Day 6 at the Calgary Stampede Rodeo: Saddle-bronc finale setting up to be a 'salty' one
Saddle up and hold on tight, Calgary.
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The bronc bustin' is shaping up to be a who's-who for the $50,000 champion's cheque at 'The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth'.
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A few champions from past Calgary Stampedes have already punched their tickets to the big saddle-bronc dance on Showdown Sunday.
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And the promise of a few more earning spots to the finale is still in the chutes.
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'It should be good bronc ridin' Sunday,' promised Alberta cowboy Zeke Thurston, with three more days on tap — and three more showdown berths on the line — in the high-profile rough-stock event.
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'The cream always rises to the top in our event,' continued Thurston, of Big Valley, Alta. 'It don't matter if you're here or at the National Finals Rodeo. Like Championship Sunday here is going to look like a round at the NFR. It's going to be the best-of-the-best guys. That's kind of how these deals work.
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'It'll be salty bronc ridin'.'
Thurston himself is a three-time Stampede king, having won a trio of consecutive titles from 2015-17.
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He's through to this year's final day after coming out of Pool B action Wednesday with the top money from 10 cowboys through three rounds. His 86 points aboard Turf Wars on Day 3 of the pool gave him $4,500 from the round for a $14,416 total.
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He got that by scoring high all three days, including a 90.5 on Monday's first day of the pool and an 88.5 during Tuesday's second round.
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'I've actually had a really good year,' said Thurston, who is joined in advancing from Pool B to Showdown Sunday by New Mexico's Zachary Dallas ($12,000) and Australia's Damian Brennan ($9,000). Dallas, with an 87.5 aboard Bright Lights, and Wyoming's Brody Wells, with a round-best 88 on Painted Heart, were the only busters better than Thurston on Wednesday.
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'Kind of a slow winter, but here in the last just about two weeks — since about the 26th of June — I've won just about $55,000,' continued Thurston. 'I think in the last 10 days or two weeks, I've just about doubled my yearly earnings there, so it's been pretty good. I think I'm the second-highest money winner over Cowboy Christmas for rough stock.'
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CBC
6 days ago
- CBC
Breakaway roping, steer wrestling among rodeo titles won by Albertans at Stampede
Shelby Boisjoli-Meged will go down in the history books as the inaugural winner of the breakaway roping competition at the Calgary Stampede rodeo. Boisjoli-Meged was one of three Albertans who won championship titles on Showdown Sunday. "It's been a crazy 24 hours," said Boisjoli-Meged, who won in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Saturday. "I've been extremely blessed. It's unbelievable. Last night I won the NFR Open at the Pikes Peak or Bust [Rodeo] and then coming here today and winning the Calgary Stampede, this is the biggest week I've ever had in my life." As the first breakaway roper out of the gates in the final round, Boisjoli-Meged set the standard of 2.2 seconds that Texans Hali Williams (12.2) and Bradi Good (12.5) weren't able to beat as they were both penalized 10 seconds for breaking the starting barrier. "Having my family all here watching me, it's the best feeling in the world," said Boisjoli-Meged, whose husband Haven Meged of Miles City, Mont., won the tie-down roping title in Calgary last year. "He wasn't able to compete this year due to an injury, so it kind of sucked not having