Pro Rodeo
PHOTO BY ROUGHSTOCK STUDIO/BILLIE-JEAN DUFF
CANADA
INSIDER
ELLIOTT WINS HARDGRASS BRONC MATCH Clay Elliott, now of Nanton, Alta., scored a wellearned 92 pts on Calgary Stampede’s S-83 Special Delivery at the Hardgrass Bronc Match held “in the middle of nowhere” in front of thousands of diehard bronc riding fans just outside of the city limits of Pollockville, Alta. That’s multi-Hall of Fame pick up man, Gary Rempel, grinning in the background.
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Canadian Cowboy Country October/November 2018
C.P.R.A.
2018 Canadian Professional Rodeo Association Schedule SEPTEMBER Brooks, AB...................................................... Sep 21–22 Hanna, AB........................................................ Sep 28–30 Calgary, AB ..................................................... Sep 27–28
OCTOBER Canadian Finals Rodeo Red Deer, AB................................................... Oct 30–Nov 4
NOVEMBER
President's Message
PHOTO COURTESY CPRA
We’ve just come through one of the busiest seasons to date at Pro Rodeo Canada — a season marked by spectacular rides and runs, as well as change and growth within our organization. I’m excited to say, we’ve just signed another agreement with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). A new element to this partnership is the introduction of the Maple Leaf Circuit, which will begin in 2019. The champions of this Circuit — two in each event — will qualify for the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo in Kissimmee, Fla., starting in 2020. Look for details over the next few weeks, including designated circuit rodeos, location of the Circuit Finals, contestant criteria and more. The September Labour Day weekend saw the Finning Pro Rodeo Tour wrap up with the ninth event on the tour and the tour final — both hosted by the IPE and Stampede in Armstrong, B.C. Congratulations to Armstrong for another great weekend of rodeo, thank you to our title tour sponsor, Finning Canada, and ‘well done’ Tour Champions! Rodeo fans, sponsors and competitors also enjoyed the fifth Grass Roots Final September 27–28. Held at the Nutrien Western Event Centre in Stampede Park, it gives qualifiers a last opportunity to earn a CFR qualification. And we’re less than a month from our biggest event of the season — the Canadian Finals Rodeo. The excitement is building as we head to the new home of the CFR — Westerner Park in Red Deer, Alta. Westerner Park welcomed rodeo youth to a Rising Stars Junior event Aug 25, which served as a qualifier for the Rising Stars Junior Canadian Finals Rodeo set for the afternoon of Nov 3 during the CFR. The CFR organizers also rolled out CFR45 branding, welcomed several new sponsors onboard and announced that seven-time Canadian Announcer of the Year, Brett Gardner, would be the official CFR Announcer for the next five years. Look for further details about the Finals at rodeocanada.com Best of luck to the 2018 CFR competitors! — Terry Cook, President, CPRA
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Official Start of 2019 Rodeo Season Regina, SK....................................................... Nov 21–24 Dates are subject to change. Please visit rodeocanada.com for updated information, including rodeo standings, results, stock draws and press releases.
Be sure to visit the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association booth at Westerner Park during CFR45! Speak with the pros about membership information and check out the pro rodeo souvenirs. For more, visit rodeocanada.com
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Pro Rodeo Canada Insider
The Short Round
By TERRI MASON
The storied Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame is located on the second floor of the massive Calnash Trucking Ag Event Centre on Hwy 2A leading into Ponoka
While in Red Deer for CFR45, take a drive north up QEII to Ponoka, and pay a visit to the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame, located on the second floor of the Calnash Trucking Ag Event Centre at 3611 AB-2A. The Hall is filled with memory-evoking souvenirs, rodeo photos, championship saddles and halters, plus gear from the competitors themselves — ranging from chaps to hats to back numbers. Anything you’ve ever needed to know about professional rodeo and the athletes that graced the chutes and the out gates can be found here in this masterfully curated treasure trove of rodeo glory,
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including the stories on the 2018 Inductees: Fred Duke — Canadian Champion Tie-Down Roper in 1966; Wayde Joyal — Canadian Champion Bull Rider in 1993 and 1994; Doug (Shakey) Russell — Four-time Canadian Finals Rodeo selected bullfighter, and in the Livestock category, Rodeo News — Saddle bronc from Kesler Rodeo, that was so infamous, two-time World Champion Saddle Bronc Rider, Mel Hyland, wrote a song about the great horse. For more on the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame, including their hours during the Canadian Finals Rodeo, visit them at their new website canadianprorodeohalloffame.org. – T.M.
