Southwestern Alberta’s rodeo athletes continue to show well at the halfway point of this year’s Canadian Finals Rodeo in Red Deer.

Round-3 summary for all events can be found below the featured cowboys.

K’s Thomson – saddle bronc

An 84.75-point ride by K’s Thomson on Calgary Stampede’s Xena Warrior, landed him fifth in Round 3, behind Zeke Thurston, Logan Hay, Lucas Macza and Layton Green. After a clean round on Thursday, five saddle-bronc riders hit the dirt Friday night.

The Lundbreck cowboy sits third in the CFR aggregate, and 10th in total earnings for the year with $21,893.16.

Round 1

Fourth with 84.25 points on Big Stone’s Second Thoughts – $2,154.45

11th in total season earnings with $19,020.45

Round 2

Three-way tie for third with 84.75 points on Calgary Stampede’s Special Delivery – $1,915.17

Third in the aggregate with 169 points

11th in total season earnings with $20,935.62

Round 3

Fifth with 84.75 points on Outlaw Buckers’ Comeback Red – $957.53

Third in the aggregate with 253.75 points

10th in total season earnings with $21,893.16

About K’s

The 24-year-old from Lundbreck turned pro in 2021 and is participating in his third CFR – novice saddle bronc in 2019 and saddle bronc in 2021 and 2023.

He qualified for CFR with 2023 earnings of $16,966.11 and 11th place in the standings. K’s has recovered from a hip injury and tied for second at his hometown rodeo in Pincher Creek this year.

Outside of pro rodeo, he is a rancher and horse trainer with a special interest in training dogs. His parents, Kirk and Shandel, are former CFR competitors in saddle bronc and barrel racing. Uncles Kyle and Cody Thomson are also former bronc riders.

Logan Bird – tie-down roping

A time of 13.0 seconds kept Logan Bird out of the money for the second day in a row at CFR, but he remains fourth in the aggregate for tie-down roping.

Round 1

Fourth with 9.5 seconds – $2,154.45

Second in total season earnings with $36,775.45

Round 2

Eighth with 10.5 seconds

Fifth in the aggregate with 20 seconds for two calves

Second in total season earnings with $36,775.45

Round 3

Seventh with 13 seconds

Fourth in the aggregate with 33 seconds for three calves

Third in total season earnings with $36,775.45

About Logan

The 29-year-old from Nanton turned pro in 2013 and is participating in his eighth CFR – 2013, 2016 to 2019 and 2021 to 2023.

He qualified for CFR with 2023 earnings of $34,621 and second place in the standings. Logan won the Falkland, High River and Cranbrook rodeos this year.

Outside of pro rodeo, he is a horse trainer and a big sports fan. His sister, Lakota Bird, is a CFR contestant in breakaway roping.

Ty Taypotat – bareback

An 87.25-point ride on Calgary Stampede’s Disco Party was good enough for Ty Taypotat to take second place in the third round of CFR action on Friday night.

He is tied with Orin Larsen for third in the aggregate.

Round 1

Fifth with 83 points on Calgary Stampede’s Zulu Warrior– $957.53

Fourth in total season earnings with $29,510.53

Round 2

Third with 83.5 points on Duane Kesler Rodeo’s Payday – $4,548.28

Fourth in the aggregate with 166.5 points

Fourth in total season earnings with $34,059.04

Round 3

Second with 87.25 points on Calgary Stampede’s Disco Party – $6,9548.28

Tied for third in the aggregate with 253.75 points

Fifth in total season earnings with $41,001.16

About Ty

The 31-year-old from Nanton turned pro in 2011 and is participating in his 11th CFR – 2011, 2012, 2014 to 2019 and 2021 to 2023.

Ty qualified for CFR with 2023 earnings of $28,553.23 and fourth place in the standings. The highlight of his year was getting married.

Outside of pro rodeo, you can find Ty flipping houses with his wife and fixing up the old Cummins.

Pascal Isabelle – bareback

Pascal Isabelle drew after the second round of Canadian Finals Rodeo. He finishes the season with total earnings of $20,250.94 and is 10th in the standings as of now.

Round 1

11th with 77.75 on Vold’s Mucho Dinero

Ninth in total season earnings with $20,250.94

Round 2

Ninth with 78.25 points on Calgary Stampede’s Shadow Ride

10th in total season earnings with $20,250.94

Round 3 – DR

10th in total season earnings with $20,250.94

About Pascal

Pascal hails from Montreal but calls Nanton home. The 31-year-old turned pro in 2015 and is participating in his fourth CFR – 2016 and 2021 to 2023.

