October 3, 2024 l Edmonton, AB
For immediate release
Day Two of the Canadian Finals Rodeo Powered by ATB: Athletes Take the Reins with Wild Rides and Unstoppable Action!
The excitement continued as Day Two of the 50th annual Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR) wrapped up at Rogers Place. Following an action-packed opening day, Thursday delivered more thrills, entertainment and intense competition for rodeo fans.
CFR Recap: Round 2
The caliber of bucking horses in Canada was on full display Thursday night in the bareback riding event, with Thorhild, Alberta’s Ethan Mazurenko hitting the reset button after a tough opening night with a sensational 90.25 score aboard Calgary Stampede’s flashy bay paint mare D-508 Disco Party.
“That horse rides really good; she was a little stronger than I thought right out of there, and those moves were a little tricky, but it still felt good through it,” said the up and coming bareback rider. Disco Party shared the Horse of the Night title with Macza Pro Rodeo’s stellar 118 OLS Tubs Stevie Knicks, who matched up with Ty Taypotat.
Much like the pen of horses in the draw for the bareback riding, the top saddle bronc horses proved to be formidable opponents for the 12 finalists. Many were equal to the test, none better than Layton Green, the Meeting Creek native who now calls Millarville, AB home. The 2017 Canadian Champ combined perfectly with Northcott Yule’s incredible chestnut mare -91 Mary Lou with a score equal to her brand number at 91 points. After placing just outside the money in round one, the go-round win helps move Green into third place in the race for a Canadian title.
According to Calgary Stampede’s aptly named W-16 Wild Cherry, earning Saddle Bronc Horse of the Night honours never gets old. The gelding combined his trademark rear-out with a double barrel kick to the top bar of the chute, proving too much for CFR-NFR qualifier Kolby Wanchuk.
As the top steer wrestler going into December’s National Finals Rodeo, Hermiston, Oregon’s Dalton Massey improved upon his split of second place in performance one by taking the go-round win outright with a 3.9 second run. Massey continues to ride 2023 PRCA Horse of the Year, Eddie, while getting help on the hazing side from Eddie’s owner Tanner Milan who is mounted on Tree Stump, the inaugural CPRA Hazing Horse of the Year. Massey moved just behind last night’s go round winner, and four time Canadian Champion Scott Guenthner with three performances to go.
Having missed her calf on opening night, Longview, Alberta breakaway roper Bradi Whiteside made it count on the second night of CFR 50 with a rapid 2.2 second run. Tonight’s victory aboard the Breakaway Horse of the Year “Teacher” owned by Ben Bamford, Whiteside unofficially jumps into second place in the chase for the title.
After clocking a respectable fifth place finish in the opening performance, Abilene, Texas barrel racer Jackie Ganter came looking for more on the second night of CFR 50. The four time CFR qualifier clocked the fastest run of Round two on a tough night of barrel racing with a 13.95 second run aboard her top horse Sailor.
A combination of youth on the head side with experience on the heel side proved fruitful for team ropers Grady Quam and Brady Chappel. The newly formed duo, who recorded 4.7 seconds on the clock, enjoyed the victory lap after coming up empty on opening night. When asked about his run, the veteran Chappel noted, “The steer took a quick step left, and we both had to take pretty fast shots.” The Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan cowboy did a great job of getting the heels caught near the fence to finish the run. The win will keep the pair in contention for that Canadian championship come Saturday night.
When the tie down roping starts getting rapid, Haven Meged’s championship pedigree can be hard to stop. Despite seeing many fast times before him, the Miles City, Montana man dropped the hammer on the field with an outstanding 7.0 second (CFR-record equalling) run on a big yellow calf. Combining tonight’s go-round win with a third place on opening night, the Canadian and World Champion roper inched ahead of Nanton, Alberta’s Logan Bird for the race for another title.
After needing the final weekend of the 2024 CPRA season to meet his minimum rodeo count, the elder Green brother, Garrett, wanted to complete his own victory lap as his brother did earlier on night two. Green proved to be successful after besting Macza Pro Rodeo’s white spotted horned bull 909 Koulee’s Pet (who also earned Bull of the Night) for 84.5 points. In a wide open bull riding field with only a single cowboy with two bulls covered, every dollar will count as we approach Saturday night’s final performance.
The novice events had a familiar set of winners, as Hughenden’s Jace Lomheim continued to carry his winning ways of the 2024 season into CFR 50, claiming his second novice bareback round win in as many nights with a 79.75 score on Legend Rodeo’s cherry red paint horse 286 Critical Smile. Maple Creek’s James Perrin spurred Legend Rodeo’s buckskin, 1621 Disco Lemonade, to the same 81.5 score that he earned the first night. In the Junior Steer Riding, Leader, Saskatchewan’s Davis Young made a top notch ride on a challenging gray brahma cow to earn 82.5 points as the only competitor to stay on in the six-competitor field.
For an updated list of Day Two results, please visit rodeocanada.com.
What to see on Day Three:
Pancakes with the Chamber, 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
To kick off Day Three of the CFR, the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce is partnering with Explore Edmonton to host a free pancake breakfast, with Ryan Jespersen as the event host. Enjoy pancakes, sausage, eggs, beverages, dance lessons, live music, and roping demonstrations from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in the Ice District Fan Park.
Bullfighters Only Canada Cup, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
On October 4th & 5th, the Canadian Country Expo (CCE) proudly presents the Bullfighters Only (BFO) Canada Cup at the Edmonton EXPO Centre. BFO Freestyle Bullfighting is the ultimate showdown, pitting one man against a fierce Spanish fighting bull for one minute at a time. The top contenders in the sport are vying for precious points in one of the final events of the BFO regular season. This family-friendly event is free – enjoy the action of the BFO Canada Cup at the Edmonton EXPO Centre in Hall C.
Gord Bamford Concert
Alberta-raised Gord Bamford performs live with Special Guest Kalsey Kulyk at the Edmonton Convention Centre on Friday, October 4. Bamford stands as one of the most decorated artists in Canadian country music with 26 Canadian Country Music Association awards, along with multiple JUNO nominations. Doors open at 8:00 p.m.
Human Interest
Ken Marcinkowski has been capturing the magic of the CFR since day one – he’s snapped photos at every CFR since 1974! From Viking, Alberta, this former bull rider turned photographer has built an incredible portfolio, capturing thousands of moments from pro rodeos all over Canada. With a published book celebrating his 50 years of pro rodeo photography, Ken’s got a treasure trove of stories to share. He’s available for interviews upon request.
A full schedule of Rodeo Week programming for the day can be found at CFR.ca
The Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA) with headquarters in Airdrie, Alberta is the official sanctioning body for Professional Rodeo in Canada. The CPRA approves 55 events annually with a total payout exceeding $6.8 million. The organization oversees the SMS Equipment Pro Tour Finals Labour Day weekend in Armstrong, BC, holds their premiere event – the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR) – at Rogers Place in Edmonton, AB October 2-5 and endorses the Maple Leaf Circuit Finals as part of Canadian Western Agribition in Regina, SK in November. Follow the CPRA on Facebook @prorodeocanadaofficial, on Instagram @prorodeocanada_cpra, on X @prorodeocanada or online at RodeoCanada.com.
For more information:
Barb Poulsen
CPRA Communications and Media
Phone: 403 625-9225
Email: media@rodeocanada.com