Logan Bird Soars to Canadian Victory
EDMONTON, Alberta – For the first time since 2008 a Canadian won the highly coveted title of Canadian Tie-down Roping Champion thanks to Logan Bird of Nanton, Alberta.
“It’s a dream come true,” Bird said. “I’m Canadian and I’ve been dreaming of winning the Canadian title since I was a kid.”
Just like the PRCA’s world title, winning the Canadian title is a yearlong process with countless miles and many competitions.
“I thought I roped good this year and I have a good horse and drew good calves and was able to win a lot throughout the year,” Bird said.
Bird was mounted on his well-known American Quarter Horse, TJ. At only 14 years old, TJ has won more than $500,000 with numerous appearances at the CFR and Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Polaris RANGER with some big names in ProRodeo on his back, Bird said.
This was TJ’s fifth time at the CFR and he’s competed at the WNFR twice. Among his many accomplishments, TJ took Shane Hanchey to a CFR victory in 2015 and Ryan Jarrett placed eighth in the average with 94.1 seconds on nine head at the 2016 WNFR.
“At first he wasn’t trained to rope, but he had potential and my dad (Manerd Bird) made him into a rope horse and now he does the same thing every time,” Bird said.
Bird’s focus is primarily on competing in the Great White North. Having joined the PRCA in January 2014, Bird ranked 54th with $23,042 in 2016, 123rd with $9,716 in 2015 and 166th with $6,277 in 2014 with the PRCA.
However, his story north of the border is more successful.
“I’ve made the CFR three times, so I hope to make it 20,” Bird said.
For PRCA rodeos in 2017, Bird was co-champion at the Broncs and Honky Tonks Springs Rodeo with Morgan Grant in Medicine Hat, Alberta, in April. He also won the Medicine Hat (Alberta) Stampede in July and the North Peace Stampede in Grimshaw, Alberta, in August.
Bird took that momentum and went on to win $22,138 at the CFR, making him the Canadian tie-down roping champion for 2017 with $52,045.
“I had a really good year and had a good week,” Bird said. “At the end, I knew with my last one, if I tied him down I’d have a good chance at winning it. I just tried to back in there and be aggressive. I was just focused on throwing a good loop and making a good catch.”
Up next, Bird is heading down to Arizona for some PRCA rodeos during the winter and then he’ll be back in Canada so that he can compete while working alongside his dad at their stock contracting and horse training business, Lazy B Quarter Circle Timed Events.
“Last year I won about $18,000 (at the CFR), so I’ve been close a couple of times and it’s cool to win that much in a week,” Bird said, adding that he’s saving up to build a house.
Other 2017 Canadian Champions are bareback rider Seth Hardwick, steer wrestler Jason Thomas, saddle bronc rider Layton Green, team roping header Levi Simpson, team roping heeler Jeremy Buhler, barrel racer Carman Pozzobon and bull rider Garrett Smith.
For more coverage of the Canadian Finals Rodeo, check out the Nov. 24 issue of ProRodeo Sports News.
Courtesy of PRCA