#CFR42

Jake Vold made it back to back championships in the bareback riding and put an exclamation on his second title with a spectacular 89.25 point ride on the Wayne Vold four-legged superstar, True Grit. Vold\’s Sunday score was the highest of the entire Canadian Finals Rodeo in any of the riding events and took his season earnings to a record $98,567.97, more than $22,000 better than the previous record, set by Davey Shields Jr. back in 2004.

Vold was last the last man in the section and was ready for the moment. \”I love being the last guy out and needing to be 90 to win. My style is pretty much let it all go and sometimes it doesn\’t work but today it felt really good. I actually think I\’m happier this year,\” Vold said of his second title. \”I had the best finals I\’ve ever had and I thought if I had a really good CFR I might just get to $100.000 for the year. I guess I came pretty close.\”

As for the future, Vold conceded he\’s already thinking about next year\’s Wrangler NFR after just missing getting there in 2015. \”I\’ve got my eye on the prize for sure for next season,\” Vold smiled, adding that \’the prize\’ includes a run at a third Canadian title.

It was Canadian championship number four for Donalda, Alberta steer wrestler Cody Cassidy. Cassidy posted a 4.2 to win fourth in the final round and that, coupled with his fourth place finish in the aggregate, meant the second generation cowboy had equalled his dad Greg\’s buckle total. \”That was definitely a goal,\” Cassidy commented. \”Now I guess I\’d like to shoot for five. That\’s how many Lee Graves won and he\’s probably the best Canadian steer wrestler ever. And then maybe I\’ll try for six or seven. My dad went until he was 47 and I don\’t see any reason why I can\’t do the same thing.\”

It was a winning week for the Cassidy family as brother, Curtis claimed his ninth High Point title and earlier in the week, the Cassidy patriarch, Greg, was inducted into the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame.

When you talk about barrel racer Nancy Csabay, it\’s all about consistency. The Taber cowgirl came into the CFR as the season leader, then placed in every CFR round with four second-place finishes, a third and a fourth, and she won the average as well, taking her season earnings total to a whopping $84,714.89. Add to that the Top Gun award for most money won at this year\’s CFR by a single competitor–$57,056.78, and it adds up to a sensational year for Csabay and her brilliant mount, Wicked, the 11-year-old mare that was earlier voted Horse With the Most Heart.

\”She\’s changed my life,\” Csabay admitted as she spoke of the mare. \”She tries so hard every time; we raised her and trained her and she is everything.\”

In one of the closest finishes at this year\’s CFR, Dakota Buttar, the Kindersley, Saskatchewan bull rider split the final round with an 87.25 point ride on the Outlaw Buckers bull, Cutie. The margin of victory for the back to back champion was less than $500 over Ponoka\’s Zane Lambert who came into the final round in the lead but came down off the Vold bull, Smoke Show.

Buttar battled back after taking a physical pounding the night before to make a specatular ride and equal the retiring Tyler Thomson\’s score to split the round and earn a second Canadian title. For Thomson it was the last ride in a career that earned the Black Diamond cowboy a Canadian title in 2008 and a third place overall finish and an aggregate win at his last CFR.

Another close finish highlighted the tie down roping event where Sulphur, Louisiana cowboy, Shane Hanchey won his second Canadian title. He needed to be very solid in the final round to capture the title. And solid is exactly what Hanchey was, with an 8.2 to claim the second place $9,000 in the round and first in the average.

\”I knew if I got two cheques today, I\’d be hard to beat,\” Hanchey commented and he was right as his $62,448.77 gave him a slender $2300 margin of victory over former World All Around champ, Ryan Jarrett, who won the final round with a 7.2 to put the pressure on his long-time friend.

Cody Demoss made his first trip to the Canadian Finals Rodeo a memorable one. The Heflin, Louisiana cowboy came to the finals with a comfortable lead that was never threatened during the six performances of the 42nd CFR. Demoss won the opening round, was second in three others and added a fourth place finish in round two to go with his third place standing in the aggregate; he amassed a total of $90,687.33 for the winning margin of $15,000 over the second place man, Wade Sundell of Coleman, Oklahoma who was also competing at his first CFR.

For the winning team roping duo of Roland Flewelling and Tyrel Flewelling, at least part of the preparation for the final run of the season was mental. After the team missed their steer on Saturday night, opening the door for several other teams to take a run at them, the teammates chatted about Sunday.

\”I wanted to be mad at myself,\” McFadden related, \”but Tyrel wouldn\’t let me. He just said let\’s forget about this and go out there and do what\’s worked for us all year long. That really helped plus we had Tyler Thomson down at our end of the arena for that last run and his job was to tell me to breath and relax. And he did–although he did it a little more colourfully than I can pass along. But it really helped.\” For Flewelling, it was his third title and a special one. \”It was really great to be part of Pony\’s (McFadden\’s) first championship–that was cool, for sure. He\’s roped so good all year; he absolutely deserves this.\”

Josh Harden of Big Valley, Alberta became the second member of the Harden family to win the All-Around title, joining brother Jeremy who managed the feat back in 2005.

