RODEO HOUSTON
March 10, 2025
Canadian Professional Rodeo Association competitors continue to make some serious noise in the Lone Star state, this time at the famed (and lucrative) Rodeo Houston. With five Super Series (pools), each with three rounds, that will qualify the top four from each bracket to move on, here’s how things sit after the completion of the first two Super Series…
As is often the case, it’s the bronc riders who are leading the charge. #2 ranked bronc rider in the world standings, Dawson Hay; and four time world and five time Canadian Champion, Zeke Thurston both dominated their Series to move on. They’ll be joined by 2017 Canadian Champion, Layton Green; three-time CFR qualifier, Dawson Dahm; and 2025 CFR cowboy Zachary Dallas.
2019 Canadian Champion bareback rider, Orin Larsen; and current Canadian titleist in steer wrestling, Dalton Massey will both progress into the semi-final series. Massey is the 2023 Houston champion. And a couple of team roping duos with CPRA ties will also fight on at Houston. Dawson and Dillon Graham, and Tee McLeod, alongside Sid Sporer will move through to the next round of competition.
Super Series 3 will see Canadian bronc riders Logan Hay, Kolby Wanchuk and Ben Andersen along with the third place finisher in barrel racing at CFR 50–Tiany Schuster–getting intop action in tonight’s first round of Super Series 3.
For a complete recent South of ’49 update, check out https://www.prorodeo.com/results
SAN ANTONIO and TUCSON WRAP UP
Feb 23, 2025 – As a big rodeo weekend wrapped up in the United States, several CPRA athletes found their way to the pay window, some for substantial cheques that translated into solid boosts in their world earnings for 2025.
Dawson Hay was the biggest winner as he captured the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo Saddle Bronc Riding title. The five-time WNFR qualifier teamed up with the Calgary Stampede’s outstanding Y-92 Yipee Kibitz for 90 points in the Finals and a $24,000-cheque that gave him the Texas win and vaulted him to second place in the world standings just $4000 out of the number one spot. Fellow Canadian Ben Andersen split 4th in the Finals to put a capper on a huge couple of weeks south of the medicine line and has moved to 15th in the world standings.
Steer wrestler Landon Beardsworth was 4th in the finals and his San Antonio earnings of $8400 put him in the top fifteen in the world standings (15th spot) for the first time in his career.
And a little further west, Canadian tie-down roper Kyle Lucas continued to have the hot hand as he added the win at the 100th anniversary edition of Tucson’s La Fiesta de los Vaqueros to his string of 2025 successes. The most recent win has him sitting second overall in the world standings. Lucas posted a Finals run of 9.9 seconds on the Tucson track’s long score for a total of 29.3 on three runs to give him Arizona winnings of $12,177.
A third place finish in the bronc riding netted Kolby Wanchuk $4132 at while the brothers Graham (Dawson & Dillon) continued to be solid with an 8th place finish in the team roping and a $5571 addition to the bank account that has both brothers in the top fifteen conversation at this point in the season.
For detailed South of ’49 results, go to https://www.prorodeo.com/results
UPDATE
Feb 20, 2025 – It’s been a productive February for Canadian saddle bronc rider, Ben Andersen. The Eckville, Alberta mega-talent topped the field in Jackson, Mississippi with a superb 87.5 effort that netted him $6007, then followed up by winning the third round of the fifth and final bracket at San Antonio with an 87 pointer to qualify for the critical Texas stop’s semi-finals that gets underway tonight. Andersen has moved into the top 25 in the world standings as he vies for a fifth trip to the bright lights of Las Vegas and the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. The Jackson stop, known as the Dixie National, also saw fellow Canuck, Dawson Dahm take down a second place cheque of $4605 with an 87 point effort.
Other CPRA athletes who earned semi-final berths and a San Antonio stroll include 2023 Canadian champion team ropers Brady Tryan and Calgary Smith, two-time Canadian champion tie down roper, Haven Meged and another trio of bronc riders – Dawson Hay, Zachary Dallas and four time World Champion, Zeke Thurston. Breakaway roping world titleist Shelby Boisjoli-Meged also earned a spot at the semi-final as did Canadian BAW champion Kendal Pierson and CFR qualifier Jenna Dallyn. These athletes will join the previously announced qualifiers moving forward at San Antonio.
SAN ANTONIO STOCK SHOW & RODEO
Feb 15, 2025 – As the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo passes the halfway point in its lengthy February run, a number of CPRA athletes are making noise. With the rodeo comprising five brackets, two semi-finals and a Wild Card round prior to Saturday the 22nd’s Finals, a number of competitors from the north side of the Medicine Line have already punched their ticket to the semi-finals.
