March 24, 2024
The 2024 CPRA calendar year officially took flight on the weekend at West of the 5th Rodeo in Rimbey, Alberta. And for veteran timed event hand, Riley Warren, it was a nice start to what he hopes will be a bounce back year after a disappointing 2023 campaign.
The holder of four Canadian titles (three High Point and the 2021 tie-down roping championship), Warren teamed up with header Nick Teixeira for a 4.5 second, $1567 win in the team roping and followed that up with a third place $1071 cheque (behind winner Kirk Robinson) in the tie-down event. it was exactly the start to the season the Sundre, AB cowboy was looking for.
“It’s been a long time coming since I had a win in the team roping,” the veteran cowboy chuckled, “like two years.”
It was a first time rodeo get together for the pair, with Teixeira recently taking up residence in the Mossleigh area from his home province of British Columbia. “Nick ropes good but I don’t really know yet what my (partner) plans are for this year. But it was a nice win either way.”
One thing Riley Warren is very certain about is his goal for the 2024 season. “I’d like to get back to the CFR in both events, that’s number one and obviously season leader is nice to get if a guy can have some big hits through the summer and, of course, winning Canada is always on your mind.”
Like the man in the saddle, both horses Warren rode—Jag for his heeling horse and Mona in the tie down roping—are veterans. The sharp-eyed horseman scooped up Jag at a horse sale in 2017 and was heeling on him in a matter of weeks while Mona is an 18 year-old mare that has carried the talented horseman to a number of CFRs.
Other highlights at Rimbey saw Nicholas Patterson take top honours in the bronc riding with a 87 score ($789) on Duffy Rodeo’s Bay Moon (Dyllan Duperron won second on the same horse), bareback rider Jacob Stemo making a successful return to competition after a yearlong hiatus—his 80.5 was good for second behind event winner Chett Deitz. Rookie bullrider Grady Young enjoyed his first pro win, an 84 point effort on Duffy’s Smooth Off for $789 (plus $1185 in ground money as the second generation talent was the only guy to make the eight second horn), Chelsea Moore’s 14.84 barrel racing run prevailing for $1046 and Ryan Shuckburgh topping the steer wrestling field with a 4.0 for $1384.
Meanwhile a little further south… several CPRA affiliated competitors had profitable sojourns to various American rodeos. Dawson Hay was on his game once again as he collected $5170 at Austin, TX courtesy of a third place 86.5 point ride in the Finals.
Young bronc rider Cache Shellenburg also picked up a third-place cheque ($1323), this one for his 79 point ride at Cave Creek, Arizona and at the other end of the arena Makayla Boisjoli’s 2.6 second breakaway roping run netted her $1703. A couple of Canadians cashed at Waxahachie, Texas – tie down roper Kyle Lucas was second with an 8.5 run to pick up $1866 while Strawbs Jones bigtime 87 point effort earned him $1330. And at the Watford City, North Dakota Extreme Bares and Broncs, Logan Hay rode to 84 points and $1451