Hay Bounces Back – Big Time – at Agribition Rodeo
Airdrie, ALTA – November 26, 2018 – Dawson Hay has put the disappointment of his first CFR behind him and is moving on… with a vengeance.
The sophomore professional made that statement in capital letters with a convincing saddle bronc riding win at the 2019 CPRA season kickoff at Regina, Saskatchewan’s Agribition Pro Rodeo.
“I would have liked to do better at Red Deer for sure but I look at the two good rides I made (86.5 and 85.25 points for a second and third place finish) and focus on the positive”, the third generation mega-talent noted. “And getting a big win at the first one of the new season takes the weight off a guy’s shoulders.”
The cheque Hay referred to was the among the largest coming out of Agribition courtesy of a third place ride in the first go-round on C5 Rodeo’s Blue Moon; he then followed up with a picture perfect 85 pointer on C5’s Double D in round two. The solid results gave the twenty year-old a $5088 payday.
“It’s really cool to get a big cheque before the spring rodeos get here,” Hay added. And the confidence boost won’t hurt either as the 2017 Canadian Novice Champion heads south. “I’m going to Las Vegas to ride in the Bucking Horse Futurity down there and I’ve been invited to the Chase Hawks (Montana event) in December as well.” And there’s the big buildings south of the 49th parallel as well—Denver, Houston and San Antonio among them–that will feel the presence of the gifted Canadian as 2019 rolls around.
The teenage barrel racing talent, Taylor Manning, was the biggest winner at Regina. The fourteen year-old Yellowhead County cowgirl parlayed a third in the first go, a second go-round win and the aggregate title into a $5154 cheque.
Staying with the young winners theme, Calgary bareback rider Connor Hamilton, the 2017 Canadian Novice Champion, scored a big-time win as he pocketed just over $4500 and took a giant step toward a first CFR qualification in the open bareback riding.
And in the steer wrestling, Fort St John’s Stephen Culling continued to have the hot hand. Coming off an aggregate win at the CFR, the 2017 PRCA steer wrestling Rookie of the Year, like both Hay and Manning, combined a third place finish with wins in the second go-round and the aggregate for a $5020 strike to kick off the season.
Another big winner at Regina was Curtis Cassidy; the veteran two-event cowboy refused to take his foot off the pedal as he prepares for his Las Vegas pursuit of a world title. The Donalda, AB superstar enters the WNFR as the #1 ranked steer wrestler in the world and at Regina won money in both the bulldogging and the tie-down roping to top $4600 in earnings.
Other Agribition winners included three-time high point champion Morgan Grant in the tie-down roping; 2016 titleist, Jordan Hansen in the bull riding while a pair of teams–Jesse Popescul and Wyatt Eirikson along with four-time champion Levi Simpson and Kasper Roy on the heeling side prevailed to split 1 and 2 in the team roping.
For complete unofficial Agribition results, go to rodeocanada.com. And check back for up to the minute results and stories from the upcoming Wrangler National Finals Rodeo December 6 through 15.
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 September 27-28 at Stampede Park in Calgary, Alberta and their premiere event – the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR) – at the ENMAX Centrium, Westerner Park in Red Deer, Alberta, October 30 – November 4. Follow the CPRA on Twitter and Instagram @prorodeocanada, ‘Like’ Canadian Professional Rodeo Association on Facebook or online at RodeoCanada.com.
Courtesy of CPRA