Roller Coaster Ride For Rombough

Lee Rombough knows plenty about nerves. But the nerves he’ll feel walking into Rexall Place in Edmonton in November will be much different then the ones he’s been dealing with during the 2014 Pro Rodeo Canada season.

“I still have some nerve issues with a lot of shooting pain going up my arm,” says Rombough of the lingering affects of a broken arm suffered during the Dawson Creek, BC, Stampede Spring Rodeo. “I try to mentally block it out. I only have to rope for ten seconds and then I’ll ice it on the drive to the next one.”

The Sexsmith, AB, cowboy has not only secured his spot at his first Canadian Finals Rodeo, he’s now taking aim at the season leader award after winning the Jasper Heritage Rodeo in Jasper, AB, this past weekend. It was his third win of the season with victories at Wrangler Canadian Pro Rodeo Tour stops in Morris, MB, and, ironically, at the Dawson Creek Stampede earlier this month.

“I’ve never been in Rexall Place. I always stayed at home and worked all winter. I’d like to go in a little higher so I can watch a few.”

With the $1,492 won in Jasper with an 8.0-second run and another $796 from the Pincher Creek, AB, Pro Rodeo, the 29 year-old Rombough has unofficially pulled within less than $2,000 of current season leader, Matt Shiozawa of Chubbuck, ID.

“I missed about 14 rodeos,” offers Rombough. “I sat at home and really thought about why I do this, why I love it. Stayed at home with my kids enjoying the family life but now I’m back on the road. My wife and family are really excited (about going to the CFR).”

There will be a full compliment of five non-Canadians in the tie-down roping event at this year’s CFR. But which five American ropers will make it, may not be decided until late next month. Randall Carlisle of Baton Rouge, LA took a big step towards being one of the group with a $2,742 weekend. The 27 year-old won the Cranbrook, BC, Pro Rodeo with a 7.9-second run and placed 2nd in Pincher Creek with a 7.8-second trip.

There’s another entrant in the Canadian All-Around championship race. Ky Marshall has joined the list after a 7.9-second tie-down roping run in Pincher Creek was good for a 3-4 split to pay $1,122. It was the 3rd roping cheque of the season for the Bowden, AB, cowboy, to go along with $22,674 in bareback earnings.

Barrel racer, Nancy Csabay was number one in the Canadian standings in early June. Now she’s trying to hang onto the final CFR spot. The Taber, AB, competitor kept those hopes alive by placing at three weekend rodeos. Her cheques totaled $1,898, which will unofficially move Csabay into the 13th in the CFR standings.

Scott Schiffner has helped his chances of adding to his record of 13 Canadian Finals’ appearances in the bullriding. The two-time Canadian champion won $1,800 from Cranbrook and Pincher Creek to increase his season earnings to just under 16-thousand dollars. That’s enough to unofficially move the Strathmore, AB, cowboy past the injured Ty Pozzobon into 11th in the new Canadian standings.

Other big winners from the weekend included steer wrestlers, Dustin Walker ($2,786) and Dallas Frank ($1,735); saddle bronc rider, Dustin Flundra ($2,124); barrel racer, Sydney Daines ($1,635); tie-down ropers, Morgan Grant ($1,572), Clint Arave ($1,665) and Dale Skocdopole ($1,103 TDR, $804 TR); bullrider, Billy West ($1,576) and bareback rider, Russ Hallaby ($1,725). Of the three weekend rodeos, only Pincher Creek featured novice and junior events. Lane Cust topped the novice saddle bronc riders with a 73 score for $496 and Buck Moen had the identical score in novice bareback for a $434 cheque. In steer riding, Norman King’s 77.5 earned first place money of $535.

Next up on the Pro Rodeo Canada schedule is Lethbridge, Alberta’s Whoop Up Days August 21 – 23, 2014.