Grant Enjoys Profitable BC Weekend
It’s called Labour Day because it recognizes and celebrates the achievements of workers across the country.
Morgan Grant takes the spirit of the Labour Day weekend to heart. And as he has done in the past, the 2013 Canadian High Point champion enjoyed a productive and profitable weekend. The Granton, Ontario native “worked” the IPE and Stampede in Armstrong and the Merritt Pro Rodeo for just over $8,000, part of an $11,000 weekend including his earnings in Ellensburg and Walla Walla, Washington.
The lion’s share of Grant’s winnings came from Armstrong where he pulled $4400 out of the tie down roping and steer wrestling courtesy of a 2-4 split ($2821) in the dogging and a 6/7 split in the roping ($1586) during the regular rodeo action. Then during the Wrangler Shoot Out Sunday performance, he added a second place finish in the roping for $1800 and a third in the steer wrestling for another $1200.
“That’s one of my favourite rodeos for sure,” Grant revealed. “It’s such a great production and it’s under the lights. The crowd really gets into it—it’s like a party.
“I did really well there last year too and in 2013, that was where I first started talking to (former Miss Rodeo Canada) Gillian Shields,” Grant chuckled. That worked out rather well too as the couple will be tying the knot on October 15.
This year’s British Columbia haul carried the 2013 Canadian High Point champion to just over $40,000 and a solid lead in this year’s High Point battle.
”This is the most regular season money I’ve won in my career so far,” the Texas A and M alumnus acknowledged. “Plus it’s really good to be going to the CFR in both my events. It’s a big advantage to be in two events in Edmonton when you’re trying to win the High Point.”
And Grant makes no secret of the fact that he has his sights set on capturing for a second time the prestigious award that goes to the highest earning cowboy in any two events over the entire season (including the Canadian Finals Rodeo).
And once again it was the Ponoka Stampede that marked something of a turnaround for the second generation timed event specialist.
“I was pretty cold all spring,” Grant admitted, “but my (second place) run in the short go at Ponoka pretty much changed my year. There are peaks and valleys in every season for every competitor but you have to try to extend the highs as long as you can and just get through the lows.”
Grant is quick to point to horsepower and great hazers (Cody Cassidy, Tanner Milan, Bo Anderson) as the keys to his bulldogging success. “My horse, Bumps, and I have really come together in the last half of this season. I think I’m riding him better now. And if I need to give him some time off, I’ve been able to ride Curtis Cassidy’s horse or Dustin Walker’s horse and they’re just outstanding.”
Other big weekend winners included two time bareback rider champion, Jake Vold ($4751) and 2012 champ, JR Vezain; bronc rider Layton Green ($5286); reigning steer wrestling champion, Cody Cassidy ($4621 and brother Curtis, the defending Canadian High point Champion ($3986), bull rider Brock Radford ($4481); Armstrong barrel racing champion, Callahan Crosley (3956) and Kirsty White ($3518) as well as tie down roper, Matt Shiozawa ($3740) and team roper/tie down roper, Dustin Bird ($4058).
For complete weekend results go to rodeocanada.com.
Next up on the CPRA schedule is the Medicine Lodge Fall Roundup with action getting underway at 1 pm on Saturday, September 10.
Wrangler Canadian Pro Tour
The final performance of the IPE and Stampede in Armstrong was also the finale of the 2016 Wrangler Canadian Professional Rodeo Tour. Dubbed the Wrangler Shoot-Out, that all important Sunday performance saw the Shoot Out Champions crowned along with the overall Wrangler Tour titleists decided. The 2016 champions are:
Bareback Riding
Jake Vold
Saddle Bronc
Clay Elliott (Shootout Champ)
Dustin Flundra (Wrangler Tour Champ)
Bull Riding
Wacey Finkbeiner (Shootout Champ)
Dakota Buttar (Wrangler Tour Champ)
Tie Down Roping
Matt Shiozawa
Steer Wrestling
Curtis Cassidy (Shootout Champ)
Cody Cassidy (Wrangler Tour Champ)
Ladies Barrel Racing
Kirsty White (Shootout Champ)
Callahan Crossley (Wrangler Tour Champ)
Team Roping (header)
Jake Rodriguez (Shootout Champ)
Brett Buss (Wrangler Tour Champ)
Team Roping (heeler)
Mike Beers (Shootout Champ)
Klay Whyte (Wrangler Tour Champ)
Vold, Flundra, Buttar, Shiozawa and Cassidy all earn byes to the 2017 Calgary Stampede.
For complete weekend results go to rodeocanada.com.
Next up on the CPRA schedule is the Medicine Lodge Fall Roundup with action getting underway at 1 pm on Saturday, September 10.
About the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association
The Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA) with headquarters in Airdrie, Alta., is the sanctioning body for professional rodeo in Canada. The CPRA approves over 50 events annually with a total payout exceeding $5.1 million. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat at @prorodeocanada, like Canadian Professional Rodeo Association on Facebook, or online at RodeoCanada.com.
Courtesy of the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association