He qualified for CFR with 2023 earnings of $20,250.94 and 11th place in the standings. Pascal was champion of Medicine Hat’s indoor and outdoor rodeos, won the long round at Salinas Rodeo, and qualified for the NFR Open and Cloverdale short round.

Outside of pro rodeo, Pascal is an entrepreneur who loves connecting with nature and sports like skiing, swimming, hiking, biking and climbing.

His girlfriend Rachelle Riggers and his brother Eric Isabelle are also rodeo athletes.

Bradi Whiteside – ladies barrels and breakaway roping

With a run time of 14.29 seconds, a ninth-place finish Friday left Bradi out of the money in Round 3 and she dropped from second to fourth in the aggregate.

Round 1 – Barrels

Fourth with 13.88 seconds – $2,154.45

Seventh in total season earnings with $21,396.45

Round 2 – Barrels

Third with 13.98 seconds – $4,548.28

Second in the aggregate with 27.86 seconds in two runs

Seventh in total season earnings with $25,944.98

Round 3 – Barrels

Ninth with 14.29 seconds

Fourth in the aggregate with 42.15 seconds in three runs

Eighth in total season earnings with $36,775.45

About Bradi

The 21-year-old Longview cowgirl turned pro in 2017 and is participating in her fifth CFR. This includes qualifying for breakaway roping in 2022 and 2023, and in ladies barrel racing from 2021 to 2023.

Bradi qualified for CFR with 2023 earnings of $14,116 and sixth place in the breakaway roping standings, and $19,242 for seventh in barrels. A highlight of her year was qualifying for the Calgary Stampede in both of her events.

Outside of pro rodeo, Bradi keeps busy as a horse trainer.

Her sister, Kylie Whiteside, is a CFR ’49 competitor in breakaway roping and, like Bradi, is a barrel racer. Their dad, Travis Whiteside was the 1997 Canadian bareback champion.

Hayden MacKay – junior steer riding

The steers have been getting the better of Hayden MacKay as he has only one scoring ride after three rounds of junior steer riding at CFR.

After being bucked off Wednesday, Hayden MacKay of Nanton scored 66 points in his second-round ride the next night. With a slap in Round 3, he sits last among the group of six.

Round 1

Bucked off

Round 2

66 points

Sixth in total season earnings with $4511.69

Round 3

SLAP

Sixth in total season earnings with $4511.69

About Hayden

Fifteen-year-old Hayden turned pro in 2022 and this year’s Canadian Finals Rodeo is his first.

The Nanton teen qualified for CFR with 2023 earnings of $4,511.69 and sixth place in junior steer riding. Hayden won the Pincher Creek and Raymond rodeos along with the Koye Larsen Memorial. A highlight was two go-round wins at the Calgary Stampede, with a score of 80 in the second round.

This young cowboy enjoys riding and running, and can be found getting ready for the next event.

Hayden’s dad, Ian MacKay, and grandpa Stuart Derochie were bull riders, while his mom, Layne Derochie, and sister Luxxin MacKay are barrel racers.

Record-setting performances on CFR night 3

Canadian Finals Rodeo Round 3 Summary
Canadian Professional Rodeo Association

It was the greatest night of team roping in the history of the Canadian Finals Rodeo. The progression was this: one-tenth of a second off the record followed by ‘equals the record’ followed by two teams ‘breaking the record’.

The old mark of 3.7 seconds was first equalled by Tee McLeod and Brady Chappel, then quickly eclipsed by Brady Tryan and Calgary Smith, then Rhen Richard and Jeremy Buhler – clocking a pair of 3.5’s

NFR header Rhen Richard weighed in on the night’s success story.

“The average pays good here but it doesn’t pay good enough to not win in the rounds. I’m not saying I was backed in there trying to be 3.5 but I was going to take my first available shot. I got a really good start tonight for the first time … the steer was really good and made up fast. And that was kind of what made it work.”

While he was undeniably excited about the round win, World and Canadian Champion, Jeremy Buhler was clear.

“For me, I try to stay level either way. It’s dang sure a confidence boost to know that what you’ve been working on is the right thing. It’s honestly almost more of a relief after the last month when you’ve been working hard and paying attention to the process. To show up and execute validates your process and helps you have more confidence that your process is working.”

Oregon header and first-time CFR heeling qualifier Calgary Smith grinned.

“I’ve never been a three until tonight so I was excited. My whole family is here, even my grandma. And some of my high school buddies who came up for a couple of days to see me rope.”

“I made CFR five years ago,” Brady Tryan added. “I wanted to be here and have a chance to win this. I was 3.5 one other time, over a decade ago at the NFR. Anytime you’re a three, when you look at the clock, you’re shocked and you’re excited.”