him [compete] here, but getting the win and having him here in the box with me was awesome." Saddle bronc rider Zeke Thurston of Big Valley and steer wrestler Scott Guenthner of Provost also finished first in their events to take home the winner's share of $50,000. Thurston added his fourth Stampede title to the three others he won consecutively from 2015 to 2017. He scored 92.5 points atop Virgil in the final round to beat fellow Albertan Dawson Hay of Wildwood for the top prize. "My hat's off to that horse," Thurston said. "That's a once in a lifetime kind of animal and to be able to get on him a couple of times like I have is very special, so you really cherish those moments and that's a very cool animal." Hay, the 2023 Stampede champion, celebrated his 28th birthday by earning $20,000 for finishing second after a 90-point performance on Yesterday's Delivery. Meanwhile, Guenthner added his second Stampede title to the one he won in 2023. "It's still surreal," he said. "I still can't believe I won the first time, let alone now." Guenthner posted a time of 3.7 seconds in the final round to beat the clocking of 4.1 that 2022 Stampede champion Will Lummus of Byhalia, Miss., set earlier. Shortly before winning the steer wresting event, Guenthner also went up to the stage in front of the fans at GMC Stadium to accept the prestigious Guy Weadick Award that is presented annually to the rodeo or chuckwagon competitor who best embodies the cowboy spirit and typifies the spirit of the Calgary Stampede. "It was a big shock the first time, and then to go up [on stage] twice, it's a big day," Guenthner said. "I mean it's a dream come true to win Calgary and then on top of it to win that award, it's such an honour." Nine competitors in each of the seven events qualified to compete on Sunday and only the top three from the first go-round advanced to the finals. The winner of each event was awarded $50,000, while the second- and third-place finishers received $20,000 and $10,000, respectively. Shad Mayfield of Clovis, N.M., won the tie-down roping title in a time of 6.8 seconds to edge out Tom Crouse of Gallatin, Mo. (7.3). "It's so special to win this rodeo especially because my dad [Sylvester] won it 40 years ago," Mayfield said. "I've come to this rodeo six times now and I've never had just the best of luck here. Just to come here this time and get the win, I'm truly blessed." Thanks to his 94-point ride atop Disco Party, Cooper Cooke of Victor, Idaho, won the bareback event. "I'm just so excited," Cooke said. "My parents got to come up to Calgary today and they got to watch me and that's probably the most meaningful win I've ever had, especially because my family was there to watch it." Weston Timberman of Columbus, Mont., finished a close second after his 92-point performance on Agent Lynx. Aboard her horse Rico, Anita Ellis of Blackfoot, Idaho, won the barrel racing championship in a time of 16.956 seconds to edge out 2022 Stampede champion Kassie Mowry of Dublin, Texas, by .189 seconds for top spot. "I think he loves the crowd and I'm going to keep running him in these big rodeos," Ellis said. "He did great." Wacey Schalla of Arapaho, Okla., was the lone bull rider to stay on for eight seconds in the final round. His score of 86 points atop Haunted Hotel earned him a $50,000 payday. "I haven't felt a feeling like that yet," said Schalla of his accomplishment. "One of the most legendary rodeos and to end up on top is a thrill." Grady Young of Leader, Sask., and Trey Benton III of Richards, Texas, earned $15,000 each even though they were bucked off their bulls. Later in the evening, chuckwagon driver Chanse Vigen of Calgary won his first Rangeland Derby title by beating defending champion Jason Glass across the finish line in a time of 1:11.24. For his efforts, Vigen won $50,000 and a new GMC truck, while Glass, of High River, Alta., took home $20,000 for his second-place showing. Jamie Laboucane of St. Walburg, Sask., had to settle for third and a cheque for $10,000.
