April 16, 2025
(Airdrie, AB) – The Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA) is excited to announce that the Interior Provincial Exhibition (IPE) & Stampede will not only continue to host the SMS Equipment Pro Tour Finale in 2025 but will return to an expanded full tournament Finale format. The announcement marks a significant transition for both the Armstrong, BC event and the sport of rodeo in Canada as Armstrong will move from being both a Pro Tour stop and Finals to focusing solely on producing a multi-day, more lucrative Pro Tour Finale.
“This is a huge honor for our community and for our team,” said Joe Herring, Rodeo Director of the IPE & Stampede. “To be able to work with the CPRA and be chosen as the home of the Pro Tour Finals reflects the hard work, dedication, and pride that goes into every event we host. We’re thrilled to build on our tradition and raise the bar even higher in 2025.”
“There was a desire, from the CPRA Board, Membership, and the Armstrong committee, to move beyond a single day Tour Finale and make the SMS Equipment Pro Tour Finals as impactful an event as possible.” said Denny Phipps, CPRA Executive Officer. “The goal is to elevate not only the Tour Finale but also the Tour itself, while also taking into consideration both the CPRA season and the Canadian Championships.” Phipps further noted, “Everyone has come to the table to make this a more impactful event with both the CPRA and the IPE increasing their contributions to the purse. And Joe (Herring) and IPE General Manager Heather King in Armstrong have been great to work with and fantastic partners in taking this step!”
When coupled with the money that has been added in the past, organizers were able to achieve a single Labour Day weekend event with close to a quarter of a million dollars in total payout. All major events (per side in the Team Roping) plus Breakaway Roping will enjoy a weekend payout of $27,000 each.
Fans can expect premium entertainment, unmatched intensity, and the best of the western lifestyle all in one place as they enjoy the 2025 Armstrong Interior Provincial Exhibition & Stampede August 27-30.
Tour Finals Format:
The top 20 contestants from the 2025 SMS Equipment Pro Tour will qualify for the 2025 Tour Finale in Armstrong during the IPE Rodeo.
There will be two pools of contestants (Pool A and Pool B) consisting of 10 in each event.
The top 3 times and scores from both Pool A and B will advance to Saturday’s Finals.
Additionally, the top two “point earners” from the 2025 Season Tour standings who did not qualify from their Pool will also advance to Saturday’s Finals regardless of Pool results. (These two contestants must have competed in their respective Pools.)
In the Team Roping, qualifiers will enter as a Team (top 20 Headers and top 20 Heelers) and remain a team for the entirety of the Finals. Once entry/partner is confirmed, Tour points are combined to create a team total. This total will be used to determine the two “point earner” advancements who do not advance out of their Pool.
The remaining twelve contestants who have not advanced will move to the Friday Wildcard Round with the top two from the Wildcard advancing to Saturday’s Finals.
The Finals will consist of 10 contestants who will compete once.
The highest scores and fastest runs on Saturday night will decide the 2025 Tour Champions.
Armstrong will count as two rodeos within the overall rodeo count as long as a contestant competes twice or more – Pool Round and Wildcard or Pool Round and Finals etc… (If a given contestant goes through the Wildcard and qualifies for the Finals, he/she canstill count only two rodeos towards the overall CFR count).
