Edmonton, AB – The saddle bronc and bareback riders at the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR) tipped their hats to the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces during the annual event's third performance.
White spotlights singled out two soldiers rappelling from the high ceiling of Rexall Place, just below the big screen, as two armoured tanks entered the arena. A platoon of soldiers marched in on foot, followed by the cowboys paying tribute to the military.
Bronc rider Sam Kelts, the 2009 season leader heading into CFR this week, told the soldiers, in front of a crowd 14,748 strong, that the go-round buckles won in each event would in turn be presented to different units in Canada's military.
“I thought it was a really good idea,” Kelts said. “They're our military, so they're the ones that let us have the lifestyle we have without having to worry. We get to live a good life and do what we want to do because of them.”
And getting the rest of the guys on board, well, “It wasn't difficult at all,” Kelts coninued. “It was definitely unanimous.”
Justin Berg was the winner in the saddle bronc with an 85-point ride on Calgary Stampede's Knife Money.
“I'd had that horse at the (Wrangler Professional Rodeo) Tour Championships in Calgary, so I was pretty excited to draw her. I knew it could be a real chance for the round, so thanks to Calgary for having him here,” Berg said.
Berg had been shut out of the payout until the Calgary mare gave him a cut of the cash, and the buckle, which he presented to Corporal Baker of the 3rd Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry, was to be his first from CFR.
“It didn't bother me any,” Berg smiled. “Giving the buckle as a show of appreciation to those guys, is a little thing by comparison.”
The Marwayne, Alta. cowboy was simply excited to have won. In fact, the 22-year-old was so overhwelmed, he forgot his chaps behind the chutes.
He also nearly forgot his buckle.
Wait – didn't he give that away?
“Yeah,” he blushed.
“They made two. But they just told me,” Berg explained, adding that he was pretty surprised after handing over that buckle when the second one was presented to him.
Kelts wasn't.
“I knew,” the Millarville, Alta. bronc rider grinned. “But the rest of the guys didn't.”
The fourth performance kicks off at 1 p.m. Nov. 14. Visit www.rodeocanada.com for results from the first two go-rounds.
RESULTS:
Saddle Bronc Riding - Go 3
1 Justin Berg, Marwayne, AB, 85.00 $10,847.62;2 Jim Berry, Rocky Mtn. House, AB, 84.00 $8,135.71;3 Kyle Thomson, Black Diamond, AB, 83.50 $5,423.81;4 Sam Kelts, Millarville, AB, 82.50 $2,711.90;
Total Season Earnings
1 Sam Kelts, Millarville, AB $39,357.90;2 Justin Berg, Marwayne, AB $39,281.62;3 Chet Johnson, Gillette, WY $36,557.48;4 Jim Berry, Rocky Mtn. House, AB $35,552.48;
Bareback Riding - Go 3
1 Reid Rowan, Seven Persons, AB, 83.50 $10,847.62;2 Luke Creasy, Brownfield, AB, 82.75 $8,135.71;3/4 Kyle Bowers, Brooks, AB, 81.25 $4,067.86;3/4 Cimmaron Gerke, Brighton, CO, 81.25 $4,067.86;
Total Season Earnings
1 Kyle Bowers, Brooks, AB $49,424.29;2 Dusty LaValley, Crooked Creek, AB $40,742.71;3 Luke Creasy, Brownfield, AB $29,209.33;4 Kelly Timberman, Mills, WY $28,683.00;
Bull Riding - Go 3