Winnipeg Free Press
6 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Rodeo winners' circle filled with Albertans at Stampede
CALGARY – Albertans won three of seven events at the Calgary Stampede rodeo on Showdown Sunday. Breakaway roper Shelby Boisjoli-Meged of Langdon, saddle bronc rider Zeke Thurston of Big Valley, and steer wrestler Scott Guenthner of Provost all finished first in their events to take home the winner's share of $50,000. Boisjoli-Meged will go down in the Stampede history books as the inaugural winner of the breakaway roping event. As the first competitor out of the gates in the final round, she set the standard of 2.2 seconds that Texans Hali Williams (12.2) and Bradi Good (12.5) weren't able to beat as they were both penalized 10 seconds for breaking the starting barrier. Thurston added his fourth Stampede title to the three others he won consecutively from 2015 to 2017. He scored 92.5 points atop Virgil in the final round to beat fellow Albertan Dawson Hay of Wildwood for the top prize. Hay, the 2023 Stampede champion, celebrated his 28th birthday by earning $20,000 for finishing second after a 90-point performance on Yesterday's Delivery. Meanwhile, Guenthner added his second Stampede title to the one he won in 2023. Guenthner posted a time of 3.7 seconds in the final round to beat the clocking of 4.1 that 2022 Stampede champion Will Lummus of Byhalia, Miss., set earlier. Shortly before winning the steer wresting event, Guenthner also went up to the stage in front of the fans at GMC Stadium to accept the prestigious Guy Weadick Award, which is presented annually to the rodeo or chuckwagon competitor who best embodies the cowboy spirit and typifies the spirit of the Calgary Stampede. Nine competitors in each of the seven events qualified to compete on Sunday and only the top three from the first go-round advanced to the finals. The winner of each event was awarded $50,000, while the second- and third-place finishers received $20,000 and $10,000, respectively. Shad Mayfield of Clovis, N.M., won the tie-down roping title in a time of 6.8 seconds to edge out Tom Crouse of Gallatin, Mo. (7.3). Thanks to his 94-point ride atop Disco Party, Cooper Cooke of Victor, Idaho, won the bareback event. Weston Timberman of Columbus, Mont., finished a close second after his 92-point performance on Agent Lynx. Anita Ellis of Blackfoot, Idaho, won the barrel racing championship in a time of 16.956 seconds to edge out 2022 Stampede champion Kassie Mowry of Dublin, Texas, by .189 seconds for top spot. Wacey Schalla of Arapaho, Okla., was the lone bull rider to stay on for eight seconds in the final round. His score of 86 points atop Haunted Hotel earned him a $50,000 payday. Grady Young of Leader, Sask., and Trey Benton III of Richards, Texas, earned $15,000 each even though they were bucked off their bulls. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 13, 2025.
Calgary Herald
13-07-2025
- Calgary Herald
Day 9 at the Calgary Stampede rodeo: No more crying, with Showdown Sunday set
Article content 'And also your confidence is down in the dumps. So it's good to get started off in the win. I don't care what anybody says … confidence is hard to come by in this game. It's a very humbling sport.' Article content The other adjustment for this year's Stampede comes on Showdown Sunday, when the fine nine is pared to just three finalists for the short-round — down one, as well, from the four of previous years. Article content All this was done to cut down the length of the championship day, which has breakaway roping added to this year's show. Article content 'I do think the three-man short-round is going to be pretty cool, because it dang sure makes it a lot easier to pen those (final group of) horses,' added Hay. 'There's not going to be a weak one in there. It's going to be the tip-top. And it also gives you a chance to have a really, really amazing re-ride horse if something goes wrong.' Article content Here's the fine nine for Showdown Sunday in each of the seven open events … Article content Article content BARREL RACING Article content Leslie Smalygo is the Stampede queen of barrel racing from a year ago, and she's through to Showdown Sunday to defend her crown. Article content 'I think it's going great,' said Smalygo, who won Saturday's round with a 16.93-second run to ensure her spot in the championship day — again. 