The Canadian Finals Rodeo Is Back!
After a year hiatus, the finalists have been decided, the back numbers have been assigned and preparations are underway as the countdown to CFR 47 continues. The six-performance event takes place November 3-7 at Red Deer’s Westerner Park Peavey Mart Centrium.
The coveted #1 back number that goes to the regular season’s highest money earner will be worn by Alliance, Alberta cowboy, Logan Spady. The second generation, two event cowboy (tie down roping and team roping heeler) heads into the CFR with $18,870 in money won and also sits on top of the High Point standings ahead of previous winners Morgan Grant and Riley Warren who sit $2000 and $4000 back respectively.
At least three of the seven major events of Canadian rodeo will see new champions crowned as defending titleists, Orin Larsen in the bareback riding, steer wrestler Scott Guenthner and tie down roper, Shane Hanchey will not be in Red Deer this time around.
Joining Spady as 2021 season leaders in Canadian Professional rodeo are:
Bareback Rider, Dantan Bertsch, Eastend Sask. The five-time CFR qualifier overtook Cole Goodine on the final weekend stop of the year at Hanna, Alberta to earn the right to stamp his name on the coveted season leader saddle.
Defending Canadian Saddle Bronc Champion and two time World Champion, Zeke Thurston. The Big Valley, Alta talent enters the CFR with $18,583 and a comfortable lead over the field with the bronc riding Hay brothers, Dawson and Logan, in second and third place in the standings.
Lacombe, Alta’s Justine Elliott and her two-time CPRA Barrel Horse with the Most Heart, Blondy. This dynamic cowgirl enters the 2021 CFR as season leader at $18,578 with a $3000 margin over second place veteran Lynette Brodoway.
Nanton, Alta tie-down roper Logan Bird. For the third time in his stellar career, Bird will carry the season leader honour into the CFR. The 2017 Champion did most of the damage this year on Peso, his nine year-old gelding. The 2021 Tie Down Roping Horse of the Year succeeded stablemate, TJ, another Bird-trained superstar who won that honour twice previously, including 2019.
Fort St. John, BC steer wrestler Stephen Culling. The 2019 CFR Average Champion collected $11,338 on the season giving the four-time finalist a thousand dollar lead over five-time Canadian champion, Cody Cassidy.
2019 Bull Riding Season Leader and Champion, Edgar Durazo. The likeable Mexican-born talent rode all six bulls at CFR 46 and enters the CFR with $15,782 in season earnings and a narrow $1300 cushion over the 2018 title-holder, Wacey Finkbeiner, who sits in second spot.
One of the most dominant season performances in recent memory was that of team roping brothers Dillon and Dawson Graham. Header Dawson at 22 years of age and 20 year-old heeler, Dillon, both topped out at over $16,000 for the season and a solid $3000 head start on second place qualifiers, Logan Spady and Kash Bonnett.
And Maple Creek, Sask bull rider-team roper Jared Parsonage earned his first All Around title in 2021.
In the CPRA novice events, Brodie Roessler (Fairview, Alta) leads the trio of saddle bronc riding qualifiers while Biggar, Sask’s Cruz McNulty heads up the novice bareback riders. Jhett Wheeler (Sylvan Lake, Alta) is the season leader in the junior steer riding event. And Nanton, Alta cowgirl, Lakota Bird, tops the field of six young women appearing in the inaugural CFR breakaway roping competition.
