In just five years, the Maple Leaf Circuit Finals has established itself as a vital four day stop in the Canadian Professional Rodeo season. This year’s edition of the MLC Finals is slated for November 27-30 at the Brandt Centre and is a pivotal part of Regina, Saskatchewan’s Canadian Western Agribition.
Not only does the event provide a springboard for cowboys and cowgirls pursuing Canadian championships, it also qualifies two people (the Finals aggregate champion and the overall Maple Leaf Circuit champion) for the Las Vegas Open event in Colorado in July and that, in turn can have an impact on the world standings for those able to excel in Colorado Springs. Canadian steer wrestler, Scott Guenthner made the most of his trip to Colorado Springs this past season, gaining an important boost in his pursuit of a 2024 NFR berth.
With the circuit finals money counting in both the CPRA and PRCA standings, it’s no surprise that the event has played a key role in CPRA athletes winning Canadian titles and qualifying for the WNFR. And more and more rodeo athletes look forward to penciling in an end of November date in Regina.
Among those heading to the wheat province this time around are tie down roper, Tyler Popescul and bull rider Edgar Durazo.
For Popescul, it’s all about some unfinished business.
“I broke the barrier at the last rodeo of the season (Merritt) to make the CFR,” the Seven Persons, Alberta tie-down roper noted. “There were a couple of other bumps along the way so it didn’t all come down to that last run, but that was tough.”
Had Popescul been on the CFR 50 roster, it would have been a first for the veteran hand who came close a few years earlier in the team roping alongside brother Jesse.
All of that makes the Maple Leaf Circuit Finals all the more relevant. “Yeah, if a guy can win three or four or five thousand over there, it really helps going into the spring rodeos.” The second-generation talent enjoyed some success in 2022 when he made his only other trip to the Circuit Finals finishing 4th in the average.
Popescul has been taking advantage of the unusually mild fall weather to practice outdoors at his arena just north and west of town. “I’ve been outdoors all fall until yesterday. That was the first time I went inside.”
It doesn’t hurt that Popsecul has a bona fide star in his corner in Lincoln, the 15 year-old gelding he rides and that has carried several other cowboys to the winner’s circle, including at the recently concluded CFR.
“The guys like him because he’s easy to ride,” Popescul commented. “He scores good and he’s easy to win on.”
The roper and his horse will ride into Regina with a little added incentive. “I’ll be turning 33 the day after the Maple Leaf Circuit Finals ends. So, yeah a solid performance there would be a nice birthday present.”
Another CPRA hand who knows the importance of the Maple Leaf Finals is two-time Canadian bull riding champion, Edgar Durazo. In his only foray into Regina, home of the Circuit Finals, in 2021, the popular Mexican-born athlete placed in three of the four rounds and wound up 4th in the aggregate to kick off a season that would see him finish 3rd in the Canadian year-end standings.
This year was something of an anomaly for the 33-year-old Durazo as he made the majority of his money at the Maple Leaf Circuit rodeos and had a string of bad luck at some of the big SMS Tour rodeos. As a result, Durazo heads off to Regina as the Circuit season leader with a goal to kick-start his 2025 season with a big performance in the Queen City.
“It’s a good opportunity for me,” Durazo acknowledged. “I’m excited to be number one in the Circuit going into the Finals. With a win at Olds and if I can do well in Saskatchewan, I can have a good start to the season. It’s a great building and with Agribition, there’s a lot of people and a lot of cool stuff to see.”
Canadian rodeo fans can expect to see significant changes to the 2025 season standings after the conclusion of the Maple Leaf Circuit Finals, that, when added to the four September 2024 events that kicked off the ’25 season, can make a big difference as we look ahead to next September.
Photo: Tyler Popescul, 2024 Airdrie Pro Rodeo. Chantelle Bowman photo
* Click here for further details about the 2024 Maple Leaf Circuit Finals
* See 2024 MLCF contestant roster and performance one draw
* More about Agribition