'You never tend to believe lightning strikes twice, but my horse, Gus, loves it here, he loves the fans, the fans love rodeo, and Calgary is where he wants to call home.' Article content Calgary is home this week to a handful of Stampede champs beyond Smalygo in ladies barrel racing. Article content And all of those in attendance have advanced to what's shaped up to be a smokin' final day in pursuit of the $50,000 champion's cheque. Article content Article content Kassie Mowry is one of them after she finished third in the aggregate in Pool C. She won the Stampede in 2022. Article content The pool's runner-up for total money was fellow Texan Hailey Kinsel, who was the 2018 queen here. Article content 'It'll be a knife-fight Sunday,' said Smalygo, of Skiatook, Okla. 'With the calibre of horses and the calibre of girls, it's anybody's day. Article content 'And the ground has been exceptional. There is nothing we could have changed about the ground. They have it 100 per cent perfect this year, and it keeps our horses happy, which keeps us happy.' Article content Expect the Stampede record — currently held by Mowry — to be threatened once more this week with Sunday's field of competitiors. Article content 'It's been a little stressful seeing how many times the arena record was broke and within seconds of each other,' added Smalygo. 'We're just proud to be a part of that category of being to keep up with them. Article content 'Now, we're just going in there and do what we did last year and hope for the best.' Article content Pool A — Anita Ellis (Blackfoot, Idaho), $21,000; Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi (Lampasas, Texas), $11,000; Emily Beisel (Weatherford, Texas), $10,000 Pool B — Carlee Otero (Perrin, Texas), $16,000; Megan Mcleod-Sprague (Marsing, Idaho), $14,000; Hayle Gibson-Stillwell (Redcrest, Calif.), $10,000 Pool C — Leslie Smalygo (Skiatook, Okla.), $15,750; Hailey Kinsel (Cotulla, Texas), $12,500; Kassie Mowry (Dublin, Texas), $12,250 Article content Article content The only other defending champ in line to defend his crown Sunday is bareback artist RC Landingham. Article content The California cowboy earned just enough Saturday to return to the championship day, as well. Article content Landingham scored 83 on Night Magic for a fifth-spot reward of $2,000 and a $9,500 aggregate. Article content Garrett Shadbolt ensured his place on Showdown Sunday with a 87 points Saturday on Welcome Delivery. The day-money win for a second straight round gave the Nebraska star the top money total through the three shows of Pool C. Article content Article content The other Pool C advancer is Montana's Weston Timberman, who rode Mexican Tattoo to 85 for a third-place $3,875 payout. Article content Article content Just 24 hours after missing out on a wad of cash by getting bucked off a bull with just a hundredth-of-a-second left on the eight-click clock, Tuni roared back to win the final round of Pool C. He rode Rock Steady to 87 points and the first-place $9,083.33 payday. Article content Article content On Friday, it was Tuni's travelling partner Luke Mackey taking all the prize money for a $23,250 windfall after Tuni came up a hair short. But Mackey was quick to say Tuni would be back in the winner's circle right away. Article content He was right. Article content Too bad it wasn't enough for Tuni to earn a spot in Showdown Sunday. That went to Colorado's Mackey, Saskatchewan's Dakota Buttar and Oklahoma's Wacey Schalla. Article content 'The bull pens are just getting better and better every year, so we've got to up our game,' said Buttar, of Eatonia, Sask., the 2022 Stampede champ. 'I've just got to stay consistent and keep riding my bulls, and it'll all work out. I can't control anybody else's rides. I just have to do my job. Article content 'The three-man is a lot different (this year), but it's still bull riding at the end of the day. It's me against the bulls, so I have to worry about that. Whatever plays out plays out.' Article content Pool A — JR Stratford (Byers, Kan.), $29,5000; Hayes Weight (Goshen, Utah), $12,250; Tristen Hutchings (Monteview, Idaho), $8,750 Pool B — Grady Young (Leader, Sask.), $14,400; Trey Benton III (Richards, Texas), $11,400; Jesse Petri (Dublin, Texas), $10,325 Pool C — Luke Mackey (Ignacio, Colo.), $29,500; Dakota Buttar (Eatonia, Sask.), 15,333.33; Wacey Schalla (Arapaho, Okla.), $11,833.33 