ON THE COVER The Hardgrass Bronc Match, held July 28, saw 30 of the top bronc riders and thousands of bronc-riding fans gather literally “in the middle of nowhere” to cheer on the cowboys who rode for a piece of $30,000. Pollockville, which has a massive, modern community hall, is difficult to find on a map, but fans made the effort and welcomed the hometown hero, Clay Elliott, (whose late mother, Mona, was raised within 50 miles of the perfectly groomed arena) as he won the whole shebang with an 89 on Calgary Stampede’s CS U-7 Umber Bubbles in Round One, and advanced to the Short Round where he also kicked it into high gear again to take the round with a well-earned 92 pts on Calgary Stampede’s S-83 Special Delivery. (For full results, visit rodeocanada.com.) At the Hardgrass, the 30 cowboys made 15 teams, who were then auctioned off in a continuous wild card calcutta. For the short round, the eight highest-scoring contestants chose their horse from an incredibly well-matched pen of broncs, and then each one was auctioned off — again in a wild card calcutta. The stock contractors were Big Stone Rodeo and Calgary Stampede, both neighbours of the event. How successful was it? All told, the calcuttas raised around $500,000, of which the charities of choice, STARS Air Ambulance and HALO Rescue, shared around $90,000. – T.M.
Canadian Cowboy Country October/November 2018
PHOTO COURTESY CALNASH TRUCKING AG EVENT CENTRE
CANADIAN PRO RODEO HALL OF FAME
C.P.R.A.
MIKE COPEMAN
Participants in regalia parading on the beach of the South China Sea near Jima
PHOTOS COURTESY CHINA: KATIE GARTHWAITE, CHINAPLUS; COPEMAN: CHRIS BOLIN PHOTOGRAPHY
WAYFARING COWGIRL Riders from around the world, including B.C. cowgirls Katie Garthwaite and Mariah Mannering, made Canada somewhat proud as they competed on the beach of the South China Sea during the China Jimo International Cowboy Festival / ZWU World Cup Barrel Racing Championships in Jimo, Shandong Province, China. “It’s a lot different than home,” texted Katie from China. “You have to draw a number, and that decides which horses you ride, so it is really luck of the draw.” Over 500 cowboys and 200 horses took part in the festival, which celebrated its fifth year. When asked how “Canada” placed, she answered: “Canada didn’t do that well. I hit barrels every time, but my partner finished 13th overall. My last run — I would have been the fastest time and won $3,000, but I hit barrels.” Katie and her husband have been in Qingdao, China since early spring, training horses for a $500-million Chinese movie project, Feng Shen. The CPRA member was invited to take part in the massive barrel racing competition, which also included riders from Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Mexico, Netherlands, Paraguay, Poland, United Kingdom, Uruguay and China. Katie, a multi-time CFR qualifier in barrel racing, is the owner of Frenchie, voted the 2013 Barrel Racing Horse with the Most Heart. – T.M.
Katie Garthwaite and Mariah Mannering carrying the colours at the International Cowboy Festival in China
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I caught up with renowned rodeo photographer, Mike Copeman, and asked him about his recent absence from the rodeo arena. He had recently been “doctoring” to fix an issue with his hand. The physicians were able to clear that up, and with all the tests they were running, they found what could have been a more serious issue, and Mike is currently undergoing treatment. “I appreciate everybody’s thoughts and prayers during my therapy,” says Mike. The multi-award-winning professional shooter is a triple threat with a camera by specializing in commercial, architectural and rodeo photography. Mike was voted as the 2004 PRCA Photographer of the Year, has been the official photographer of most every major professional rodeo in Canada including the Canadian Finals, and the official photographer of the National Finals Rodeo. His extensive and notable rodeo archives go back to 1989. We all wish Mike the best as he concentrates his full efforts on improving his health. – T.M.
