* CFR Performance 3 Preview by Clay Creasy
CFR Round 3 will open with rising star Julia Vos performing the Canadian anthem, while we all celebrate Canadian Chic Night, presented by TEAM Auctions. Think cozy flannels with splashes of red and white accents, or high-end leather paired with clean denim and a classic shearling-lined jacket.
Bareback Riding presented by CLAAS
The pens align in the Bareback and Saddle Bronc Riding tonight, this time with the ‘eliminators’! We should see some big scores, and possibly some even bigger buck offs.
Ty Taypotat faces Calgary Stampede’s B-65 Born Fearless, having won Sundre on the gigantic bay gelding in 2025. Very few cowboys operate as fearlessly as the savvy veteran, making for a great matchup.
Jacob Lees has placed in both rounds so far, andgets a rematch with Duane Kesler’s 81 Felton Angus Hot Shot. Lees rode the 8-year-old red roan for a massive 89.5 point score at Lethbridge Pro Rodeo this summer, and fully intends to replicate his success.
Dantan Bertsch has rode well so far but hasn’t made it to the pay window, but that will change with his matchup on Calgary Stampede’s W-38 Welcome Delivery. Kody Lamb won Sundre this summer with an 89 point score on the 17-year-old gelding out of the legendary mare Zippy Delivery.
Steer Wrestling presented by CVS Controls
Stephen Culling has made two solid runs so far, and will fully intend to get back to the pay window tonight. He sits comfortably in the aggregate, but knows he has to keep going for go-round money to keep up.
Clay Guthrie avoided a major slip up with a tricky steer last night, and will be looking to pick up his first cheque of CFR 52 after finishing his first appearance in 2025 as the reserve aggregate champion.
Ryan Schuckburgh picked up the final placing on opening night, and also had some struggles before getting a time on Thursday. The six-time CFR qualifier wants to make a statement tonight with another good run.
Ladies Breakaway Roping presented by Cook County Saloon
Caitlin Dahm made a great run to split second place last night, and after winning Round 3 of the 2025 CFR with a 1.9 second run, the five-time qualifier wants to get below the 2-second mark again!
Another five-time CFR qualifier, Shaya Biever, came in just behind Dahm in Round 2, but having set arena records in Innisfail and Regina, she knows how to be faster than the rest!
2026 CPRA Rookie of the Year Falyn Thomson shook off the opening night pressure to make a solid run that ended up just out of the money last night, and the Ponoka champion looks to make some more great runs going forward.
Novice Bareback Riding presented by UFA
Eylam Podolak wants to leave Rogers Place on a high note, and will do so aboard Outlaw Buckers sweetheart, S91 American Thumper.
Novice Saddle Bronc Riding presented by UFA
As long as Sawyer Hutchinson places on Duffy’s 242 Tool Time in Round 3, he will clinch the Canadian Novice Saddle Bronc Riding title.
Junior Steer Riding presented by UFA
Rylan Ditchuk and Brady Bignell will both look to get on the board for the first time at this year’s CFR, and they have a pair of good cows from Duane Ashbacher’s Lazy 2 pen to do it.
Ladies Barrel Racing presented by RAM
Colby Bonnett returned to the CFR this year determined to succeed, and with her go-round win last night launched herself to the top of the standings. With some opening night barrel trouble, she will need to keep pushing through her turns to keep her in title contention.
Austyn Tobey has been consistent over two rounds at her first CFR, and the Minnesota cowgirl sits in the thick of this close race heading into the middle of the finals.
Karli Cowie and her blue roan horse work so well in this arena, and after breaking the 14-second threshold last night, she will look to do the same on Night number 3.
Tie-Down Roping presented by FarmFair International
Kyle Lucas bounced back from a no time on opening night in a huge way, blowing through his run last night in 7.3 seconds. The 2025 Canadian Champion has no intentions of slowing down now as he fights to move up the standings to defend his title.
After both cowboys placed on opening night of their CFR debuts before some struggles in Round 2, Coy Skocdopole and Tyler Popescul plan on getting back on track on Friday night.
Saddle Bronc Riding presented by Calgary Stampede
Sawyer Eirikson made an outstanding ride last night, and will come in prepared for Big Stone Rodeo’s, 26 Gone Fishing. After ejecting Tyrel Roberts early in round 1, this tiny stick of dynamite packs a punch, but can also help Eirikson win the round.
Roberts came back with authority last night with a second place finish, and drew another Calgary Stampede horse in Y-15 Y U R Frisky. This will be a rematch from the Hardgrass Bronc Match in Pollockville this summer, as the pair were 85 points.
Kole Ashbacher has made two solid rides to place both nights, and plans on making another one aboard Kesler Rodeo’s 951 Hullabaloo. Ben Andersen won second place at the Dawson Creek Pro Rodeo this August with an 87 point ride, with Tyrel Roberts spurring to an 85 point marking at Lethbridge Pro Rodeo later that same month.
Team Roping presented by Century Mile Racetrack & Casino
The veteran pairing of Dustin Bird and Tyrel Flewelling, coming in with a combined 19 CFR qualifications, are one of only four teams with both steers caught at this point, and have full intentions of making consistent runs that make them some more go round money.
The Saskatchewan tandem of Tuftin Mcleod and Braden Brost made their returns to the CFR in 2026, and plan on making more runs like their second-place winning 4.4 second time from last night.
For a moment it appeared that Trey Gallais and Logan Spady took the lead in Round 2, only to have a 10-second speeding ticket added to their time. Having taken second place in last year’s round 3, the pair will look to at least replicate that result tonight.
Bull Riding presented by Explore Edmonton
Glen Erickson is a Doctor Release after suffering an injury during Round 2, and will be unlikely to return to competition at CFR 52.
Garrett Green made one of his trademark silky smooth rides in Round 2 for a second-place finish, and the eight-time CFR qualifier matches up with Calgary Stampede’s 177 High Ballin tonight. They were 87.50 points aboard the bull in Kennewick, WA this summer.
Australian Cody Fraser looks to get his first CFR on track after a pair of buckoffs, and faces Vold Rodeo’s 146 Rock Steady tonight, a five-year-old bull that Grady Young rode in the Long round of the Ponoka Stampede.
Griffin Koester also plans on getting on the board at his second consecutive CFR aboard Outlaw Buckers’ 224 Lennie. The four-year-old bull bucked Jake Gardner down at Pendleton this September.
For the full list of this year’s CFR qualifiers and many more stories, go to
For the full schedule of events taking place at Rogers Place and around Edmonton during rodeo weekend, check out the Canadian Finals Rodeo webpage at cfr.ca