Contestants Capitalize on Three-Rodeo Weekend
The first three-rodeo weekend of the 2024 Canadian Professional Rodeo Association season was packed with drama, spectacular performances and major changes to the Canadian standings as competitors from both sides of the 49th parallel rode into Grande Prairie, Leduc and Hand Hills, Alberta.
Oregon steer wrestler Dalton Massey made his first 2024 foray into Canada a successful one with a 3.5 second winning run at SMS Equipment Pro Tour rodeo, Grande Prairie Stompede. Solid placings at Black Gold Rodeo in Leduc and Hand Hills Lake Stampede (Craigmyle) for a total of $5764 will see him back at the top of the world standings and in the top ten in Canada as well.
2023 was a huge year for Massey as he was season leader in both Canada and the US, and his American earnings established a new record for money won during the regular season. The year ended in disappointment, however, as a broken barrier in the final round at the NFR cost him the world title.
“I don’t look at last year as a loss,” the 31 year old hand reflected. “It wasn’t the end of the year I’d hoped for, but I hadn’t made the NFR before so winning it didn’t have to be the end goal. It was disappointing because of how much work I put into it but it’s not easy to win the gold buckle. There’s so many great bulldoggers and so many things have to go right, you need to stay healthy, you need your horse to be right all season and you need a little luck as well.
“I’ll do things a little differently this year, but the goals are pretty much the same and I want to finish it this time.”
One thing that won’t change this year for Massey is his plan for Canadian rodeo. “My number one goal is to get back to the NFR but I want to be at the CFR in Edmonton as well.”
Massey, who with his wife Hillary, recently bought a place at Hermiston, Oregon, rode Tanner Milan’s award-winning horse Eddie all winter and was on him this weekend as well. “I ride my horse, Rodney, when I’m not on Eddie, and he’s good but he’s not Eddie. That’s a special horse.”
Coming off a year that saw the Oregonian at his first NFR and CFR, he’s well on his way to a return to both year-end classics.
The team roping duo of Kolton Schmidt (Barrhead, AB) and Oklahoma heeler Landen Glenn hit the winner’s circle twice on the weekend as their 4.7 second run split the win with Tee Mcleod and Sid Sporer. The Schmidt/Glenn combination struck again at Hand Hills where their 4.5 second effort was good for the outright win and then added a fourth-place performance at Leduc. The combined result was $5800 in each of their bank accounts and an appearance by both men in the top ten of the Canadian standings.
Another two-event winner was bronc rider Lucas Macza as the High River, AB cowboy padded his lead atop the Canadian standings with wins at Grande Prairie (88.5 points on Duffy’s 420 Bay Moon for $3316) and Leduc (87 points on Macza Rodeo’s 728 Texas Tough for another $1910). The twin wins will vault the three-time CFR qualifier over the $14,000 mark in earnings for the 2024 season.
The CPRA schedule heats up with stops at the Weyburn, SK Bronc Match (June 4) then four Alberta venues – Bonnyville, (June 6-8), Brooks (June 7-8), Lea Park (June 7-9) and Rocky Mountain House (June 7-9).
For complete unofficial results and upcoming event details, head over the rodeocanada.com
