Beau Rollin\’

In a busy weekend filled with big paydays, Montana bull rider, Beau Hill is one of just two event leaders likely to hang on to their top ranking when the new Pro Rodeo Canada standings are released this week. The 35 year-old Hill continues to enjoy his finest start to a season in this country after a $2,491 weekend, which included the championship at the Leduc Black Gold Rodeo with an 86-point ride on Northcott Rodeo’s Harlum Knights.

“He did his part, I did mine and it worked out,” understated Hill on Sunday afternoon at the Leduc Recreation Centre. “I’m just going with it. I’m finally feeling healthy.”

Hill credits a switch to a Brazilian-style bull rope, which pulls from the opposite side of a cowboy’s riding hand, for helping him deal better with an injured wrist that’s bothered the three-time CFR qualifier for the past couple of seasons. He’s also made a change in the truck.

“I’ve been entering with (22 year-old) Garrett Green. He’s wanting to go hard and I’m having a lot of fun showing him things,” says Hill. “These kids ride so good. It feels good to still be able to compete with them and win.”

Steer wrestler, Scott Guenthner of Consort, AB, is the only other leader going into the weekend, who will unofficially keep his number one spot. Guenther, who split first in Medicine Hat, AB and Luxton, BC this season, more than doubled his earnings last weekend with $4,869 from three Alberta stops (Grande Prairie, Hand Hills and Leduc).

On a weekend when saddle bronc riders were given an extra chance to win on the CPRA trail, it was a trio of American cowboys who took full advantage of the opportunity. Minnesota’s Tyler Corrington, Wyoming’s Chet Johnson and Nebraska’s Cort Scheer all served notice on their first trip to this country this rodeo season that they plan to be booking flights back to Canada in November. The 28 year-old, Corrington cashed three cheques worth $7,501. His biggest haul came from the 11th annual Wildwood, AB, Bronc Bustin’, where the two-time WNFR qualifier pocketed $3,841 by winning the opening round and placing in round two and the finals. He added another $3,395 to his bank account by winning the Grande Prairie Stompede with an 86-point ride on C+ Rodeo’s Kiss’n Kate. Scheer won $3,528, which included the Leduc championship with an 80.5 ride on Northcott Rodeo’s N533. Johnson grabbed $3,081 from Wildwood and Grande Prairie.

World champion, Shane Hanchey made his first visit to Canada since winning the gold buckle in Las Vegas last December. The Louisiana tie-down roper won in Leduc with a 7.4-second run and split second in Hand Hills with a 7-flat trip for a $3,754 weekend.

“The Canadian Finals is one of my goals, a Canadian championship is one of my goals, as it is every year, so I’m thrilled to have some money won already.”

Other big winners from the weekend included saddle bronc riders, Jim Berry ($5,289), Call Marr ($5,369) and Dustin Flundra ($3,192); bareback riders, RC Landingham ($3,131), Kelly Wardell ($2,705) and Jake Vold ($2,309); barrel racers, Pamela Morrison ($3,491) and Nancy Csabay ($2,709); tie-down ropers, Matt Shiozawa ($6,841) and Ryan Thibodeaux ($3,242); team ropers, Bryce Palmer/Jacob Miner ($2,902 each) and Todd Gallais/Murdock Keith ($1,878 each); bullriders, Ty Elliott ($3,294) and Jesse Torkelson ($2,292) and novice bareback rider, Spur Lacasse ($1,300).

Next on the Pro Rodeo Canada schedule are three Alberta events: the Kinsmen Pro Rodeo in Brooks, AB (June 6-7), the 60th Annual Lea Park Rodeo in Marwayne, AB (June 6-8) and the Rocky Pro Rodeo in Rocky Mountain House, AB (June 6-8).