Popescul - Top Gun at Taber
Jesse Popescul is a busy guy.
There’s the ranch in Glentworth, Saskatchewan where he partners with his mom and dad; there’s the expanding family—he and Carla and big sister Molly (two years-old) welcoming baby brother, Marty, into the world just two months ago, and there’s the 2022 rodeo season that is now in full flight.
So for the 31 year-old two event cowboy, the recent Tie Down Roping win at the Taber Spring Classic Pro Rodeo came at a perfect time.
“It’s been kind of hit and miss so far,” the four time CFR qualifier admitted. “I had a really good (Maple Leaf) Circuit Finals, placed in a few rounds and won the average but that was it for the 2022 season until this weekend.”
Popescul put together a solid 8.5 second run for the win and pocketed $1621 to jump to the lead in the Canadian standings. “I had a good calf, kind of slow-handling,” Popescul noted. “ I had to pull at the barrier and snuck out of there but it was good on the ground.”
And the win fit perfectly with the Saskatchewan veteran’s goals for the year. “I guess like everybody, I’d like to go to the CFR as season leader and then win a Canadian title.”
And while it’s early in the season, Jesse Popescul is right where he wants to be to make those goals reality.
Other winners at Taber included reigning Canadian Champion bareback rider, Clint Laye, who rode Legend Rodeo’s Oakridge to 86.5 points and $1161, Sherwood Park bronc rider, Kolby Wanchuk who matched up with Legend’s Tomohawk Chop, also for $1161, team ropers Brett Buss and Denim Ross whose 4.4 second run earned them $1848 each, barrel racer Nancy Leischner who navigated the cloverleaf pattern in 13.88 for $1811, bulldogger Harley Cole with a 3.7 second run for $1556, Nick Tetz who put up a terrific 84.5 to top the bull riding field on Legend Rodeo’s Confused Mind and took home $1163 for the effort and reigning Canadian breakaway roping titleist, Kendal Pierson, whose 2.03 second round stood up for the win and $1101.
The novice bareback riding winner was Jaret Cooper (70.5 points for $399) and the steer riding crown went to Kahl Wasilow with a 76.5 point ride for $535.
The CPRA season heads west for its next stop at the longstanding Falkland (B.C.) Stampede on May 21 to May 23.