In the junior events, Lane Cust of Bluffton, Alberta clinched his second consecutive novice saddle bronc riding title on Saturday night to cap off a year that saw the talented twenty year-old also earn the novice title at the Calgary Stampede and semi pro titles in the Lakeland and Wild Rose Rodeo Associations.

Cust won two of the five rounds at the CFR and was second in two more en route to almost $13,000 and the title.

The novice bareback riding honour went to Sundre\’s Wyatt Gleeson. The twenty-one year-old had to overcome getting hung-up and taking a pounding in round two of the finals to accumulate a winning season total of $11,859 to claim the champion\’s buckle. Both young men will be heading into the open competition next year and both have future CFR appearances on their minds.

In the steer riding, it was Irricana\’s Luke Ferber who was able to catch season leader Owen Berreth to claim the championship. He put together two go-round wins, a third place finish and won the aggregate to clinch the title. With two years of steer riding eligibility remaining, the soft-spoken southern Alberta talent left no doubt as to his short-term goals. \”I\’d like to go for the three-peat,\” he smiled.

Top stock awards of the finals went to C5 Rodeo\’s Virgil in the bareback riding, the Calgary Stampede\’s Tiger Warrior in the bronc riding and the Girletz bull, Moto Moto. Virgil was ridden both of his appearances in Rexall Place–for 88 points by Caleb Bennett and 87 points by Dusty Lavalley. Each of the rides resulted in a go-round win. Tiger Warrior and Moto Moto both added a pair of buckoffs to their CFR resumes.

The CFR and professional rodeo bid farewell to popular bullfighter, Scott Byrne, who made his final appearance in a career that has earned the Prince Albert native virtually every accolade possible in a career spanning  20 years and that saw Byrne\’s life-saving talents earn the endearing respect of bull riders and rodeo fans alike.

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The following are the results of the sixth and final performance of the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR) held at Rexall Place on Sunday, November 15.

BAREBACK 1 Jake Vold, Airdrie AB, 89.25, $12,159.64; 2 Caleb Bennett, Tremonton UT, 89.00, $9,041.79; 3 Kyle Bowers, Drayton Valley AB, 87.75, $5,923.93; 4 Cole Goodine, Carbon AB, 86.00, $2,806.07; 5 Colin Adams, Deloraine MB, 85.50, $1,247.14

Total Season Earnings 1 Jake Vold, $98,567.97 ; 2 Caleb Bennett, $71,916.35 ; 3 Kyle Bowers, $56,015.30 ; 4 Ty Taypotat, $50,710.75 ; 5 Dusty LaValley, $38,388.05

Canadian Champion: Jake Vold, Airdrie, AB

Champion Horse: Virgil, Bar C5 Rodeo

CFR Aggregate Winner: Caleb Bennet, Tremonton, UT

STEER WRESTLING 1 Scott Guenthner, Consort AB, 3.3, $12,159.64; 2 Coleman Kohorst, Okotoks AB, 3.8, $9,041.79; 3 Straws Milan, Cochrane AB, 3.9, $5,923.93; 4 Cody Cassidy, Donalda AB, 4.2, $2,806.07; 5 Dustin Walker, Aneroid SK, 4.5, $1,247.14

Total Season Earnings: 1 Cody Cassidy, $60,610.55 ; 2 Curtis Cassidy, $55,329.56 ; 3 Scott Guenthner, $54,599.25 ; 4 Tanner Milan, $49,420.30 ; 5 Travis Reay, $44,087.51

Canadian Champion: Cody Cassidy, Donalda, AB

CFR Aggregate Winner: Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, AB

TEAM ROPING 1 Clayton Hansen, Pendleton OR, $6,079.82 & Rocky Dallyn, Nanton AB, $6,079.82;, 4.0; 2 Levi Simpson, Ponoka AB, $4,520.89 & Jeremy Buhler, Arrowwood AB, $4,520.89;, 4.1; 3/4 Garrett Rogers, Baker City OR, $2,182.50 & Jacob Minor, Milton-Freewater OR, $2,182.50;, 4.2; 3/4 Clint Weston, Cardston AB, $2,182.50 & Travis Booth, Calgary AB, $2,182.50;, 4.2; 5 Brett Buss, Ponoka AB, $623.57 & Klay Whyte, Airdrie AB, $623.57;, 4.3

Total Season Earnings 1 Roland McFadden, $38,799.00 & Tyrel Flewelling, $38,798.95 ; 2 Levi Simpson, $35,703.83 & Jeremy Buhler, $35,703.82 ; 3 Justin McCarroll, $30,383.42 & Brett McCarroll, $30,383.44 ; 4 Clay Ullery, $26,854.49 & Kevin Schreiner, $23,818.49 ; 5 Brett Buss, $26,496.51 & Klay Whyte, $26,496.50

