Red Deer’s Peavey Mart Centrium erupted today when Big Valley, Alta superstar bronc rider, Zeke Thurston clinched his record fourth consecutive saddle bronc riding title.
Despite bucking off his first bronc of the five-day Finals, Thurston ended the week with $89,186 for a $38,000 margin of victory over second-place cowboy, Ben Andersen.
For Thurston, winning the Canadian title never gets old. “I’m as excited to win this one as I was the first one,” he acknowledged.
Another of the more dramatic moments on Championship Sunday at CFR ’49 occurred in the Ladies’ Barrel Racing. Brooks, Alta’s Lynette Brodoway earned her first Canadian title but it came down to the final run to get it done. A tipped barrel in round four set the season leader back in the aggregate and despite placing in four of six rounds, Brodoway and her Horse of the Year, SR Boots On Fire or Cowboy, had to bring their A-game.
“I just tried to ride Cowboy to the best of my ability and let him do his job,” said the happy cowgirl. “His best run of the whole week was today.”
The pair clocked a 13.61 from the top of the ground to earn the second-place cheque and move up a notch in the aggregate. With a total of $72.831, the six-time CFR qualifier was declared the champion.
Steer wrestler Scott Guenthner enjoyed a solid week at CFR, with two round wins, two seconds and a fourth, along with a second-place finish in the aggregate for an impressive $73,326 in earnings en route to his fourth Canadian title. The likable Provost, Alta rancher and family man credited consistency throughout the week and dependable horse power (he was mounted on Curtis Cassidy’s award-winning Tyson) as contributing factors to his success.
Season leader, Dalton Massey from Hermiston, OR finished in the reserve position while Wainwright bull dogger, Ty Miller, won the Aggregate title (26.0 seconds even on six runs).
Cadogan, Alta bareback rider, Clint Laye won his second Canadian title as the 30-year-old (he’ll celebrate that birthday in three weeks) put together a week that saw him win two rounds and the Aggregate (516.5 points for six rides) and finish no worse than third in a round. Laye amassed $90,894 for a $16,000 margin of victory over second-place finisher, Orin Hansen.
Logan Spady was named the All-Around Champion. The tie-down roper/team roping heeler clinched the title with his Sunday performance at CFR – a 4.6-second run with partner Kolton Schmidt which netted the pair second in the round and second in the Aggregate.
Kyle Wanchuk captured the coveted Kenny McLean award with his regular season success in both team roping heeling (with partner Luke Skocdopole) and saddle bronc riding.
The prestigious 2023 CPRA Cowboy of the Year award, sponsored by Legend Rodeo, was presented to Tanner Girletz – 2006 Canadian Bull Riding Champion, youth rodeo coach and CPRA Rodeo Administrator.
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