We’re Ba-a-a-ck! … on the Leaderboard in Round Five
Twenty-four hours after the Canadian contingent had as tough a night as you can imagine for a talented group of two and four-legged superstars, they fashioned a very different chapter in the NFR story.
Reigning and five-time Canadian Champion, Scott Guenthner got it going early for the Canucks, bouncing back from a round four no-time, bull-dogging his steer in 3.4 seconds for the win and the sizable $36,668 stipend that goes to the winner. Riding Eddie, Tanner Milan’s celebrated steer-wrestling horse, the Guenthner run was reminiscent of his performance at the Canadian Finals Rodeo when he ran the table, winning all five rounds en route to the title.
The bronc riding provided plenty of reason for jubilation for the Canadian athletes and their fans. After the talented Australian, Damian Brennan, collected the round win with a 90 point textbook ride, all the placings 2 through 6 had a Canadian connection. In second place, Hillsdale, Wyoming cowboy, Brody Cress, rode the soon-to-be-retired F13 Virgil from C5 Rodeo to 89.5 well-earned points.
And in another redemption moment–after a no score on Sunday night–Wildwood, Alberta’s Dawson Hay matched up with the Calgary Stampede’s outstanding mare, C-35 Crockett, and they combined for an 89 point score, earning the six-time NFR qualifier a cool third place payday of $21,882.
In fourth place, four time World Champion, Zeke Thurston teamed up with a world champ in his own right, The Black Tie from Sankey Pro Rodeo and Phenom Genetics, for 88.25 points and $15,377 from the Las Vegas slot machine called the NFR.
Then it was the horses’ turn to shine again. Stetson Wright drew the impressive Calgary Stampede bronc, D-19 Dandy Delight and collected 87 points for fifth place while the sixth and final payoff spot in the round went to Kade Bruno on Macza Pro Rodeo’s 6 Squash Blossom Steely Dan with an 86.75 mark on the horse.
And the Canadians were far from done. Barrhead, Alberta’s third generation team roping talent, Kolton Schmidt, combined with heeling partner Jonathan Torres for a sensational round win as they got it done in 3.7 for their second go-round win of this Finals. The Schmidt-Torres tandem now sit 4th in the average and Schmidt has climbed all the way to fifth place in the world standings just $16,000 back of season leader, Tanner Tomlinson.
And there was a huge sigh of relief from Canadian champion tie-down roper, Kyle Lucas, when he got off the schneid with a solid 7.9 second run for third place in the round and a $21,882 cheque.
A couple more livestock notes—in the bull riding Legend Rodeo’s 017 Halo’s Iron Hide bucked off the number two ranked bull rider in the world, Wacey Schalla; while in the bareback riding tonight, the rank horse award went to the Calgary Stampede’s D-508 Disco Party.
For complete WNFR results, visit www.prorodeo.com
For more information:
Barb Poulsen
CPRA Communications and Media
Phone: 403 625-9225
Email: media@rodeocanada.com