Agony and Ecstacy
Edmonton, ALTA – November 11, 2017 – Saturday night’s fourth performance of the 44th Canadian Finals Rodeo was a mix of elation and heartbreak. For some, a door opened for a chance at a Canadian championship while for others, there was the disappointment of knowing their gold buckle hopes had been dashed.
Brazilian bull rider Marcos Gloria has fashioned one of the amazing stories of these finals. The 27 year old came to Edmonton in 11th place in the standings but after riding four of five bulls so far, Gloria has moved to within $11,000 of season leader Garrett Smith of Rexburg, Idaho. The likeable Brazilian’s 88 point ride aboard the Vold bull Corona Time was the top mark on a night of sensational bull riding and gave Gloria a slight edge in the average – just two points up on Smith.
“To be at my first CFR and have a week like this, it’s pretty emotional. It’s a dream to me.” Gloria stated. Looking toward Sunday, he added, “I’m focused. The same way I came today, the same way I came yesterday is how I will come tomorrow. I’m focused. I want this.”
In the team roping, reigning world champions Levi Simpson and Jeremy Buhler put together two winning runs on Super Saturday to pull themselves back into contention for a Canadian title. Back to back 4.1 second runs earned the talented Canadians a 1/2 split in the afternoon and the outright win Saturday night for $20.987.50 each. Their season total of $49,519 is less than $350 back of defending champions Dustin Bird and Russell Cardoza.
When asked about their approach to Sunday, Buhler laughed, “We’ll try to be 4.1 again.” He went on to say, “We don’t want to make the same mistake we made earlier by trying to lay up. Just stay aggressive and try to make a good run.”
Three time Canadian champion bareback rider Jake Vold saw his hopes of a fourth Canadian title take a hit on Saturday night when C5 Rodeo’s Virgil – bareback horse of Canada and the World – put Vold on the ground. Vold had been leading heading into the fifth performance before Virgil, who had previously helped Vold to a couple of titles, this time may have cost the Airdrie the champion’s buckle. Vold’s misfortune moved Seth Hardwick into the driver’s seat. The Ranchester, Wyoming hand sits $7000 back of Vold but leads the average by a comfortable margin and has placed in all five rounds – the only bareback rider to be in that position.
The steer wrestling advantage is clearly in the hands of Benton, Arkansas’ Jason Thomas who is competing at his first CFR. Thomas trails Provost, Alberta dogger Scott Guenthner by less than $1000 but leads the average; while Guenthner is outside the top five for that all important aggregate – that pays the same as the go-rounds. Donalda, AB cowboy Curtis Cassidy is also knocking on the door in the steer wrestling as he sits third in season earnings – just $2000 back of Guenthner and is second in the average.
Season leader, Carman Pozzobon, of Aldergrove, British Columbia, continues to sit atop the barrel racing leaderboard with $57,474 and is four one thousandths of a second up on second place cowgirl and Texan Jaime Hinton in the average.
Saddle bronc rider Layton Green, who had a commanding lead coming into CFR44, has gained back most of the ground he lost during the week to reigning world champion Zeke Thurston. The Meeting Creek cowboy has topped the $90,000 mark in season earnings, giving him a $20,000 cushion over Thurston. For the final performance, Green has drawn the Calgary Stampede horse, Weekend Departure, that Thurston rode to a third round win with an 87.75 while the Big Valley 23 year old, Thurston, matches up against Kesler Championship Rodeo’s Wild Child that dispatched Lane Cust on Thursday.
The tie down roping race remains wide open with at least four athletes having a legitimate shot at the championship. Cameron, Texas roper Blane Cox, leads the foursome with $47,376 won but fellow Texan, Stetson Vest ($46,540) season leader, Logan Bird (43,707) and Stettler’s Riley Warren ($39,844) are all nipping at his heels. Warren leads the average while season leader, Bird, is second.
During Saturday’s matinee performance, Luke Ferber earned his second Canadian steer riding title, edging out depending champion, Dixon Tattrie, by just $16.00.
The final performance of the 2017 Canadian Finals Rodeo starts at 1:00 pm Sunday, November 12. Look for complete results at rodeocanada.com.
About the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association
The Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA) with headquarters in Airdrie, Alberta is the sanctioning body for professional rodeo in Canada. The CPRA approves over 50 events annually with a total payout exceeding $5.1 million. The organization holds the Grass Roots Final (at the Agrium Western Event Centre, Stampede Park in Calgary, Alberta) each September and their premiere event – the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR) – in Edmonton in November. Follow the CPRA on Twitter and Instagrm @prorodeocanada, ‘Like’ Canadian Professional Rodeo Association on Facebook or online at RodeoCanada.com.
Courtesy of CPRA