Thomson Enjoys Profitable Trip North

From the CPRA office- At this time a year ago, Kyle Thomson was making a decision to end his summer rodeo travel schedule. Now twelve months later, the 36 year-old, saddle bronc rider is making plans for a trip back to the Canadian Finals Rodeo in November.

“I have to thank (Canadian Pro Rodeo) Sport Medicine. When I start getting sore, I make a visit to their trailer. They gave me some great help in the spring and turned me into a big believer in chiropractic care. They’re solely the reason I’m still going.”

And thanks to a 4.4-second steer wrestling run this past weekend at the Harmon Valley Rodeo at Peace River, AB, that paid Thomson $928 for splitting 4th, the 10-time CFR qualifier is back in the hunt for another Canadian All-Around championship.
“It always feels good to get qualified. Still, I’m a little disappointed in how the bulldogging has been going. But things are starting to click. I’ve been making some good runs.”

The cheque from Harmon Valley is the four-time Canadian All-Around champion’s third of the season in the steer wrestling which, along with plenty of paydays from the other end of the arena, fulfils the CPRA’s requirement for qualification into the all-around race. Thomson joins defending champion, Travis Reay of Mayerthorpe, AB, in that contest.

“It’s been on my radar,” admits the Lundbreck, AB, cowboy of his desire for a fifth all-around buckle. “A guy says he doesn’t look at that stuff but you do. If I started out (the season) not saying I wanted to win an all-around or saddle bronc or steer wrestling championship, I might as well stay home.”

Thomson led all Pro Rodeo Canada competitors in weekend earnings with $3,343, which included a first place, $2,098 cheque from the Teepee Creek, AB, Stampede for an 80-point ride aboard Kesler Championship Rodeo’s Bonus Alley.

Other top money winners included bareback riders, Colin Adams ($2,364) and Jake Vold ($2,042); bullriders, Jared Parsonage ($2,436) and Steven Turner ($2,098); tie-down roper, Mark Neitz ($2,121); barrel racer, Kerilee Noval ($2,576); steer wrestler, Trygve Pugh ($2,263) and two-event cowboy, Curtis Cassidy ($1,861 TD, $817 SW).

Several CPRA cowboys were also busy competing at the non-sanctioned Calgary Stampede through the weekend. 2014 Stampede champions included 25-year-old tie-down roper, Morgan Grant, who walked away from Calgary as the top money winner with $141,000 in earnings. Three-time Canadian saddle bronc champion, Dustin Flundra won his first Stampede title and two-time Canadian bullriding champ, Scott Schiffner captured his second Calgary championship, beating out Canadians, Ty Pozzobon and Zane Lambert and Brazilian, Joao Ricardo Vieira, in the showdown.

“To have three of us Canadians in the bullriding finals, it’s a special day,” said the 34-year-old, Schiffner just after collecting his $100,000 cheque. “I’m really proud of our cowboys. We can compete anywhere in the world; it’s just that sometimes people don’t know it.”

In the junior rough stock events, Keenan Reinhardt topped the field in the Calgary Stampede Novice Saddle Bronc and Spur Lacasse was the Novice Bareback Champion. Lacasse’s Calgary win came a day before the 21-year-old captured the novice title and $854 cheque at Harmon Valley.

Next up on the Pro Rodeo Canada schedule is the Cowtown Pro Rodeo in Maple Creek, SK (July 16-18), Manitoba Stampede in Morris, MB, the 6th stop on the Wrangler Canadian Professional Rodeo Tour (July 17-20) and the Moose Mtn. Pro Rodeo in Kennedy, SK (July 19-20).