– BY CLAY CREASY
Heading into Crunch Time on Friday’s Round 3
Since the CFR returned to Edmonton last year, the importance of the third round on Friday night has only increased, with only two more chances to follow for contestants in contention for a Canadian championship.
With the fashion theme of Canadian Chic, crack out your flannel, denim, and mix in as much red and white as you can!
The CFR Anthem Contestant performing tonight is Jordyn Pollard of Lloydminster, SK.
For a full schedule of events taking place each and every day during rodeo weekend, check out the Canadian Finals Rodeo webpage at cfr.ca
With that, let’s take a look at who wants to make it count during that critical Round 3:
BAREBACK RIDING
This pen of horses may only get one trip, but that’s more than enough for the Eliminators to leave a mark on some competitors who may be beat up after the first two nights.
- After making two rides above 82 points, Ethan Mazarenko gets a sibling to last night’s draw in Calgary’s W-38 Welcome Delivery, which fits in as much work as the rest of the pen.
- Ty Taypotat has been shut out of the money so far, but hopefully stayed in last night to match the moves of the large C5 horse 630 Hangover Face and take home some CFR cash.
- Sam Petersen comes into the middle performance of CFR 51 as the top money earner of the bareback riding with a go round and a 2nd/3rd split. Although Duane Kesler’s red roan 81 Felton Angus Hot Shot can be a handful, this matchup should lead to another top payday as Petersen chases the consistent Clint Laye for the Canadian title.
STEER WRESTLING
The first performance saw a third of the field end up without a time, leaving some contestants to reassess their strategy for the week.
- After a no time on night 1, Harley Cole jumped out and threw his steer down for a cheque last night. With the aggregate out of the picture at this time, the veteran steer wrestler will keep worrying about taking home as much go round money as he can.
- On the other side of the picture, Stephen Culling may only have a small amount of CFR earnings to his name after two nights, but more importantly he has two respectable times keeping him in the aggregate race. To make the most of his start, he’ll still need to push hard every round.
- Finding himself somewhere in the middle of that aggregate race, JD Struxness has two steers thrown down, but took a barrier penalty on night 2. With nothing to lose and enough experience to know how to handle any situation, Struxness will be a one to watch on a Friday night.
NOVICE BAREBACK RIDING
Even with all the miles that they’ve made and all the horses they’ve gotten on, the 2025 Canadian Novice Bareback Championship will come down to one head to head matchup tonight. Jace Lomheim hopes to deliver the decisive blow aboard Kesler’s 68 Knockout, while Quaide Skjonsberg has shown he rides hard every night, and will do so tonight on Outlaw Bucker’s A116 Blue Moon.
JUNIOR STEER RIDING
With the junior steer riders competing over the next two performances, while paying money for the aggregate, it pays to stay on as many of the snorty brahma cows as you can. So far, 5 of our 6 competitors have covered both of their draws.
- Jax Torkelson sits atop the aggregate standings after winning Round 2, and faces C-Bar Buckers 46 ManEater, who has been making short work of competitors to the end of this season. Although her name may raise some eyebrows, last year’s lone female steer riding contestant Havana Aarsby conquered her to win a go-round.
- Tanner Loring has also covered both his draws, placing in each round. He faces C-Bar Buckers 903 Black Mary, who was only ridden once in 2025, by Torkelson for an 83 point score. Look for both Loring and Torkelson to try to find a way to unseat Ryder Topolinski from the lead he’s maintained since Canada Day.
NOVICE SADDLE BRONC RIDING
Although Clay Greenslade sits behind the top two competitors in the Novice Bareback Riding duel, he should still be proud of qualifying at all, especially given how hard he rodeoed to achieve his main goal of entering the CFR as the season leader in the Novice Saddle Bronc Riding. As he prepares for the final performance, he holds an insurmountable lead regardless of the result aboard Kesler’s 446 Chucky.
BREAKAWAY ROPING
After a second straight night of fast times mixed in with many no times, the Ladies Breakaway roping remains wide open.
