May 27, 2025
Airdrie, AB
When Denim Ross was asked to describe a typical day in his life and that of his team roping partner Kavis Drake, the answer was simple.
“We get up in the morning, have breakfast and do what ever we have to get done. Then we catch our horses, bring in the steers and start roping.”
It helps that reigning Canadian Champion header, Drake, has been living at the Ross residence near Botha, Alberta for the last couple of years. And it helps as well that Denim’s dad Rocky, a many time CFR qualifier, supplies steers for a number of amateur rodeos which means that there are always lots of steers to rope.
It’s a formula that is clearly working as the young duo added another win to their impressive resumes with a 4.5 second run at Buffalo Lake Metis Settlement Pro Rodeo – topping the field and giving the tandem an important win at the first SMS Equipment Pro Rodeo Tour stop of the 2025 season. The two cowboys find themselves solidly in first place in the Canadian standings with over $13,000 won before the end of May.
Ross, a 20 year-old three time CFR qualifier, is well aware of the importance of the tour as well, “These rodeos are really important,” he acknowledged. “They have the most money up and with that tour finale in Armstrong, BC you really want to get to all the tour rodeos and do well at them.
The win is also another step in the accomplishment of the goals the pair have set for themselves.
“We want to get back to the CFR and do as good as we can there,” Ross commented. “And if things go really good down south, one of our goals is definitely getting to the NFR.”
And, of course, it helps that the partners are well-mounted; Ross is riding a 13 year-old sorrel gelding horse he acquired from Justin Potts three years ago while Drake is on Catfish, a horse he bought from Luke Skocdopole a couple of months ago.
The cowboys are travelling in style as fellow roper Clay Ullery (who partners with Tyce Mcleod) recently purchased a toterhome for the four cowboys to head down the road in.
For the second time in three years, Ontario bulldogger Tim Kemp split the win at Buffalo Lake. The three-time CFR qualifier who commutes from Kincardine, Ontario to compete at CPRA and PRCA rodeos was 4.8 seconds to share the win with Tyler Wilkinson at the 2025 event, for $3895 each. Kemp will move into the top ten courtesy of his Buffalo Lake success.
Bronc rider Kolby Wanchuk continued to have the hot hand as he posted a huge 89.5 point ride on C5 Rodeo’s 712 Winning Rose for a $3045 payday that will propel the Stettler, AB hand to the top spot in the Canadian standings. His last three scores pretty much reflect the heater Wanchuk is on… 89, 89 and 89.5!
And speaking of being on a roll, barrel racer Lisa Groves certainly fits that description. Her winning 16.91 second run earned her the biggest payday of the Buffalo Lake weekend, a whopping $6255. It was her fourth money making run in a row and she too, with her partner ALG Cashflo or Moolah, will be occupying a prominent spot on the Canadian standings leaderboard. (Look for a Standings update later this week.)
CPRA athletes will be riding into three Alberta venues for the final weekend in May. The Grande Prairie Stompede and Leduc Black Gold Rodeo run from May 29 to June 1 with Grande Prairie stop number two on the SMS Equipment Pro Rodeo Tour. The historic 107th Hand Hills Lake Stampede rounds out the trio of rodeos with a May 31-June 1 timetable.
For complete unofficial results and upcoming schedule details, head over to rodeocanada.com