Multi-award-winning photographer, Mike Copeman
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Pro Rodeo Canada Insider 2019 Miss Rodeo Canada
CONTENDERS
Each year we see the exciting competition as young women, already rodeo queens, vie for the ultimate crown in rodeo — Miss Rodeo Canada. Six contestants will be judged in many areas, including horsemanship, public speaking, and rodeo knowledge. Miss Rodeo Canada 2019 will make over 400 personal appearances across the country.
Kaylee Billyboy, Williams Lake, B.C. Williams Lake Stampede Queen A fourth-generation cowgirl, Kaylee has always cherished rodeo. She has finished her third year in the Bachelor of Arts program in hopes of becoming a teacher.
Brittany Doyle, Kennedy, Sask. Miss Moose Mountain Pro Rodeo Queen
Alicia Erickson, Trochu, Alta. Miss Ponoka Stampede Alicia has a passion for volunteerism and education. She earned her Youth Justice studies diploma and is working towards a bachelor’s degree in social work.
Jaden Holle, Claresholm, Alta. Chad Besplug Invitational Bull Riding Queen Jaden speaks three languages, is studying for a Bachelor of Education, was 2017 Calgary Stampede Princess and was crowned the first Queen of the Chad Besplug Invitational. Ashley Hygaard, Airdrie, Alta. Airdrie Pro Rodeo Princess College grad Ashley Hygaard earned a diploma in both Agribusiness and Animal Science. She works for the Calgary Stampede in Western Events and Agriculture. Sage Nelson, Youngstown, Alta. Hanna Pro Rodeo Queen Sage is a fifth-generation cattle rancher and has been selected as one of the top eight artists for the 2019 Calgary Stampede Poster.
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2018 Miss Rodeo Canada
Brittney Chomistek What a journey my year as Miss Rodeo Canada 2018 has been! As I sit back and reflect on this past year, I realize how fortunate I have been, and I am so grateful to many people who have helped me along the way. A special thanks is needed for the Miss Rodeo Canada Board of Directors who provided me with unconditional support and spent countless volunteer hours to ensure I had the most amazing year! I would also like to recognize the many sponsors, CPRA, rodeo committees, cowboys and cowgirls for allowing me to represent your organization and professional rodeo in Canada. Each of you has played a special role in my year, made me feel so welcomed and part of your rodeo family. I would also like to thank my own family for your unwavering support and for believing in the dreams I wanted to pursue. My trips home this year were often only brief enough to wash clothes and repack my suitcase, but I always looked forward to seeing you. To the MRC 2019 Contestants, I wish each of you the best of luck and encourage you to enjoy the process, believe in yourself, pursue your dreams and passions, and inspire others. This year was like living a fairy tale; however, I look forward to what my future has to offer, and I will continue to promote the great sport of rodeo. Forever Grateful, Brittney Chomistek Miss Rodeo Canada 2018
Canadian Cowboy Country October/November 2018
PHOTOS COURTESY MISS RODEO CANADA
A registered nurse and accomplished horsewoman, Brittany has earned three International High-Point Championships, and twice was a top-ten finalist at the ApHC Youth World Championships.
