Moore Off To Blazing Start
Clayton Moore is a busy guy.
With calving about to start in the next ten days or so, the family soon expanding – baby three will join brother Pecos and sister Rainey later this year – a busy fall guiding hunters anticipated and his excellent art works still appearing from time to time, the life of the 2013 Canadian Steer Wrestling Champion is “never boring”.
Nevertheless, the Pouce Coupe, British Columbia cowboy found time to travel to Medicine Hat for the first CPRA rodeo of 2019 and bulldogged his steer in 3.5 seconds to come away with the victory.
“It was a nice one to win,” Moore acknowledged, “but I’ve been going long enough to know that winning the first one doesn’t mean a lot in terms of making the CFR. It’s a long season but you get ‘em where you can get ‘em.”
The eight-time CFR qualifier put together a 3.5 second run to collect $1940 as he edged reigning Canadian champion, Scott Guenthner and veteran Craig Weisgerber by 4/10ths of a second for the win. 2017 Champion Jason Thomas (Benton, Arkansas) returned from the injury that kept him out of action throughout most of last year and was 4.2 seconds for fourth place at Medicine Hat’s Broncs and Honky Tonks Indoor Spring Rodeo.
Moore was on his nine year-old mare, Ditto, for the run and credited longtime pal, Stephen Culling with having the mare in tip top shape for the spring kickoff to the season.
“Stephen had her down south for most of the winter. He did a great job and had a lot of success on her; it was great to have her ready to go for 2019.”
One of the challenges Moore has faced throughout his career is the distance he has to travel to compete at CPRA rodeos (most of which are in Alberta) and the fact that he is by himself for most of those grueling miles. He’s excited, however, by the fact that the travel arrangements will be changing soon.
The plan for 2020 is for (2014 Canadian Barrel Racing Champion) wife Steffanie to return to competition with the entire Moore entourage heading down the road together. “That’s going to make those miles a whole lot better.”
But for the present, Moore will concentrate on going hard and doing what it takes to get back to the CFR.
“I’m only rodeoing in Canada this year but I plan to get to everything at least until Armstrong when my guiding gets pretty busy.”
Longview, Alberta barrel racer (and 2018 CFR qualifier), Kylie Whiteside, picked up where she left off in 2018 with a smokin’ 12.782 second run to collect the biggest cheque of the weekend, a $2312 stipend while Blair Smith topped the tie-down roping field with an 8.2 second run to earn $2021. And in the team roping event, Logan Spady and Wyatt Eirikson clocked a speedy 3.6 second run that netted the Alberta ropers $1551.23 each.
Other Medicine Hat winners included Clint Laye in the bareback riding (86.5 points on Kesler Championship Rodeo’s Double Dippin’, $1447) and reigning Canadian Saddle Bronc Champion, Clay Elliott (88 points on Kesler Rodeo’s Gone Country, $1613). The bull riding title was shared by 2018 All-Around Champion Jacob Gardner (87 points, Kesler Championship Rodeo’s All Fired Up) and New Zealand hand, Wade Marshall (87 points, Kesler Rodeo’s Late Nite Host) for $1435 each while Bailey Schellenberg earned the junior steer riding win with a 77 point ride – good for $343.37.
For complete unofficial Medicine Hat results go to rodeocanada.com
Next on the slate for CPRA events are the Picture Butte Bullarama April 12 and the Tofield Bull Bash April 13.
