* CFR Performance 2 Preview by Clay Creasy
Round 2 will open with the 2026 CFR Anthem Singer Contest winner Rachel Stamour performing the Canadian anthem, while we all celebrate Retro Night, A throwback to vintage rodeo style. Crack out your high-waisted or flared jeans, vintage-inspired Western shirts, retro blazers, and vintage accessories, and come enjoy a great night of rodeo!
Bareback Riding presented by CLAAS
We see the TV pens in the Bareback and Saddle Bronc Riding tonight, where the greatest bucking horses in the country will make for some highlight reel performances!
Clint Laye looks to put last night in the rear view mirror, and he matches up with Duffy’s 901 Miss Demeanor. If he doesn’t come away with a big cheque on the paint tonight, it’ll be a felony!
Strawbs Jones made his return to the CFR after missing last year, and will be pumped to draw Macza Pro Rodeo’s award winning chestnut mare 118 OLS Tubs Stevie Nicks. She doesn’t make it easy, but if Strawbs takes care of business, he can make it to the pay window
Making his CFR debut in the open bareback riding, Denver Leitch will meet this year’s Canadian and World Bareback Horse of the Year, Calgary Stampede’s D-508 Disco Party. The 10-year-old brown paint mare has had a sensational year, and Leitch will be ready to party!
Steer Wrestling presented by CVS Controls
Landon Beardsworth returned to Rogers Place with authority, taking the opening night win. He will look to keep that momentum going through the rest of the weekend.
Jonny Webb and Tim Kemp both came in with their veteran swagger, and matching 4.1 second runs took them to the pay window. These two have had the best years of their careers when most would have stopped hitting the road, and they show no signs of slowing down!
Ladies Breakaway Roping presented by Cook County Saloon
17-year-old Keely Pugh came into her second consecutive CFR with a mission, and she accomplished the first step with a fast run last night. She will be ready to rope sharp again tonight as she looks to jump into title contention.
After Kendal Pierson claimed the first two Canadian Ladies Breakaway championships in 2021 and ‘22, she largely focused on the PRCA circuit. Last night she returned to the CFR with authority, taking the victory lap on night 1. She knows what it takes to ‘be where her feet are’ and be a champion, and can also work her way back to the top.
Jennifer Schuck took third place on the opening night of her first CFR, and looks to continue climbing up the standings after earning the 12th and final qualifying spot.
Novice Bareback Riding presented by UFA
Brady Schlesiger placed second last night, and looks to keep his title pursuit in order aboard Calgary Stampede’s J-13 Jeopardized Ajax.
Novice Saddle Bronc Riding presented by UFA
Cooper McNiven made the biggest statement in his event last night, and comes in feeling confident for his matchup with C5’s 765 Macho Man.
Junior Steer Riding presented by UFA
Gunner Armstrong made a great ride at his first CFR for the go-round win, and will climb on Lazy 2’s cow #363 with another win on his mind.
Ladies Barrel Racing presented by RAM
Jennifer Neudorf hurdled all the way from 11th to 2nd in the standings after her blistering run last night, and will keep the same game plan for tonight.
Rene Leclercq also made an outstanding run on opening night, and the former Cowgirl of the Year knows as well as anyone how to keep her horses working right!
Suzanne Depaoli proved that you can do anything if you put your whole heart into it, and few have as big of heart as the 74-year-old who returned to the CFR 18 years after her last appearance to place on opening night. She will continue being an inspiration for a lot of rodeo fans all weekend.
Tie-Down Roping presented by FarmFair International
Austin Hines had a great year, and showed exactly why he qualified for his third finals in four years with the go round win. He sits firmly in the top tier to the title race after the first night, and will look to make another victory lap tonight.
After finishing right behind Hines last night, 2022 Canadian Champion Ty Harris knows how to Freakin’ Rodeo, and with the opportunity to ride Peso, will continue to rope aggressively all weekend.
Shane Smith comes into his seventh consecutive CFR with the determination to continue to rope his best, and after a third place finish on opening night, has positioned himself to build on a great rodeo season.
Saddle Bronc Riding presented by Calgary Stampede
Dawson Dahm looks to rebound from Night 1 in a big way, and has the horse to do just that with Yule’s big sorrel 918 Suspicious Minds. This horse made a big mark on the Canadian Rodeo Scene in 2026, claiming the Horse of the Calgary Stampede before helping Kolby Wanchuk with the Zeke Thurston Invitational.
After a second place finish on opening night, Ben Andersen gets a Round 2 Rematch from CFR 2025 with Yule’s -91 Mary Lou. The chestnut mare recently earned the CPRA Saddle Bronc Horse of the Year award, while being voted in as one of the Top 3 Horses in the PRCA.
Lucas Macza came away with a little money on opening night, and wants to add more after drawing C5’s 5206 Shattered Lunatic. The bay paint can have some moves that are hard to track indoors, but Macza can handle that as well as anyone.
Team Roping presented by Century Mile Racetrack & Casino
After making one of only two clean runs during go-round number 1, Brett Buss and Joey Romo II are keeping up with the top dogs and remain firmly in the race for the title.
Logan and Keely Bonnett placed last night, and with the team roping often coming down to who has the most steers caught by the end of the week, won’t be going away anytime soon.
Tee McLeod and Jake Edwards spent a lot of this season roping all over North America, and plan on continuing to move up the standings after placing last night.
Bull Riding presented by Explore Edmonton
With only one qualified ride during last night’s performance, the rest of the field looks to shake it off and start fresh.
2016 Canadian Champion Jordan Hansen knows how to put the past behind him, and has a great chance to make his accountant happy aboard Yule’s bull, 168 Turbo Tax.
Another former Canadian Champion, Dakota Buttar, plans on some night winnin’ with Duffy’s 18 Day Thuggin
After claiming the 2026 CPRA Permit award and narrowly missing out on the Rookie of the Year title, Kahl Wasilow understands tonight’s mission after drawing Vold’s 172 Special Ops.
For the full list of this year’s CFR qualifiers and many more stories, go to rodeocanada.com
For a 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