PROUD TO BE IN OUR COMMUNITY
1-888-Finning | Finning.com 346-6464
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Pro Rodeo Canada Insider
CPRA STANDINGS TOP TEN AS OF SEPTEMBER 7, 2018 Including IPE & Stampede, Finning Pro Tour Finals, Merritt-Nicola Valley. For up-to-date standings, visit rodeocanada.com
SADDLE BRONC Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Name CDN Rodeo Count Clay Elliott 15 Zeke Thurston 15 Jake Watson 26 Dawson Hay 24 Dusty Hausauer 32 Jim Berry 38 Tyrel Larsen 17 Cort Scheer 17 Layton Green 23 Sam Kelts 33
LADIES BARREL RACING Address Nanton, AB Big Valley, AB Hudsons Hope, BC Wildwood, AB Dickinson, ND Rocky Mtn House, AB Inglis, MB Elsmere, NE Meeting Creek, AB Stavely, AB
Earnings $39,904.18 $33,630.38 $25,332.70 $20,508.70 $20,458.55 $20,184.83 $17,417.09 $17,398.92 $17,064.89 $16,503.38
Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Address Dublin, TX Airdrie, AB Bowden, AB Regina, SK Inglis, MB Carbon, AB Tremonton, UT Cadogan, AB Eastend, SK Kamloops, BC
Earnings $41,133.98 $33,747.91 $30,991.27 $28,260.26 $22,490.49 $20,173.57 $19,964.64 $18,424.88 $17,715.15 $16,521.94
Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Address Calgary, AB Dewinton, AB Ponoka, AB Meeting Creek, AB Maple Creek, SK Meadow Lake, SK Strathmore, AB Ponoka, AB Cadogan, AB Elrose, SK
Earnings $32,078.70 $29,071.61 $28,938.40 $28,758.73 $28,598.74 $24,926.12 $22,942.36 $21,204.05 $20,891.59 $19,065.83
Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
BAREBACK Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Name CDN Rodeo Count Richmond Champion 18 Jake Vold 18 Ky Marshall 34 Ty Taypotat 18 Orin Larsen 15 Cole Goodine 34 Caleb Bennett 15 Clint Laye 15 Dantan Bertsch 32 Gavin Derose 28
Name CDN Rodeo Count Jordan Hansen 17 Brock Radford 12 Zane Lambert 17 Garrett Green 21 Jared Parsonage 21 Cody Lee Coverchuk 19 Scott Schiffner 20 Wacey Finkbeiner 30 Lonnie West 14 JB Moen 34
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Name CDN Rodeo Count Scott Guenthner 28 Stephen Culling 34 Tanner Milan 28 Craig Weisgerber 38 Cody Cassidy 37 Bridger Chambers 23 Kody Dollery 33 Clayton Moore 31 Brendan Laye 36 Harley Cole 32
Name CDN Rodeo Count Tristin Woolsey 35 Devin Wigemyr 39 Brady Minor 15 Chase Tryan 15 Brett McCarroll 36 Riley Warren 39 Tyrel Flewelling 35 Tyce McLeod 35 Trent Tunke 38 Rocky Dallyn 20
Address Nanton, AB Brooks, AB Ellensburg, WA Helena, MT Camrose, AB Stettler, AB Lacombe, AB Waldeck, SK Medicine Hat, AB Nanton, AB
Earnings $29,830.15 $24,047.19 $18,133.69 $16,827.43 $14,762.63 $14,371.60 $13,040.46 $12,598.78 $11,315.77 $10,463.70
Address Strathmore, AB Vulcan, AB Ellensburg, WA Jay, OK Camrose, AB Waldeck, SK Two Hills, AB Crossfield, AB Huntley, MT Ponoka, AB
Earnings $26,823.12 $22,854.56 $18,133.67 $16,827.43 $14,762.61 $14,685.63 $14,325.28 $13,485.69 $11,980.01 $11,493.73
Address Scandia, AB Stettler, AB Sulphur, LA Didsbury, AB Carstairs, AB Sexsmith, AB Wood Mountain, SK Donalda, AB Childress, TX Nanton, AB
Earnings $23,331.17 $21,859.95 $20,923.34 $20,480.91 $20,395.71 $15,990.49 $15,253.19 $13,460.01 $13,294.42 $13,290.55
TEAM ROPING HEADER Name CDN Rodeo Count Denver Johnson 34 Roland McFadden 38 Riley Minor 15 Brenten Hall 16 Justin McCarroll 36 Tuftin McLeod 38 Clay Ullery 38 Grady Quam 31 Brady Tryan 27 Levi Simpson 33
TIE-DOWN ROPING
STEER WRESTLING Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Address Earnings Savona, BC $44,078.74 Yellowhead County, AB $30,525.20 Ponoka, AB $23,987.12 Dickinson, ND $22,239.08 Hermiston, OR $20,902.88 Hudson Bay, SK $19,927.09 Dalhart, TX $19,718.74 Abilene, TX $17,903.36 Longview, AB $15,959.98 Big Valley, AB $14,426.35
TEAM ROPING HEELER
