The Race Is On
Clint Laye is putting together a late season charge in an effort to check off one box he’s not quite got done before—the season leader title and the saddle that goes to that athlete.
“I’m definitely chasing that as hard as I can,” the two-time and reigning Canadian Champion acknowledged, “I’ve never been season leader in Canada.”
Back-to-back weekend wins will definitely help in that regard as Laye closed the gap between himself and current season leader Orin Larsen. A couple of stellar rides on a pair of outstanding horses defined Laye’s stops at Cranbrook and Pincher Creek Rodeos.
“I had Debbie Dallas of Vold’s in Cranbrook. She’s had some time off but I’d seen a while back and knew she was pretty good. When I saw the two horses I had this weekend I knew I had a pretty good shot at making some money.”
The second of the dual successes for the thirty-year-old Cadogan, Alberta hand came aboard Outlaw Buckers’ American Thumper. “He’s a special little horse for us bareback riders, everything you could really want,” Laye noted. “I believe Bruce and Iloe Flewelling raised that horse back in the day and he’s such a cool horse, been around for a long time. He’s a good one to get your confidence up.”
The eight time CFR qualifier netted $1065 for his 84.5 point Cranbrook win, then collected $1104 with a brilliant 88 point effort in Pincher Creek. “Those are smaller rodeos but they’re important…every dollar a guy can win right now is big—those championships can be so close. Everything you can get matters.”
Laye also noted that the boost in his Maple Leaf Circuit earnings will be welcome as well. He was sitting fifth in those standings heading into the weekend.
“Yeah, I went to the Maple Leaf Circuit Finals (in Regina) last year for the first time and it’s a fun event at a good time of the year; be nice to go back there and be able to win some money.”
Clint Laye wasn’t the only competitor to help his/her own cause on the weekend. Team roping heeler, Tyrel Flewelling was sitting in 13th spot (one out of a CFR qualifying position) heading into the weekend’s two stops. The three-time Canadian titleist also made a pair of trips to the winner’s circle, first with a 4.8 second run for $1431 as he was partnered with Walker Galloway at Cranbrook, then cashing in Pincher Creek with a 4.3 second run behind the current second-seeded header, Dustin Bird, for a $1718 payday. Flewelling should jump three of four critical spots in his pursuit of a spot at CFR 50 and the CPRA’s return to Edmonton.
Former CFL football player, Bryn Roy made a couple of big hits on the weekend, splitting 1-2 at Cranbrook (with Brendan Laye) with a 4.4 second, $1849 run; then he was part of a three-way tie for first at Pincher Creek (with Ryan Schuckburgh and Jonny Webb)—all three men checking in with 4.1 second efforts for $1889 each.
And Jesse Popescul enhanced his chances for a CFR tie-down roping berth with a dramatic 8.4 second first-place run to collect $1945 at Pincher Creek. The win was critical for the Saskatchewan two-event cowboy as he’ll jump at least a couple of spots from the 15th place in the standings he was occupying at the start of the weekend.
This coming week sees CPRA head for Lethbridge for an SMS Equipment Pro Tour stop August 22-24, and on into Nanton for the inaugural Clark Schlosser Memorial Rodeo August 23-24 and finally to Millarville for the Okotoks Pro Rodeo August 23-25. Both Nanton and Okotoks are Maple Leaf Circuit events.
For complete unofficial results check out rodeocanada.com
PHOTO: Clint Laye, Pincher Creek Rodeo photo by Covy Moore
