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Pro Rodeo Contestants Take Regina by Storm

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AIRDRIE, AB – Regina’s Canadian Western Agribition Rodeo returned to its professional rodeo home for the first time in over a decade and the move was greeted by huge crowds and excited competitors.

No one was more excited than Pouce Coupe, BC cowgirl Chelsea Moore who dominated the barrel racing leaderboard and the pay window in her event.

“It’s a relief for sure to get the season off to this kind of start,” Moore smiled after the Regina, Saskatchewan win. The twenty-seven year-old trainer/rider comes from a rodeo family with brother Clayton Moore, the 2013 Steer Wrestling champion of Canada and cousin Timber who makes his home in Aubrey, Texas, winning the Canadian Tie Down Roping title that same year.

But for Chelsea, the last two years have been a bit of a struggle. “We really didn’t get it going until August of both of those years. The first year my horse was green and it just took some seasoning to get him really working. Then this year we had a few injury things going on so again it was tough in July and August. Then he was really awesome for the last couple of months of the season but it was too late to make the CFR. That’s why having a start like this really takes the pressure off. As one of my friends texted me – you’re half way to Edmonton.”

Moore posted a first, a second and won the average, collecting a whopping $6615 (unofficially) at the lucrative kickoff event for the 2017 Canadian pro rodeo season. The BC domination of the barrel racing saw fellow competitors – Savona’s Sarah Gerard finish second ($5264) with three times CFR qualifier Katie Garthwaite of Merritt capturing third spot ($4013).

Moore spoke glowingly of the effort by event organizers. “I was very impressed with the production, with the ground and especially the way we were treated there. It was just a great rodeo and a lot of fun.”

Some of that fun came on the back of her ten year-old sorrel gelding, Badger, (Badger’s First Play) a cutting bred horse, sired by Reys Dual Badger out of Play Shorty Play by Shorty Lena – that her grandfather had been urging her to start training for barrel racing for two years. “I kept telling him I didn’t really want to ride the horse but one day he brought Badger to the house and said ‘just ride him’. So I finally did and there’s been no looking back. I think from now on I’ll listen when Grandpa tells me about a horse.”

Two time Canadian Bull Riding champion, Dakota Buttar, saw his bid for three titles in a row come up short at the recently completed CFR. The Kindersley, Saskatchewan native bounced back with authority at the four day Agribition rodeo finishing second in the first round and splitting 1-3 in the other to give him the average win as well and a $6010 kickstart to the 2017 season.

When Cody Cassidy laid claim to his fifth Canadian steer Wrestling championship just two weeks ago, he made it clear that he hoped to win a few more. The Donalda, Alberta dogger wasted no time in taking a major step in that direction by winning the Regina event in commanding fashion and collecting $5255 in returning to his customary spot atop the Canadian standings.

Other Agribition winners included Albertans: bareback rider, Ky Marshall of Bowden with earnings of $5001; Lane Cust, the Sylvan Lake bronc rider ($4496) and tie down roper, Riley Warren who rode in from Stettler to pocket $5001. And in the team roping, the duo of Chase Simpson (Claresholm) and Braidy Davies (Medicine Hat) teamed to take home $4855. For complete (unofficial) results, go to rodeocanada.com

Next up on the roster for pro rodeo athletes and stock is the Wrangler NFR – which runs December 1 to 10 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Watch for daily results, highlights and releases 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. Join us for our premiere event – the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR) – in early November each year in Edmonton, Alberta at Northlands Coliseum. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat at @prorodeocanada, like Canadian Professional Rodeo Association on Facebook, or online at RodeoCanada.com.

Courtesy of CPRA

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