 3rd in the round, preserved Andersen’s lead in the all-important aggregate and give the likable second-generation bronc rider his first Canadian championship. The margin was a slender $3700 with Andersen earning $118,895 to Thurston’s $115,136.
Andersen was excited about the win, but also acknowledged the close fraternity among the Canadian bronc riders. “I mean, that guy (Zeke Thurston) has been helping me on since I was this big, and he’s always been one of my biggest supporters. It’s pretty cool to ride head-to-head with him and finally beat him. I’m happy about that, you know? But there’s no better camaraderie than in the bronc riding and we’re just blessed to do it.”
Zeke Thurston’s amazing record for consecutive titles would end at six and for now at least, there’s a new king wearing the coveted crown.
Ben Andersen, 2026 Saddle Bronc Riding Champion of Canada.
The finale in the steer wrestling at this year’s CFR provided one of the most bittersweet moments of the Finals. As Scott Guenthner won his sixth Canadian title, equalling the record shared by Cody Cassidy and Bud Butterfield, fans knew they were watching Guenthner for the last time. With twelve consecutive CFR qualifications, six appearances at the NFR and career earnings that topped $1.3 million, the 35 year-old was riding off into that Alberta sunset. Guenthner had announced earlier in the year that the 2026 season would be his last and that he would be turning his attention to the family ranch where he was looking forward to spending more time with his wife Becky and three growing boys.
“This is a lot harder than I thought it would be,” Guenthner admitted after making his last bulldogging run, “But I’m excited to get home to the ranch. My family has looked after me for 14 years; it’s time for me to step back there. And I guess I’m gonna be a hockey dad,” he added with a chuckle.”
As the crowd settled into their seats for the championship performance of the CFR, no race was more difficult to call than the barrel racing where five cowgirls—Austyn Tobey, Karli Cowie, season leader Heather Crowley, Rene Leclercq and crowd favourite, 74 year-old wonder woman Suzanne Depaoli were all in contention. Tobey, the Bemidji, Minnesota cowgirl, was leading the standings and Cowie, who in the afternoon performance had joined Depaoli in setting a new arena record at 13.52 seconds, was sitting atop the aggregate leaderboard with a sliver-sized six one-hundredths lead in the aggregate.
When Cowie’s final round 13.74 edged Tobey’s 13.76, the Mankota, Saskatchewan cowgirl and her Barrel Racing Horse of the Year, Fling, claimed their first Canadian title with a $70,923 season earnings total to $65,601 for second place finisher, Tobey.
Veteran Canadian bareback rider, Orin Larsen, got his CFR off to a fast start with a first go round win and never looked back. Larsen went on to win the second Canadian championship of a sixteen-year professional career that has seen the Manitoba product compile nine CFR and NFR qualifications. Larsen amassed $58,534 over the five performances en route to a record-breaking season/CFR total of $110,011.
Marwayne, Alberta’s Austin Hines was somewhat unheralded as he rode into Rogers Place in search of a first Canadian tie-down roping title. His status changed as he etched his name in the minds of rodeo fans everywhere with a CFR ’52 performance that saw him win three rounds, place in the other two and cruise to victory with $55,487 in CFR earnings. A $90,873 overall total provided a comfortable $27,000 margin of victory over runner-up, and six-time season leader, Logan Bird.
The team roping tandem of header Kavis Drake and heeler, Denim Ross was an unstoppable force as they marched their way to the Canadian Team Roping championship—the second for Drake, first for Ross. The duo put together two wins, a third and a fifth to win the aggregate and when season leaders Kash Bonnett and Logan Cullen struggled through all five rounds, Ross and Drake rolled to the win with $94,866 each, some $25,00 ahead of second place finishers, Logan and Keely Bonnett who had a solid finals as well but were no match for the Drake-Ross tsunami.
While breakaway roper, Bradi Whiteside, took a no-time in the first round of the CFR, she was lights out after that, winning all four of the remaining rounds with times of 2.1. 1.8. 2.0 and 1.9 seconds. That carried the Longview, Alberta two-event cowgirl and her celebrated four-legged partner, Teacher, to a second title as she tallied $37,730 in CFR earnings and $80,287 for the season (including CFR).
