Sept 17, 2025 l Airdrie, AB
Deleeuw Sets the Pace for 2026
Pacean Deleeuw wasted no time in getting his 2026 Canadian Professional Rodeo Association off to a great start. The 24 year old Athabasca, Alberta steer wrestler put up a 4.3 second run at the Hanna Indoor Pro Rodeo for a $1902.56 payday and added a 4.1 second 3/4 split at the Oldstoberfest rodeo for an additional $1700.46.
“I thought we had good steers to pick from, that gave everyone a chance,” Deleeuw said. “With the horse I usually ride out with an injury, Matt Richardson let me ride his horse Miner. He’s one of the best in Canada.”
The weekend success was especially significant for Deleeuw as it bumped him up in the Maple Leaf Circuit standings.
“I was just out of making the CFR this year,” Deleeuw explained, “but this weekend’s placings moved me into the top ten for the Circuit Finals. It gives me good confidence for Agribition and for the Houston (Texas) qualifiers that I’m going to in October.
The Athabasca cowboy credits his Cisco Texas College rodeo experience, under the guidance of Assistant Coach (NFR qualifier and average winner) Chad Biesemeyer, for much of his success on the rodeo trail.
While the money earned by Deleeuw, and the rest of the cast of athletes who hit the two weekend rodeos, goes toward the 2026 CPRA season standings, it also has an impact on possible NFR berths and Maple Leaf Circuit qualifications as the money counts toward both of those 2025 year-end finals, making the two rodeos critical stops overlapping the two seasons—this year and next.
Deleeuw will move from fourteenth to eighth place on the Maple Leaf Circuit Finals steer wrestling roster. The Maple Leaf Circuit Finals features the top ten competitors from the Circuit for an exciting four day rodeo November 26-29 as part of Canadian Western Agribition in Regina, Sask,
Staying with the steer wrestling event, other stand-out performances were turned in by second generation steer wrestler, Tate Beierbach from Maple Creek, Saskatchewan and defending Canadian Steer Wrestling Champion Dalton Massey. Both cowboys clocked 4.0 seconds to share the win at Olds. Massey may be among the athletes counting his earnings toward the 2025 World standings where the Hermiston, Oregon athlete is in 15th spot with limited opportunities remaining.
A couple of tie down ropers helped their causes at the fall events as well. Carstairs, Alberta roper Kyle Lucas (also a second generation hand) added to his earnings with a speedy 7.7 second run at Hanna, good for $2032.28. The young roper, who is also in 15th place in the World standings is vying for a first NFR qualification. And World and
Canadian Champion Haven Meged, who was out for much of the season with a back injury and has been making up for lost time in his bid for a seventh NFR qualification, clocked 10.7 at Olds for a sixth place finish and $1140.57.
This edition of the Hanna Indoor Pro Rodeo marked the end of an era as the Girletz family who has been front and centre in producing the successful and popular fall classic for many years have stepped back from several decades of involvement with the east-central Alberta rodeo. Thank you to family patriarch and Hall of Fame inductee, the late Wilf Girletz, his wife Maxine, sons Kevin, Ray and Randy and grandson (also CPRA Director of Rodeo) Tanner Girletz for all their contributions to the Hanna Rodeo through the years. The September rodeo will continue to be part of the CPRA annual roster under the leadership of Trevor Warburton, Peggy Rehill and a host of community volunteers.
Next up for Pro Rodeo Canada action is the 51st Canadian Finals Rodeo. The event runs October 1-4 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta. See details at rodeocanada.com or cfr.ca
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 exceeding $7.4 million. The organization oversees the SMS Equipment Pro Tour Finale each fall in Armstrong, BC, holds their premiere event–the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR)–at Rogers Place in Edmonton in early October and endorses the Maple Leaf Circuit Finals as part of Canadian Western Agribition in Regina, Sask. For details, please see RodeoCanada.com
For more information:
Barb Poulsen
CPRA Communications and Media
Phone: 403 625-9225
Email: media@rodeocanada.com
Barb Poulsen
Media Relations
Canadian Professional Rodeo Association
1.403.625.9225 (cell)
1.403.625.2797 (direct)
1.403.945.0903 (CPRA office)
media@rodeocanada.com
barb.poulsen@gmail.com