Article content Article content Jackie Crawford talked the talk and then walked it Saturday in breakaway roping. Article content The Texan helped Sportsnet with commentary on her fellow competitors ahead of her trip and then went out and set the arena record with a wowzer 2.1-second run. Article content Yes, we're only nine days into the breakaway roping era at the Stampede, but that's a dang fine standard to try to reach for future shows. Article content While the rope-job was enough to net Crawford the day's victory and $7,000, it wasn't enough to move her onto Showdown Sunday. Article content Article content That honour from Pool C goes to Kansas ropers Beau Peterson and Timber Allenbrand and Texas cowgirl Jessie Everett. Article content Pool A — Shelby Boisjoli-Meged (Langdon, Alta.), $14,500; Kinlie Brennise (Craig, Colo.), $14,375; Cheyanne McCartney (Kingston, Okla.), $9,750 Pool B — Hali Williams (Comanche, Texas), $16,500; Bradi Good (Abilene, Texas), $14,000; Maddy Deerman (Hope, N.M.), $10,250 Pool C — Beau Peterson (Council Grove, Kan.), $11,250; Timber Allenbrand (Paola, Kan.), $11,250; Jessie Everett (Tarzan, Texas), $10,875 Article content Yates was, indeed, the big winner in Pool C tie-down roping, earning a win, place and show from the three rounds. Article content Only fellow Texan Trevor Hale was better than Yates on Saturday with a 6.7-second performance to collect the $7,000 top prize for the round. But he finishes in the crying hole of the pool. Article content Article content Instead it's Missouri's Tom Crouse and Texas veteran Tuf Cooper finishing second and third in the three-day aggregate after consistently placing high, as well. Article content Pool A — John Douch (Huntsville, Texas), $17,500; Riley Pruitt (Gering, Neb.), $10,875; Shad Mayfield (Clovis, N.M., $8,875 Pool B — Ty Harris (San Angelo, Texas), $16,000; Joel Harris (San Angelo, Texas), $13,500; Riley Webb (Denton, Texas), $13,250 Pool C — Marty Yates (Stephenville, Texas), $16,500; Tom Crouse (Gallatin, Mo.), $12,500; Tuf Cooper (Decatur, Texas), $11,250 Article content STEER WRESTLING Article content Holden Myers, Chance Howard and Jace Melvin were far enough ahead of the bull-doggin' pack heading into Saturday's round that they weren't caught despite coming up empty in the final round. Article content Indeed, none of Saturday's top-six money earners were able to earn enough to grab a spot on the championship day from North Dakota's Bridger, Oklahoma's Howard and South Dakota's Melvin — the top three respective dollar earners from Pool C. Article content Oregon's Jesse Brown won Saturday's day-money of $7,000 with a lightning-quick 3.9 time. Article content Pool A — Scott Guenthner (Provost, Alta.), $18,000; Kyle Iwin (Robertsdale, Fla.), $10,500; Justin Shaffer (Hico, Texas), $10,250 Pool B — Will Lummus (Byhalia, Miss.), $17,166.67; Rowdy Parrott (Mamou, La.), $12,166.67 Pool C — Holden Myers (Van, Texas), $11,500; Chance Howard (Sallisaw, Okla.), $10,125; Jace Melvin (Fort Pierre, S.D.), $8,750 Article content SADDLE BRONC Article content Wyatt Casper and Chase Brooks needed money efforts Saturday to secure their spots in Showdown Sunday. And they both got them. Article content Casper's round-best 88 aboard OLS Tubs Magic Carpet heaved the Texan up to a second-straight day win, enough to push him to the top of Pool C after three days of saddle bronc. Article content Meanwhile, Montana's Brooks finished fourth to get him $3,250 to edge California's Bailey Small for the last qualifying spot from the pool. Article content Article content Hay, the 2023 Stampede champ, grabbed the second spot for the championship day despite just a sixth-place finish Saturday. Article content Article content Hay and Buttar are the only two Canadians advancing out of Pool C into Showdown Sunday. That makes six total for the championship day … The 2025 Calgary Stampede junior steer riding champ is Rex Curtis, of Donalda, Alta. His 79 score kept him on top Saturday for the title, out-pointing B.C.'s Tanner Loring, fellow Albertan Jax Thorkelson and Saskatchewan's Cecil Baynton. Curtis finished with 225.5 total points through the three days of the event. Next was Loring with 212, then Thorkelson with 210 and Baynton with 144 … Seven champions will be crowned on Day 10 — the final day of the 2025 Calgary Stampede — Sunday at GMC Stadium (1:30 p.m., Sportsnet).