BULL RIDING Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Name CDN Rodeo Count Carman Pozzobon 35 Taylor Manning 39 Shayna Weir 37 Nikki Hansen 18 Callahan Crossley 26 Bertina Olafson 31 Shelby Spielman 25 Angela Ganter 34 Kylie Whiteside 35 Diane Skocdopole 33
Address Provost, AB Fort St. John, BC Cochrane, AB Ponoka, AB Donalda, AB Stevensville, MT Caldwell, TX Pouce Coupe, BC Consort, AB Okotoks, AB
Earnings $36,772.99 $23,580.82 $22,948.87 $20,712.24 $20,074.10 $19,318.35 $18,097.90 $17,762.01 $16,597.48 $16,596.45
Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Name CDN Rodeo Count Alwin Bouchard 37 Riley Warren 40 Shane Hanchey 15 Morgan Grant 38 Kyle Lucas 35 Lee Rombough 39 Jesse Popescul 41 Curtis Cassidy 36 Stetson Vest 21 Logan Bird 40
Canadian Cowboy Country October/November 2018
C.P.R.A.
FINNING PRO TOUR WRAPS UP IN ARMSTRONG By BARB POULSEN/TERRI MASON
Kyle Lucas making his winning 8.5-second run at the Shoot Out
PHOTO BY JEREMY WOMBOLD
T
HE FINAL WEEKEND FOR THE FINNING PRO TOUR CAME TO A DRAMATIC CONCLUSION IN FRONT OF RECORD CROWDS AT THE IPE EXHIBITION & STAMPEDE IN ARMSTRONG, BC ON THE LABOUR DAY WEEKEND.
The overall tour champions, declared once final points were tabulated, included Ty Taypotat (bareback), Zeke Thurston (saddle bronc), Cody Lee Coverchuk (bull riding), Kyle Lucas (tie-down roping), Stephen Culling (steer wrestling), Carman Pozzobon (barrel racing), Denver Johnson (team roping header) and Tristin Woolsey (team roping heeler). The lucrative Finning Pro Tour, which includes CPRA rodeos with $8,000 or more in prize money, kicked off in June at the Wainwright Stampede, and included eight additional stops through the season in the Alberta towns of Ponoka, Edmonton, Medicine Hat and Strathmore; Morris, Man., and B.C., communities, Williams Lake, Dawson Creek and Armstrong. A key component of the Rodeo Canada schedule, the Tour, attracts many top names in rodeo from both sides of the 49th parallel. Tour winners in rough stock events, tie-down and steer wrestling receive invites to the 2019 Calgary Stampede. Second-generation roper, Kyle Lucas, the son of four-time Canadian Champion, “Smokin’ Joe” Lucas, was among those cowboycountrymagazine.com
whose Armstrong performance clinched his win and ticket to Calgary. Lucas made an 8.1 second run — good for a 2-3 split — that set the stage for his Sept 2 Shoot-Out win where his 8.5 second run topped the field. The combined Armstrong successes garnered Lucas the Pro Tour title. “It was a really good weekend for sure,” said the tall Carstairs, Alta., roper. “But I was pretty nervous in the Shoot Out rodeo. I had the benefit of going last, and some guys had some bad luck, so I knew I just had to be solid. But sometimes, when it’s wide open like that, you can over-think it and mess up. I just tried to make sure I was okay at the barrier, then I ran the calf out a bit further and tried to be good on the ground.” A three-time CFR qualifier, Lucas was especially happy that the weekend clinched a second appearance at the Calgary Stampede. “I was there last year for the first time. It’s such a cool rodeo; it’s great to be going back.” Congratulations to the Armstrong IPE & Stampede winners, the Shoot-Out winners and the 2019 Finning Pro Tour Champions! c
2018 Finning Pro Tour
Champions Saddle Bronc Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, AB Bareback Ty Taypotat, Regina, SK Bull Riding Cody Lee Coverchuk Meadow Lake, SK Tie-Down Roping Kyle Lucas, Carstairs, AB Steer Wrestling Stephen Culling, Fort St. John, BC Ladies Barrel Racing Carman Pozzobon, Savona, BC Team Roping Heeler Tristin Woolsey, Nanton, AB Team Roping Header Denver Johnson, Strathmore, AB
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Pro Rodeo Canada Insider
MANNING TWINS MAKE HISTORY By BARB POULSEN
F
