There were seismic changes in the Canadian and World standings as a result of the Canada Day rodeo lineup on the north side of the 49th parallel.
In the bareback riding a couple of Canadian veterans made big time gains to their season earnings. 2022 Canadian Champion Ty Taypotat, who will celebrate a 35th birthday in December, is having one of the best seasons of his career and this week was an example of just how well he is riding. At the first of two Massey Ferguson Pro Tour events, the 90th Ponoka Stampede, the former Saskatchewan hand was solid in the long go and aggregate to earn a spot in the Showdown final four. That’s when the 13-time CFR qualifier upped his game, combining with the celebrated Calgary Stampede horse, A-91 Agent Lynx, for 89.75 points and the $7500 big cheque. When added to his first place split at the Williams Lake Stampede (also a stop on the Massey Ferguson Pro Tour) and a second-place finish at the Airdrie Pro Rodeo, Taypotat pocketed some $17,000 in winnings.
Another Canadian Champion bareback rider, Orin Larsen, won both the long go and the aggregate at Ponoka and split 2-3 in the Showdown round. Those results capped off a Canadian run that saw Larsen chalk up over $35,000 in money won in the 30 day period from June 1 to July 1, all of it in Canada. The Manitoba native will pad his already substantial lead at the top of the Canadian standings and could move into the top fifteen in the world standings as he vies for a 10th trip to the bright lights of Las Vegas and the National Finals Rodeo.
If you were wondering if, after his history making 2025 CFR that saw him win all five rounds at the Canadian Finals Rodeo en route to a fifth steer wrestling title, Scott Guenthner might take the foot off the gas pedal just a little… think again. That ain’t happening. The Provost, Alberta superstar bulldogger was up to his old tricks as he topped the field in round one, the aggregate, the finals and the Showdown at the Ponoka Stampede to take home over $23,000 from the famed central Alberta rodeo stop. He then added a second place payday at the Midnight Days Pro Rodeo in Fort Macleod. The weekend successes will boost Guenthner’s margin over the rest of the Canadian steer wrestling fraternity as the season moves into its second half.
When it comes to saddle bronc riding in Canada, it’s been said that the road to the Canadian championship runs through Big Valley, Alberta, the home of six-time champion Zeke Thurston. But 2026 has seen a different script being written as 24 year-old Quinten Taylor has blazed his way to the top of the Canadian standings. “Q” has been making a case for a different route to Canadian bronc riding supremacy—one that passes through the tiny Alberta community of Parkland. Taylor who was already at the top of the standings heading into the weekend’s roster of rodeos, padded his lead at both Williams Lake (88.5 points on C5 Rodeo’s 5206 Shattered Lunatic, for the win and $5008.32), then at Ponoka where he emerged victorious in the Showdown as well. But while Taylor has been enjoying a brilliant year, there’s no time to relax. At both of the July 1 successes the guy nipping at his heels was none other than the four-time world champ himself—the aforementioned Thurston. This thing is a long way from over.
A couple more Canadian champions enjoyed their moment in the sun at Canada’s biggest rodeo. 2013 World Champion and four-time Canadian titleist tie-down roper Shane Hanchey won his 4th Ponoka title while 2016 World Champion heeler, Jeremy Buhler and heading partner Derek Hadland captured top honours in their event at Ponoka and the lucrative payday should see both men solidly in the top ten in the Canadian standings as a result.
And there were a couple of firsts as well… bareback rider Bucky McAlpine will remember Canada Day 2026 for a long time. The Two Hills, Alberta cowboy was 84.5 points on Outlaw Buckers’ cool mare, Blue Moon, for his first pro win at Airdrie while Sawyer Eirikson moved unofficially into the Kenny McLean Award conversation as he and brother Wyatt, recorded two placings in the team roping, a pair of 7th place results—one at Airdrie and the other at the Raymond Stampede. That, combined with Eirikson’s consistent bronc riding successes, make the second-generation talent the early favourite for the coveted McLean Award.
Upcoming CPRA action includes another Massey Ferguson Pro Tour event – the Teepee Creek Stampede – and Bowden Daze Rodeo, both slated for July 10-12.
For a complete list of 2026 CPRA events and unofficial results, visit rodeocanada.com
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About CPRA
The Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA) with headquarters in Airdrie, Alta. is the official sanctioning body for Professional Rodeo in Canada. The CPRA approves 60+ events annually with a total payout just shy of $8 million. The organization oversees the CPRA Pro Tour Finale September 2-5 in Armstrong, BC, holds their premiere event–the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR) at Rogers Place in Edmonton, AB October 7-10 and endorses the Maple Leaf Circuit Finals November 25-28 as part of Canadian Western Agribition in Regina, SK. For details, please see RodeoCanada.com
For more information:
Barb Poulsen
CPRA Communications and Media
Phone: 403 625-9225
Email: media@rodeocanada.com