Contestants Capitalize On East Run
As the race to the CFR heads down the backstretch with the finish line and those coveted Canadian Finals Rodeo berths in sight, CPRA contestants are bearing down in their efforts to secure a spot at Edmonton’s Rogers Place in October.
One of the cowboys to make a decisive move this weekend was Eatonia, Sask bull rider, Dakota Buttar. The two-time Canadian Champion got the win at the SMS Equipment Pro Rodeo Tour stop at the Manitoba Exhibition and Stampede in Morris with an 86-point ride on Vold Rodeo’s 81 Red Rust for $3066.
“I’d been on that bull twice before and had good luck on him both times so I was excited to have him there,” Buttar stated.
The Manitoba Stampede win, coupled with a 3rd place result at Precision Rodeo Tour venue, the Moose Mountain Pro Rodeo in Kennedy, Sask (83.5 pts, $886) means a $4000 injection into Buttar’s Wranglers and in the standings that should mean a climb of at least three or four places (Buttar entered the weekend in 10th place).
The two-time and reigning PBR Canada Champion made it clear that he plans to focus more on the rodeo side for the balance of the year.
“I’ve still got a goal sticking in my mind to try to get to the NFR at least once in my career. I need to make a push up here in Canada to get enough money won to get to those big rodeos down south.
“I’ve been hanging around 10th or 12th for quite a while so it will be nice to move up in the standings. It would be really exciting to be part of the first CFR in Rogers Place and there’s a lot of money there so it’s anybody’s game.”
Buttar’s concentration on rodeo in 2024 has had some other benefits as well. “It’s been really fun to go to rodeos, especially some of the smaller ones that I haven’t been to for a while. Plus, at the PBRs you get on two bulls pretty well every time and getting on one a day at the rodeos is less pressure, more relaxed and has been a little easier on the body.”
The Saskatchewan talent wasn’t the only guy to take a big step in the pursuit of a CFR qualification this weekend. Eight-time World Champion Joe Beaver (3X All-Around and 5X Tie Down Roping) and team roping partner, Levi Pettigrew, nailed the win in Kennedy and followed that up with a second place run at Morris. The dual weekend successes ($3672) have propelled the Texas/Oklahoma tandem into the heart of the CFR conversation and the 22-time NFR qualifier made it abundantly clear that that’s exactly where he and Pettigrew want to be.”
“The CFR is the one thing I haven’t done in my career,” Beaver acknowledged. “And with it in October, it’s definitely a goal. Back when I was rodeoing hard, Americans weren’t allowed at the CFR so that would be cool. Plus I’m getting to go to places I’ve never rodeoed at before like Morris and Kennedy.”
All in the family. There was jubilation in the Groves clan this weekend as Mom, Lisa, captured the Morris barrel racing crown with a smoking 15.85 second run for $2373 while sons Brody and Logan hit the winner’s circle with a 4.7 second team roping run that netted the boys $2248 each.
And talk about getting off the Schneid—Baillie Milan who split the Morris win with Harley Cole in the steer wrestling with each man getting $2432—had this to say when asked how it felt to be the co-champ: “Pretty good—this is the first cheque I’ve won here in 25 years!”
CPRA athletes and fans have a busy stretch ahead with the Medicine Hat Stampede July 25-27, Rockyford Rodeo July 26-27, Pollockville’s Hardgrass Bronc Match July 27, Bruce Stampede July 28 followed by the High Prairie Elks Pro Rodeo July 30-31 and the inaugural Zeke Thurston Invitational Xtreme Broncs in Stettler, AB July 31.
For complete unofficial results and schedule details, check out rodeocanada.com