Canadian tie down roper Kyle Lucas continues to have the hot hand in the early going of the 2025 season. The second-generation Carstairs, Alberta talent built on the momentum of his second-place finish at Fort Worth and won his San Antonio bracket en route to the semi-finals. He has already earned over $6300 at San Antonio and sits 3rd in the World standings as he vies for his first trip to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. And another superstar, this one of the four-legged variety, continued to shine as well in the City of the Alamo. In round three of the third bracket, the first three placings were all won aboard Logan Bird’s outstanding buckskin, Peso to match the horse’s magic at the 2024 NFR when the same thing happened, This time it was Lucas, 2022 Canadian Champion Ty Harris and Logan Bird himself making the headlines on the three-time Canadian Tie Down Horse of the Year. Former Canadian and World Champion Tuf Cooper and 2023 NFR qualifier, Beau Cooper will join Lucas and Harris in the semis.
Former Canadian Champion, Richmond Champion and former CFR qualifier, Leighton Berry came out of their brackets with a reserved seat in the semi-finals. Canadian Landon Beardsworth who got to his first CFR in 2024 has qualified for the semifinals in the Steer Wrestling while another Canadian title-holder, Kolton Schmidt and his American (and CFR) partner, Landon Glenn also moved on in the team roping.
2017 Canadian Champion bronc rider, Layton Green, 2024 CFR qualifiers Wyatt Casper and Kolby Wanchuk along with three-time CFR hand, Dawson Dahm will all be part of the semi-final action at the season’s second “Texas Swing” event slated for February 19 and 20. Also of note in the bronc riding—Statler Wright won the first round of bracket 3 on the Calgary Stampede bronc Baby Kibitz with an 85 score.
Other CPRA cowboys and cowgirls who are sitting in the top fifteen in the World standings include 2019 Canadian Bareback Champion Orin Larsen (12th), team roping headers–2023 Canadian Champion, Brady Tryan (4th), 2022 champ Dawson Graham (8th) and 2013 titleist Kolton Schmidt and their heelers, Calgary Smith (5th), Dillon Graham (12th) and Landon Glenn (Schmidt’s roping partner is just outside the top fifteen at 17th).
Breakaway roper, Jenna Dallyn, is another Canadian having a big spring as she sits 10th in the world standings and has moved through to the semi-finals at San Antonio.
And in the bronc riding that has typically, in recent years, been Canada’s strongest event, Dawson Hay occupies 3rdplace (and was second in the first round of the not-yet-completed fourth bracket at San Antonio) while Lucas Macza sits 7th on the world stage. 2024 CFR qualifier Zachary Dallas is in 9th place in the world standings and won the first round of that 4th San Antone bracket.
FWSSR FINALS
Feb 9, 2025 – CPRA Athletes Cash Big at Fort Worth
While none of our Canadian competitors enjoyed the winner’s circle, several came away from the first Texas swing stop with tidy bank deposits in hand.
The biggest winner from among the northern contingent was tie-down roper, Kyle Lucas whose 7.7 second run in the Finals earned him second place, just a tenth of a second back of champion Shad Mayfield and added $12.000 to his Fort Worth earnings. That result vaulted the Alberta talent to number six in the world standings as he vies for a first-trip to the National Finals Rodeo. Both Lucas and 2022 Canadian Champion Ty Harris who finished fourth at Fort Worth were riding Peso, Logan Bird’s stand-out buckskin who continues to dazzle on both sides of the border.
In the team roping Dawson and Dillon Graham earned third-place cheques of $8000 with their third place finish in the team roping and are now just outside the top fifteen in the world standings as they too battle for a first trip to the Las Vegas in December.
Oregon, bulldogger Jesse Brown who has made some forays into Canada in recent years sits number one on the world steer wrestling standings following his 3.6 second run for the first place $20.000 cheque in Fort Worth.
Four time World Champion saddle bronc rider Zeke Thurston collected a fourth place $4000 cheque with an 88.5 point ride in a tough bronc riding finals.
Cowboys and cowgirls now make their way to San Antonio and other February PRCA stops.
For detailed South of ’49 PRCA results and updated World standings, check out https://www.prorodeo.com
UPDATE
Feb 8, 2025 – Heading into the Finals of the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, several Canadian Professional Rodeo Association athletes will look to make their mark later today.