1 Tyler Thomson, Black Diamond, AB, 87.00 $10,847.62;2 Jason Finkbeiner, Wardlow, AB, 86.00 $8,135.71;3 Brett Thompson, Medicine Hat, AB, 85.25 $5,423.81;4 Kyle German, Crossfield, AB, 84.25 $2,711.90;
Total Season Earnings
1 Tyler Thomson, Black Diamond, AB $50,991.09;2 Brett Thompson, Medicine Hat, AB $49,087.43;3 Scott Schiffner, Strathmore, AB $43,068.38;4 Devon Mezei, Scandia, AB $36,308.00;
Tie-Down Roping - Go 3
1 Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, ID, 7.2 $10,847.62;2/3 Marty Becker, Cardston, AB, 7.9 $6,779.76;2/3 Steve Lloyd, Alix, AB, 7.9 $6,779.76;4 Murray Pole, Erskine, AB, 8.1 $2,711.90;
Total Season Earnings
1 Steve Lloyd, Alix, AB $48,379.38;2 Alwin Bouchard, Scandia, AB $38,169.52;3 Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, ID $35,198.43;4 Marty Becker, Cardston, AB $35,167.43;
Steer Wrestling - Go 3
1 Hunter Cure, Holliday, TX, 4.0 $10,847.62;2 Todd Maughan, Calgary, AB, 4.3 $8,135.71;3 Todd Woodward, Magrath, AB, 4.6 $5,423.81;4 Cody Cassidy, Donalda, AB, 4.7 $2,711.90;
Total Season Earnings
1 Cody Cassidy, Donalda, AB $51,018.57;2 Lee Graves, Calgary, AB $36,167.71;3 Tanner Milan, Cochrane, AB $34,205.00;4 Hunter Cure, Holliday, TX $32,157.43;
Ladies Barrel Racing - Go 3
1 Gaylene Buff, Westwold, BC, 14.66 $10,847.62;2 Molly Powell, Stephanville, TX, 14.75 $8,135.71;3 Rana Walter, Lethbridge, AB, 14.77 $5,423.81;4 Adel Hansen, Okotoks, AB, 14.86 $2,711.90;
Total Season Earnings
1 Rayel Robinson, Alix, AB $43,445.33;2 Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, TX $43,259.00;3 Gaylene Buff, Westwold, BC $43,148.43;4 Debbie Renger, Okotoks, AB $40,094.62;
Team Roping - Go 3
1 Travis Gallais, Olds, AB $1,885.71 & Rocky Dallyn, Nanton, AB $1,885.71, 4.6;2 Levi Simpson, Claresholm, AB $1,414.29 & John Robertson, Polsen, MT $1,414.29, 4.7;3 Brett Buss, Ponoka, AB $942.86 & Jeffrey Quam, Okotoks, AB $942.86, 4.9;4 Marty Lillico, Spirit River, AB $471.43 & Riley Wilson, Cardston, AB $471.43, 5.3;
Total Season Earnings
1 Travis Gallais, Olds, AB $17,979.57 & Rocky Dallyn, Nanton, AB $14,889.57;2 Shane Schwenke, Harlem, MT $15,571.00 & Mike Beers, Post, OR $15,624.00;3 Blair Stroh, Elkwater, AB $14,714.71 & Kevin Schreiner, Medicine Hat, AB $16,131.71;4 Troy Fischer, Mayerthorpe, AB $14,530.14 & Cody McCarroll, Camrose, AB $14,530.14;
Novice Saddle Bronc - Go 3
1 Kyreon Geiger, Gull Lake, SK, 72.50 $1,200.00;2 Wyatt Thurston, Big Valley, AB, 65.00 $800.00;
Total Season Earnings
1 Rylan Geiger, Bracken, SK $7,396.00;2 Kyreon Geiger, Gull Lake, SK $5,540.00;3 Wyatt Thurston, Big Valley, AB $2,787.00;
Novice Bareback - Go 3
1 Colin Adams, Deloraine, MB, 74.50 $1,200.00;2 Brady Bertram, Maple Creek, SK, 70.00 $800.00;
Total Season Earnings
1 Colin Adams, Deloraine, MB $9,613.00;2 Joseph Fentiman, New Zealand, $6,262.00;3 Brady Bertram, Maple Creek, SK $6,217.00;
Boys Steer Riding - Go 3
1/2 Ty Ellis, Sonningdale, SK, 80.50 $600.01;1/2 Shay Marks, Sunnybrook, AB, 80.50 $600.01;3 Lonnie West, Cadogan, AB, 75.00 $300.00;
Total Season Earnings
1 Shay Marks, Sunnybrook, AB $6,482.02;2 Tristan Carlier, Medicin Hat, AB $4,232.00;3 Ty Ellis, Sonningdale, SK $3,582.01;4 Jorden Moen, Elrose, SK $3,383.01;
For complete results and standings visit www.rodeocanada.com
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