It came down to a two-man battle in the bull riding event although the combatants travelled very different paths through the Finals. At a CFR that saw six bull riders fail to record a qualified ride, Young, the 20 year-old phenom from Leader, Saskatchewan, rode his first three bulls before being bested by the last two. And the veteran, Jordan Hansen, who bucked off his first two bulls, then rode three in a row en route to the aggregate title and second place overall. Young’s final season earnings, which totaled $85,765 secured the title, with Hansen checking in at $73,948.
In the Men’s All Around race, Consul, Saskatchewan tie-down roper / team roping heeler Braden Brost pulled ahead of closest contenders Tuftin McLeod, Logan Spady and Riley Wakefield to earn the title. Brost collected $24,622 in CFR heeler round earnings and $8,404 in aggregate monies, which when it was added to his regular season dollars, came to an overall total of $71,180 for the season.
Bradi Whiteside earned the Women’s AA accolade for 2026 – making it the fourth consecutive time the breakaway / barrel racing competitor has been recognized in this category.
The recipient of the Kenny McLean Memorial award was Okotoks, AB second generation cowboy Sawyer Eirikson.
In the young guns events, it was novice bareback rider, Quaide Skjonsberg, novice saddle bronc rider Sawyer Hutchinson and junior steer rider, Ryder Topolinski taking top honours in their respective events. For Skjonsberg and Topolinski, it marked back to back titles. Skjonsberg was especially sensational as the Bluffton, Alberta teen swept the six rounds of CFR competition over the 2025 and 26 seasons, winning every round and posting 80 + point rides on all six of those rides.
Stock of the CFR included:
- Bareback: Macza Rodeo’s 118 Stevie Nicks
- Saddle bronc: Macza Rodeo’s 612 Falkland Playboy
- Bull: Duffy Rodeo’s 253 Hang Loose
Congratulations as well to
- Cowboy of the Year, Ken Rehill (Goose) from the Calgary Stampede organization
- Cowgirl of the Year, Breakaway Roper Lakota (Bird) Seboer
- Committee Person of the Year, Darrell Damen, Strathmore Stampede
- Miss Rodeo Canada 2027, Brooke Baehl, Ponoka Stampede
Rogers Place saw 43,903 fans attend the 2026 Canadian Finals Rodeo.
Next up on the CPRA-Pro Rodeo Canada event roster is the Maple Leaf Circuit Finals November 25-28, 2026 as part of Canadian Western Agribition in Regina, Sask.
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About CPRA
The Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA) with headquarters in Airdrie, Alta. is the official sanctioning body for Professional Rodeo in Canada. The CPRA approves 60+ events annually with a total payout just shy of $8 million. The organization oversees the Massey Ferguson Pro Tour Finale September 2-5 in Armstrong, BC, holds their premiere event–the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR) at Rogers Place in Edmonton, AB October 7-10 and sanctions the Maple Leaf Circuit Finals November 25-28 as part of Canadian Western Agribition in Regina, SK. For details, please see RodeoCanada.com
The Canadian Finals Rodeo is the premier rodeo event in Canada, bringing together the nation’s top rodeo athletes to compete for national championships. Powered by ATB and proudly produced by Explore Edmonton, the Canadian Finals Rodeo is where the best rodeo athletes come together to compete, celebrate, and make history. Held annually in Edmonton, the CFR is a celebration of Western heritage, sport, and community. The Canadian Finals Rodeo takes place at Rogers Place Arena from October 7-10, 2026.
Explore Edmonton is the Destination Marketing and Management Organization for Edmonton, connecting experiences, events, venues, and stories to attract visitors and elevate the city’s profile. The organization drives economic, cultural, and community impact through the visitor economy, while stewarding key venues and producing iconic events.
Please contact us for more information, to schedule an interview or to inquire about video and photo resources:
Barb Poulsen
CPRA Communications and Media
Phone: 403 625-9225
Email: media@rodeocanada.com
or
Tya Waterman, Carissa Barke
CFR Media Centre e. cfrmedia@exploreedmonton.com
p. 587-930-8198