OR THE FIRST TIME IN ITS 45-YEAR HISTORY, THE CANADIAN FINALS RODEO WILL SEE A SET OF TWINS IN COMPETITION. FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD TAYLOR MANNING WILL MAKE HER SECOND CONSECUTIVE CFR APPEARANCE IN THE LADIES BARREL RACING EVENT, WHILE BROTHER, TRISTEN, WILL ENJOY HIS FIRST CFR
“I’m super excited I get to be at CFR again,” Taylor enthused, “and it’ll be great to be there with my brother. And I think Red Deer (the new home for the CFR) will do an amazing job; they’re trying really hard to make this rodeo happen.” The Manning twins are second-generation competitors. Dad, Jay, won the Canadian bull riding title in 1996; Mom, Shelly, is a seasoned barrel horse trainer and competitor, and big sister, Paige, has earned her share of barrel racing accolades at the semi-pro and pro levels. The twins, both in Grade 9, are also skilled competitors with careers that started early on in the semi-pro ranks. Taylor’s rides a ten-year-old gelding by As Good As Nick Gets out of Fols Dream Of Cash. Good Little Nick (aka: Matlock) came out of the Grant and Rayel Little Program, and was trained and campaigned as a futurity horse by four-time Canadian champion, Rayel Little. Taylor and Matlock burst onto the pro scene in 2017 — finishing the year in third place with two CFR go-round wins and $49,000 in earnings. She (and Matlock) are sitting second in Canada heading into CFR ’45. “My horse is my best friend,” Taylor explains. “He was my mom’s first, and I’ve been competing on him for a couple of years. I try to do my homework so I’m ready to compete. School, sports and rodeo pretty much take up my time. In the winter, we get up at 5:30 (a.m.) a few times a week and haul into the arena in town to ride before school. And I’m also a point guard on my basketball team.” Tristen started getting on practice cattle at home when he was nine, rode the first animal he climbed on at a local 4-H rodeo, then quickly moved into semi-pro competition. The young talent qualified for the Wild Rose and Lakeland Rodeo Finals when he was 12 — finishing third in both associations that year. In 2017–18, in addition to success at CPRA and semi-pro rodeos, 54
Tristen enjoyed appearances at the Calgary Stampede. “I won the Calgary Stampede Tier Two Steer Riding Event when I was 13, and I have one more year to ride in the semi-pro and pro associations,” he says. “At the beginning of this season, I was pretty confident with myself — riding nice cattle I knew from last year. Then it didn’t go so good for a while, and I asked my Dad if I could get on some practice steers at home. Starting with Innisfail (Pro Rodeo), it started clicking pretty good. I keep track in my head, which cow or steer does what and which ones I’ve ridden before.” For the Mannings, rodeo is a family affair — even though most weekends see two rigs heading in separate directions. While Shelly hauls Taylor on the pro circuit, Jay crisscrosses Western Canada with Tristen who competes at both CPRA and FCA events. “It’s a lot of fun to have my dad beside me teaching me and driving me and helping me get on,” Tristen notes. “We talk a bit about everything on the road, but mostly steer riding.” When he’s not rodeoing, Tristen stays active with basketball, volleyball and hockey. Future plans include riding bulls. Parents, Shelly and Jay, give a lot of credit to the twins, “They both work hard,” Shelly smiles. “And it’s up to them. They have to get up on their own, do chores and practice.” Jay adds. “Making CFR is great. We’re proud of what they’ve done. You can show them and give them knowledge of what you’ve learned and retained, but you can’t make them do it.” And Tristen, who, like his sister, is heading to Red Deer with confidence sums it all up, “I’m pretty happy to have both Taylor and I make the CFR. Hopefully both of us can win it!” c Canadian Cowboy Country October/November 2018
TAYLOR PHOTO BY MIKE COPEMAN; TRISTEN PHOTO BY BILLIE-JEAN DUFF
OUTING IN THE STEER RIDING.
