Good Times For Goodine
For Cole Goodine, there are a couple of boxes left to check.
While the Carbon, Alberta bareback rider has been enjoying another solid season, he makes it clear that there are mountains yet to climb. “Yeah, winning the season leader title is a goal I’ve set for myself for a few years now,” the 32 year old admitted. “I’ve missed it by just a couple of dollars three different times. To be that close so many times, that’s all I want right now.”
The second generation talent took another step toward achieving that goal on the weekend as he emerged victorious at both CPRA stops—Regina’s Pile ‘O Bones Rodeo and the North Peace Stampede in Grimshaw, Alberta. The wins came courtesy of an 84.5 point ride on C5 Rodeo’s Sesame Street for $2605 at Regina and an 83 point effort on Duane Kesler Championship Rodeo’s Easy Money for a 1-2 spilt with Wyatt Maines in Grimshaw to add another $1081 to the weekend’s haul.
Of Sesame Street, Goodine said, “I was pretty excited to draw that horse. I asked some of the boys about her and they were excited too. In fact, I was a little too excited and I almost screwed her up in the chute; I nodded when she wasn’t really standing right, but she was just so nice and so cool that it all worked out anyway.”
And in Grimshaw it was a meeting of old friends as Goodine and Easy Money renewed a long running acquaintance. “I think I’ve had that horse more than anyone else in North America. He’s caught a few guys off guard over the years, but I’d say we get along pretty good.”
Goodine entered the weekend $4000 back of 2022 season leader Ty Taypotat but the dual successes pulled him to within a rock’s throw of his longtime buddy. “Ty’s riding really good right now and that’s probably why I’m riding good. We push each other and it’s what makes a guy keep improving.”
Despite a career that saw him win virtually every semi-pro association, and qualify for every CFR since turning pro in 2014, the other box Goodine has yet to check is the one that comes with a buckle that says ‘Canadian Champion’.
“So many of my heroes have won Canadian titles,” he acknowledged. “My dad’s my hero and he never got one so it would be really cool to bring one home to the family.”
Goodine was also quick to note that SMS Equipment Pro Tour Rodeos have played a big part in his season to date. “This is the first year I’ve really had much luck at the tour rodeos and with the money you can win at those, it’s really been nice standing-wise to be having that success.”
Goodine admits that to being his own biggest critic. “I’m pretty critical of myself but I think that’s an important building block to improving. There’s no such thing as a perfect ride so you gotta keep pushing. I just want to keep my mind on the goal, have fun and do what I’m meant to do.”
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Claresholm Breakaway Roper, Shaya Biever, posted the fastest time of the 2022 season with a blistering 1.84 seconds at Regina’s Pile ‘O Bones Rodeo for the win and an $864 cheque. It was a big week for CPRA breakaway ropers with the announcement that twelve of the competitors will qualify for the Canadian Finals Rodeo this fall (rather than six) and while Biever’s not there yet, she’ll be looking for a momentum boost from her spectacular Regina performance.
For complete unofficial results go to rodeocanada.com
This week will see CPRA rodeo athletes heading back up north for La Crete, Alberta’s Field of Dreams Stampede August 9 and 10, then on to Dawson Creek, BC August 13-14 for another edition of the Dawson Creek Exhibition and Stampede—the next stop in the SMS Equipment Pro Rodeo Tour.