Canadian Champion: Roland McFadden, Vulcan, AB & Tyrel Flewelling, Lacombe, AB

CFR Aggregate Winner: Levi Simpson, Ponoka, AB & Jeremy Buhler, Arrowwood, AB

SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1 Wade Sundell, Coleman OK, 87.25, $12,159.64; 2 Cody DeMoss, Watervalley AB, 86.50, $9,041.79; 3 Cort Scheer, Elsmere NE, 85.25, $5,923.93; 4 Layton Green, Meeting Creek AB, 84.50, $2,806.07; 5 Chuck Schmidt, Keldron SD, 83.75, $1,247.14

Total Season Earnings 1 Cody DeMoss, $90,687.33 ; 2 Wade Sundell, $75,980.60 ; 3 Chuck Schmidt, $52,997.97 ; 4 Layton Green, $42,885.32 ; 5 Cort Scheer, $42,797.53

Canadian Champion: Cody DeMoss, Heflin, LA

Champion Horse: Tiger Warrior, Calgary Stampede

CFR Aggregate Winner: Wade Sundell, Coleman, OK

TIE DOWN ROPING 1 Ryan Jarrett, Comanche OK, 7.2, $12,159.64; 2 Shane Hanchey, Sulphur LA, 8.2, $9,041.79; 3/4 Morgan Grant, Didsbury AB, 8.3, $4,365.00; 3/4 Dean Edge, Rimbey AB, 8.3, $4,365.00; 5 Scot Meeks, Airdrie AB, 8.6, $1,247.14

Total Season Earnings 1 Shane Hanchey, $62,448.77 ; 2 Ryan Jarrett, $60,172.71 ; 3 Dean Edge, $45,677.43 ; 4 Matt Shiozawa, $42,452.68 ; 5 Rhen Richard, $41,341.13

Canadian Champion: Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, LA

CFR Aggregate Winner: Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, LA

LADIES BARREL RACING 1 Cayla Melby, Burneyville OK, 14.564, $12,159.64; 2 Nancy Csabay, Taber AB, 14.722, $9,041.79; 3 Gaylene Buff, Westwold BC, 14.822, $5,923.93; 4 Katie Garthwaite, Merritt BC, 14.937, $2,806.07; 5 Braidy Howes, Metiskow AB, 14.979, $1,247.14

Total Season Earnings 1 Nancy Csabay, $84,714.89 ; 2 Cayla Melby, $68,451.59 ; 3 Deb Guelly, $51,016.06 ; 4 Julie Leggett, $43,765.42 ; 5 Toni Dixon, $31,843.20

Canadian Champion: Nancy Csabay, Taber, AB

CFR Aggregate Winner: Nancy Csabay, Taber, AB

BULL RIDING 1 Dakota Buttar, Kindersley SK, 87.50, $12,159.64; 2 Tyler Thomson, Black Diamond AB, 87.25, $9,041.79; 3 Jordan Hansen, Okotoks AB, 86.50, $5,923.93; 4 Adam Jamison, Okotoks AB, 86.00, $2,806.07; 5 Lonnie West, Cadogan AB, 82.25, $1,247.14

Total Season Earnings 1 Dakota Buttar, $72,065.79 ; 2 Zane Lambert, $71,552.73 ; 3 Tyler Thomson, $69,216.84 ; 4 Jared Parsonage, $44,794.28 ; 5 Devon Mezei, $39,026.35

Canadian Champion: Dakota Buttar, Kindersley, SK

Champion Bull: MOTO MOTO, Girletz Rodeo Stock

CFR Aggregate Winner: Tyler Thomson, Black Diamond, AB

ALL AROUND CHAMPION: Josh Harden, Big Valley, AB

HIGH POINT CHAMPION: Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, AB

TOP GUN: Nancy Csabay, Taber, AB

Attendance for Championship Sunday, November 15 was 12,828. Overall attendance at the 2015 Canadian Finals Rodeo was announced at 89,177.

For more information and full results on Canadian Finals Rodeo, visit cfr.ca

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About Pro Rodeo Canada: With its headquarters in Airdrie, Alberta, Pro Rodeo Canada is the

sanctioning body for professional rodeo in Canada. The organization endorses over 50 events annually

with a total payout exceeding $5.1 million. The 42nd edition of the Canadian Finals Rodeo (the CFR) –

the association’s premiere event – runs November 11th-15th, 2015 in Edmonton, Alberta at Rexall Place.

For more information please visit RodeoCanada.com or call (403) 945-0903. Follow us on Twitter, or

like our page on Facebook, and watch the action on YouTube throughout the year.