C.P.R.A.
Tristen Manning competing at 2017 Strathmore Stampede
Taylor Manning and Matlock competing at 2017 Canadian Finals Rodeo
cowboycountrymagazine.com
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Pro Rodeo Canada Insider Gavin DeRose riding C5 Rodeo’s splashy P38 Pilsner Power to a score of 83 pts at K-Days Rodeo in Edmonton
GAVIN DEROSE BREAKTHROUGH By TIM ELLIS
I
N THE PRO HOCKEY WORLD, GAVIN DEROSE COULD BE CONSIDERED A ‘JOURNEYMAN’ FORWARD, LOOKING FOR HIS
BREAK IN THE NHL. IN THE RODEO WORLD, HE’S A PROFESSIONAL BAREBACK RIDER ON THE VERGE OF A BREAKTHROUGH CANADIAN FINALS RODEO QUALIFICATION.
“It would be a dream come true for sure; I’ve been trying to get there for a quite a few years now,” says DeRose. “Last year I tried to make a run, but I was battling injuries and wasn’t riding that 56
great in the summer. It was probably the hardest I’ve ever gone, and this year, I’ve gone to over double the number of rodeos. Everything that could go right went right, so I rode that high.” The 27-year-old’s breakout season began in earnest in mid-July with a $2,153 payday from the K-Days Rodeo in Edmonton. His hot streak continued for another month through the Dawson Creek Stampede, a period in which he won over $10,000 and moved to ninth in the Pro Rodeo Canada bareback standings. The largest, single cheque came from the Bowden Bareback Challenge, where DeRose won both rounds and the aggregate title. “I lucked out and drew a couple of riderfriendly horses of Rod Hay’s that me let me show off my spur ride,” suggests the Kamloops, B.C., cowboy. “Things were going really well, everything fell together. It was a lot of fun.” Having fun — along with a new awareness of the mental aspect of his craft and a commitment to a more rigorous off-season conditioning program — all played a part in a season in which, by September, DeRose had won close to triple his 2017 earnings. “This winter I did a lot more exercising and rode the spur board more; I read some
sports psychology books too, to kind of get my mind right,” says DeRose. “I’m not over-thinking things — not trying to do everything at once. Dumbing it down and going back to the basics, finishing rides, nothing extravagant — just the basics. They say the mental part is 90 per cent of your riding. I think it’s all that. If you’re down in the dumps and hating on yourself, it’s going to reflect in your riding,” he says. “As long as you keep your head on right and surround yourself with a good crew of travelling partners and stay positive, it’s going to go a long way in this game.” Experience is also part of the equation. “Now that I’ve been around for as long as I have, it’s easier to block everything out,” reveals DeRose. “I can focus on what I need to focus on and be calm and relaxed.” And while qualifying for the CFR would be a career highlight, a ride in Cody, WY, during Cowboy Christmas serves as DeRose’s season highlight. “I’m still smiling,” quips DeRose when describing the 86-point ride that paid him over $10,000 U.S. “All I thought was battle, battle, battle and finish the ride. I’d never won that much in a whole season.” c
Canadian Cowboy Country October/November 2018
PHOTO BY MIKE COPEMAN
ROAD TO THE CFR