Canadian Team Ropers… “Show Me the Money”

They liked it so well they came back for more.

First time NFR team ropers Dawson and Dillon Graham from Wainwright, Alberta and three-time qualifier. Kolton Schmidt, from Barrhead, Alberta alongside his Florida partner, Jonathan Torres were part of a three-way tie for second in round number two. One night later they decided to go one better and tonight the two teams flying the Canadian Maple Leaf were part of a three-way tie again—this time for first. Their 3.8 second runs were just a half second off the arena record and earned them $29,177 giving all four men over $50,000 won in the first three rounds despite both teams taking a no-time on night number one. The brothers Graham and the third generation Schmidt are all former Canadian Champions, Schmidt in 2013 and the Grahams in 2022.

In the bronc riding, Dawson Hay, knows how to make the most of a second chance. Making his sixth appearance at the NFR, Hay was awarded a re-ride and took advantage of that second opportunity to mark 87.75 points on Peacemaker from Harper and Morgan. That earned him a second-place cheque for $28,980 and keeps Hay very much in the world title conversation. The Wildwood, Alberta hand sits third in the world standings at $307,600, just $30,000 out of the number one spot. However, he’ll need to pick up the pace in the aggregate (average) where he is well back in 8th spot.  A few more nights like this one and that could change in a hurry.

On the livestock side Canada’s shining star was C5 Rodeo’s 712 Winning Rose. The horse carried CFR/NFR bareback riding qualifier Sam Petersen of Helena, Montana to an 87.25-point second place payday of $28,980. And Legend Rodeo’s 470 Huckleberry was outstanding in bucking off talented bull rider TJ Gray.

And Peso kept up his solid work as well as the legendary buckskin owned by Logan Bird carried Texan (and former Canadian Champion) Ty Harris to a 7.4 second third place result for in tie-down roping. The go round winner in barrel racing was Canadian-born (and another CFR qualifier) Carlee Otero who blistered a run that set a third round speed record—13.54 seconds on her 7 year-old palomino mare AM Regina George.

The rest of the eight-strong Canadian contingent, steer wrestler, Scott Guenthner, bronc riders Zeke Thurston, Q Taylor and Ben Andersen, and tie-down roper, Kyle Lucas were all out of the money on a Saturday night in Las Vegas.

For complete WNFR results, visit www.prorodeo.com