- Nanton’s Lakota Bird may only have earned a 5th place cheque over the first two rounds, but she sits as one of only two breakaway ropers with two clean runs after two nights. She’ll want to keep getting her calves roped as quick as she can while staying consistent.
- Finishing one place ahead of Bird on Thursday, Colorado’s Amanda Terrell has to keep pushing hard at the go rounds, and could always push back into the wide open aggregate race by doing so.
- After placing on opening night, Shaya Biever missed her calf in round 2. After setting and tying the CPRA record time during the 2024 regular season, the Claresholm cowgirl knows how to rope fast.
LADIES BARREL RACING
- After placing 5th in the opening performance, Karli Cowie made the fastest run of Night 2. Once you win one round, you definitely want to keep going, and the former CFR aggregate winner knows how to get her horse around the pattern in a hurry!
- After Caitlin MacArthur trimmed almost a half second off her running time from one round to the next, she will look to keep speeding up to make her way into the money on Friday night.
- After a bit of tough luck over two runs, Kirby Pentilla hopes to show the same speed that took her to the SMS title in Armstrong last month.
SADDLE BRONC RIDING
This pen of horses lives up to their Eliminator description, but sometimes the challenge can be just the ticket to change the fortunes of your week. Here are a few cowboys looking for a spark.
- After Layton Green rightfully earned a free roll on his markout last night, he still has yet to come out with a cheque. He may have his hands full with Macza’s Appaloosa 612 Falkland Playboy, but if he does conquer him, the veteran will have earned every point he gets.
- Sawyer Eirikson hasn’t had the CFR he expected after coming down in the first two rounds, but as they say in baseball, even if you strike out a couple of times, you need to step back up to the plate. He will do so on Big Stone’s 204 Batter Up, which could lead to either a home run or another strike out.
- Kolby Wanchuk had another strong year on the ProRodeo circuit, but wants to make some moves at this year’s CFR. 013 Copy Cat may provide that opportunity, but could be just as likely to send him to the dirt.
TEAM ROPING
- As noted in some of the other timed events, consistency will start to build a case in the aggregate. For Clint Weston and Devin Wigemyr, roping their steers every night will start to add more money in their pockets after 2 solid runs this week.
- For the only pairing of CFR Team Roping rookies, Derek Hadland and Jackson Braithwaite made a great run to earn their first career CFR earnings, which they will want to keep adding to on a Friday night.
- As one of two teams yet to earn a time at CFR 51, veteran heeler Riley Wilson will preach patience to first time CFR header Ty Vaile as they look to get on the board.
TIE-DOWN ROPING
- After a great opening night performance, Clayton Smith had a few things work against him in round 2. Expect things to improve for the Eckville cowboy with a rebound performance.
- Quade Hiatt showed off the skills that have taken him to the NFR in the past, and will want to keep earning as many dollars in Edmonton as he can after narrowly missing out on a return trip to Vegas.
- Wimborne’s Shane Smith has been no stranger to go round wins in years past, and after his 8.2 second run on Thursday earned him the victory lap, you can bet he will keep his foot on the pedal.
BULL RIDING
With many big scores and buckoffs from tonight’s pen of bulls over the 2025 season, and tonight will be no different! As we saw in tonight’s bronc riding preview, some contestants who have been on the wrong side of the whistle will be working to change their luck.
- Dakota Buttar hasn’t found a groove over the first two rounds, but a matchup with Vold’s 267 Wolf Bait, last year’s bull of the Ponoka Stampede, the two time Canadian Champion will be poised to add another memorable ride to his illustrious career.
- Tanner Skene used a late season push to make this year’s CFR, and Duane Kesler’s 782 Jack the Ripper has helped cowboys win some big rodeos this year, including the Medicine Hat Stampede and Dawson Creek.
- Edgar Durazo hopes to book at last an 8 second stay aboard Calgary’s 823 Emerald Inn, and we would all be grateful to see the smile he’d put on after doing so!
For the full list of Round 3 Matchups as well as last night’s results, head to the CFR Live Results Feed at https://rodeocanada.com/canadian-finals-rodeo-results-2/
For a full schedule of events taking place during rodeo weekend, check out the Canadian Finals Rodeo webpage at cfr.ca