November 29, 2024
Round three of the Maple Leaf Circuit Finals is in the books and the races have become, as anticipated, very interesting with one go-round and the aggregate looming large for the final day. With the Finals title, the overall Circuit championships and the all-important berths in the NFR Open in July there for the taking, there should be no shortage of tension and drama in Regina on a chilly Saturday night. Add the fact that the money won in Regina counts toward the 2025 CPRA and PRCA standings, having the hot hand in Regina can translate into a solid jump start to the 2025 season.
Breakaway Roper Bobbi Henderson took a big step toward capturing both the Finals and overall Circuit honours as well with a 2.5 second winning run tonight. The win coupled with a second and a third in the first two rounds of competition have vaulted the Alix, Alberta cowgirl to first in Finals earnings through the three rounds, and second in the aggregate with 8.1 seconds on three runs, right behind Jenna Dallyn’s 7.9 on three. Henderson is second as well in the Circuit’s overall standings just $700.00 back of Bradi Whiteside who is out of the average.
And in the bull riding, the same kind of consistency has Hazenmore, Saskatchewan’s Chanse Switzer poised to claim the finals title as he is the only man to ride all three of his bulls. He sits atop the aggregate with 232.5 points on three. Despite a modest 74.5 score tonight (on Macza Rodeo’s 91 John Denver), good for a second-place cheque in the round, Switzer’s strategy of playing the long game is paying off and could bring him the coveted Finals title if he can run the table with another successful ride tomorrow night. Two-time Canadian Champion Edgar Durazo still occupies top spot in the Maple Leaf Circuit standings with a comfortable cushion over the rest of the field heading into Saturday. Durazo bucked off tonight but holds down second spot in the aggregate as the only other rider to post two scores to date.
In the team roping, where the event has been challenging for some, Tate and Kagen Schmidt from Barrhead, Alberta were lightning fast in the third performance with a 3.6 second run to win the round. (It was this talented young team who set the Canadian record – 3.3 seconds – at Agribition in 2022.)
* See complete unofficial event results here
Overall, the Maple Leaf Circuit features 10 top contestants in each of the eight major rodeo events, decided by monies earned through the season at Maple Leaf Circuit rodeos. During Canadian Western Agribition, the Maple Leaf Finals Rodeo runs over four nights (Nov 27-30, 2024) with a total purse of $120,000. The MLCF Champion in each event qualifies for the National Finals Rodeo Open taking place in Pikes Peak, Colorado next July. Saskatchewan’s highest-paying rodeo is also it’s best attended, with more than 23,000 fans packing the Brandt Centre. Thousands more will watch every performance of the new Maple Leaf Finals on The Cowboy Channel.
For those attending in person, the Brandt Centre doors open at 6 pm and the pre-show is at 6:45 pm central standard time.
* Click here for further details about the 2024 Maple Leaf Circuit Finals
* More about Agribition, tickets and event scheduling