Tonight’s effort, when added to a second place in Round 1 and a share of second in Round 2, have Tryan and Smith first overall with $49,482 and sitting second in the average.

Saskatchewan ropers Tee McLeod and Brady Chappel are only a couple of hundred dollars behind but lead the average, while Richard and Buhler are in fourth spot with $36,622 and third in the average.

Season leaders and defending Champions Dawson and Dillon Graham, who posted a no-time in Round 3, sit third but are out of the average at this point.

Clint Laye took the bareback win in Round 3 on Wayne Vold’s 73 True Grit.

Bareback rider Clint Laye earned his second straight CFR ’49 round win in spectacular style, with an impressive 88.75 ride on Wayne Vold’s 73 True Grit, a horse he’s long admired but never competed on.

“She’s been around a long time,” Laye observed. “Since about the time I started — and I’ve never gotten her. We’ve been in the same pen together, my travelling partners have had her, I’ve helped guys get on her but I’ve never drawn her. Everything I’ve ever heard about her is true. I’ve watched her so many times I kind of felt like I knew what to expect.”

With $60,852 in earnings, Laye leads his event and the average heading into Round 4.

But four Canadians, 2019 champ Orin Larsen, season leader Kody Lamb, travelling partner Dantan Bertsch and defending titlist Ty Taypotat sit within striking distance of the top spot with three performances to go.

On a night when hometown hero, Ashton Sahli thrilled the Red Deer faithful with an 88.5-point round-winning ride on the Vold bull, Wolf Bait, the race for the Canadian title continued to tighten.

Season leader Coy Robbins has gone zero for three as the Duane Kesler Championship Rodeo bull, 715 American Hats Chester, bucked off the Camrose cowboy and allowed those in pursuit to draw still closer.

2019 Champion Edgar Durazo is a man on the move as his fourth-place finish in Friday’s third round of competition keeps him on top in the aggregate race with its substantial payout, and pulls the Mexican-Canadian to within $5,300 of Robbins with Canadian champions Jared Parsonage and Jordan Hansen still within striking distance, and Sahli a slightly longer shot in fifth place.

After stunning an opening night Centrium crowd with a rare buckoff, only his second of the entire season, three-time Canadian and World Champion bronc rider Zeke Thurston is back in his customary spot at the top of the standings after the second of back-to-back wins, this one an 88.75 point effort on the back of the Calgary Stampede bronc, Y-38 Yesterday’s Delivery.

While the Big Valley superstar remains on the outside of an average payoff, he has a commanding $16,000 lead over second-place cowboy, Ben Andersen who was bucked off another Stampede bronc, T-77 Tokyo Bubbles Friday night.

Meanwhile Logan Hay continues to keep Thurston in his sights as he is now three for three and first in the lucrative average after his second-place 88.5-point ride on Calgary’s E-54 Exotic Warrior.

2019 World Champion tie-down roper, Haven Meged, took another step toward winning his first Canadian title as his 8.3-second run bested the field of 12 ropers, moved him to second spot in the average and kept him at the top of the standings.

Several ropers remain very much in the hunt for the elusive roping title that Meged narrowly missed in 2019, the same year he won the World Crown.

Six-time Canadian champion Cody Cassidy continued his climb up the steer wrestling leaderboard with an impressive 3.6-second winning run Friday to take over first place in the average and move to within $13,000 of leader and three-time titlist, Scott Guenthner, who broke a barrier on Friday night to drop back to third place in the average.

Veteran barrel racer and season leader, Lynette Brodoway remains in first place in the race for the champion’s buckle but it was the Texan, Carlee Rae Otero, who won the third round as she blistered a 13.53-second run on a five-year-old horse, KL Touch of Heaven (Dove).

Otero is fourth overall as rookie Blake Molle remains first in the average and trails Brodoway by just over $17,000.

Both Novice events wrapped up after three rounds of action that saw Jaret Cooper earn the Novice Bareback title and Chase Siemens take home the Novice Saddle Bronc award.

Brooks steer rider Hayden Mulvey marked 80 points for his second-straight round win and Rodeo Royalty played a big part in tonight’s performance when Miss Ponoka Stampede, Kaylee Shantz, was crowned Miss Rodeo Canada.

Go to rodeocanada.com for Canadian Finals Rodeo results. Check out www.cfrreddeer.ca/ for additional event details.

Nov. 4 is a big day with a matinee performance at noon and a 6 p.m. evening round.  If you cannot attend the event in person, sign up to follow the action on The Cowboy Channel.