In the bronc riding two-time champion, Dawson Hay, matches up with the Calgary Stampede’s Y-38 Yesterday’s Delivery with four-time world titleist and five-time Canadian title-holder, Zeke Thurston, climbing aboard Y-92 Yipee Kibitz. 2019 CFR qualifier, Jake Finlay has drawn Calgary’s 2024 Canadian Champion bronc, T-77 Tokyo Bubbles and South Dakota hand, Cash Wilson will do battle with another Stampede star, B-26, Business Girl.
In the bareback riding, another reigning Canadian Champion, A-91 Agent Lynx (Jacob Lees) leads the four Canadian bareback horses that will see action tonight with Macza Pro Rodeo’s Stevie Knicks (Mason Clements), Calgary’s D-19 Dandy Delight (Weston Timberman) and Jacek Frost aboard D-508 Disco Party forming half of the field of eight finalists.
Two Canadian Champion teams will be part of the team roping Finals. 2022 champions Dawson and Dillon Graham and 2023 champs Brady Tryan and Calgary Smith will swing their loops tonight at Dickie’s Arena.
And in tie-down roping, 2022 Canadian Champion Ty Harris and three-time runner-up for the Canadian title, Kyle Lucas will be among the eight finalists.
UPDATE
Feb 6, 2025 – Saddle bronc rider Dawson Hay came one step closer to becoming a three-time champion at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo’s ProRodeo Tournament Wednesday Night. Hay, from Wildwood, Alberta, Canada, won this rodeo in 2020 and 2023. His score of 89.5 points on J Bar J Rodeo’s Painted J won the Wild Card Round and propelled him to the Semi-Finals. FWSSR photo by James Phifer. (cutline courtesy of the PRCA)
Canadian rough stock continue to shine as well. Also in the Wild Card Round, bareback rider Nick Pelke was 87.5 on Calgary Stampede’s Bigtimin Houston to move into the semi-finals.
Among the previous Go-Round Wins on Canadian horses:
Bareback – Calgary Stampede’s Forged Warrior (Jess Pope, 85), Inchey Whitney (Cooper Cooke, 87) and Macza Pro Rodeo’s Dirty Looks (Sam Patersen, 86)
Saddle Bronc – Calgary Stampede’s Zorta Proud (Statler Wright, 87), Macza Pro Rodeo’s Mary Jane (Layton Green, 86)
Feb 3, 2025 – With only a week remaining in the first of the Texas Swing rodeos for 2025—the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo—CPRA members have been enjoying solid success in the Lone Star state. The Fort Worth format comprises seven brackets, each with two performances, with the top two money earners in each bracket advancing to one of two semi-finals and the third best in each bracket moving on to a wild card performance that precedes the semi-final rounds.
With just one bracket left before the wild card round on the fifth of February, it’s time to see how some of our CPRA affiliated athletes have fared to date.
In bareback riding reigning Canadian Champion Kody Lamb; former champ, Richmond Champion; along with four-time CFR qualifier, Strawbs Jones, all advanced to the Wild Card round.
Steer wrestler Jesse Brown who qualified for the CFR a year ago but did not compete in Edmonton has qualified for the semi-finals in Fort Worth while Canadian Ryan Shuckburgh will move through to the wild card. In the Team Roping a couple of Canadian titleist teams have gotten through to the semi-final round. 2022 champs, Dawson and Dillon Graham and 2023 title-holders Brady Tryan and Calgary Smith will compete in the semi-finals as will 2019 champ Hunter Koch (alongside partner Cody Snow).
The bronc riders who moved on to the semi-final round include Ben Anderson, five time Canadian and four-time world champ, Zeke Thurston, Zachary Dallas, Quentin Taylor and Jake Finley with Kolby Wanchuk, Wyatt Casper and Dawson Hay all getting through to the wild card performance.
The CPRA tie-down ropers moving into the semis are four-time champion Shane Hanchey, 2022 titleist Ty Harris, two-time and reigning champion Haven Meged and three-time runner-up, Kyle Lucas with 2017 champion Logan Bird getting through to the wild card round. Three of those cowboys, Harris, Lucas and Bird, are riding Bird’s amazing buckskin Daddys Shiner Cat or Peso.
2024 CFR barrel racing qualifier Tiany Schuster and four-time Canadian Champion Lisa Lockhart have both qualified for the semi-finals in barrel racing while breakaway ropers Jenna Dallyn and Shaya Biever have also roped their way to semi-finals berths.
For detailed South of ’49 results, check out https://www.prorodeo.com/results