Hansen Makes Big Move
For 2016 Canadian Bull Riding Champion, Jordan Hansen, it was a lot of miles, book-ended by the smile of a winner.
The journey began with Hansen’s win at La Crete, Alberta’s Field of Dreams Stampede where his 86.5 point ride on Outlaw Buckers’ Alberta Premium garnered the Amisk, Alberta cowboy a $1647 payday.
Then Hansen and travelling buddy (reigning Canadian Champion) Jared Parsonage headed back across the border to the U.S.
““We’ve been spending the majority of our time down south,” Hansen noted, “but this time I kind of got skunked.” This led to the next leg of the trek – an overnight drive from Omak, Washington to Dawson Creek, B.C. for the 100th Dawson Creek Exhibition and Stampede and a meeting with Duane Kesler Championship Rodeo’s Ivy League. “He’s a pressure bull,” Hansen grinned. “I find I pressure up more on bulls like him that everybody is supposed to ride than the ones nobody rides. I was glad it worked out.”
In fact, it worked out to the tune of 88 points on the veteran Kesler bull for a tidy $3421.
The two wins on Canadian soil, made even sweeter by the fact that the Dawson Creek event is part of the SMS Equipment Pro Tour, have the 2017 National Finals Rodeo qualifier confident heading into the regular season’s stretch run and a possible return to Las Vegas in December.
“There’s a lot of good rodeos coming up, and it just takes one good weekend to put you into the mix, so I definitely have a really good chance.”
The twin Canadian successes will move Hansen to within $13,000 of that sought after date with the bright lights of Vegas and to third place in the Canadian standings.
Season leader Jared Parsonage, who was third at La Crete and split 2-3 in Dawson ($3563) sits in 15th spot in the World as of this writing and like his travelling partner, is a genuine threat to put in an NFR appearance of his own.
For another Jordyn – different spelling – same result, it was a first ever pro win. Jordyn Tressider, from Cochrane, Alberta, topped the field in the barrel racing event with a 15.39 second run at Dawson Creek, good for a $2914 cash injection that puts the rookie very much in the CFR conversation.
And Congratulations to Dawson Creek Stampede Chairperson, Connie Patterson, who was presented with the Queen’s Medal as part of the 100th anniversary celebration of the Dawson Creek Exhibition & Stampede.
For complete unofficial results, see rodeocanada.com
This week will see CPRA rodeo athletes stay further south as they travel to Pincher Creek Pro Rodeo in southern Alberta and Cranbrook Rodeo in southern B.C. Both events are part of the Maple Leaf Circuit and run August 19-21.
About the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association
The Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA), with headquarters in Airdrie, Alberta, is Canada’s official sanctioning body for Professional Rodeo. The CPRA approves over 50 events annually, with a total payout exceeding $5.7 million. Each fall, the organization oversees the SMS Equipment Pro Tour Finals, hosts its premiere event – the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR) – at Westerner Park in Red Deer, Alberta and endorses the Maple Leaf Circuit Finals in late November. Follow the CPRA on Twitter and Instagram @prorodeocanada, ‘Like’ Canadian Professional Rodeo Association on Facebook or online at RodeoCanada.com.
Courtesy of CPRA