Comeback Story For Pamela Morrison
Pamela Morrison is redefining what it means to be “on a heater.”
The Celista, British Columbia barrel racer and her talented 8 year-old mare, Dyna, have won over $15,000 in the last two weeks. Starting with a 1-2 split at the Strathmore Stampede and following it up with wins at La Crete’s Field of Dreams rodeo and the Dawson Creek Exhibition and Stampede and finally a second-place finish at High River’s Guy Weadick Rodeo, the diminutive cowgirl has vaulted from 25th place in the standings to what will likely be a top ten spot with the next appearance of the season leaderboard.
“Wow, it’s like nobody pinch me, what’s going on here, it’s just so cool,” the 2024 CFR qualifier enthused after her most recent success. “I got a late start to the season because I was dealing with a shoulder injury and even into June it didn’t seem like Dyna’s endurance and fitness level were where they needed to be. But now her fitness is so much better and she just seems so confident this last while.”
And while her recent winning streak is of historic proportions, it constitutes only one chapter in the remarkable story of this cowgirl. Morrison was forced to step back from an active horse-training/rodeo career due to a severe set of neck and head injuries resulting from a horrific snowmobile incident over a decade ago. The aftermath of the accident demanded an extraordinary display of courage, resilience and positivity during what amounted to a ten-year (and ongoing) recovery. The physical and mental challenges she faced during that time have made what she has accomplished in the rodeo arena in the last two years all the more special.
“Looking back on my progression over that time, I think, how did it take me so long, but it took the right team of doctors and motivational people and having no horses in my life to make me realize that this was my passion. There were some doctors and other people who were trying to get me to redirect my life into things that were less stressful and less physical but I knew this is who I am.”
You take that level of commitment and desire and couple it with a talented buckskin mare that loves her job and does it well, and the result is what rodeo fans have been watching in recent weeks.
Dyna (TSFamousFrenchLassie), sired by Tres My Fame and out of a Frenchman’s Guy daughter, was a handful initially. She needed groundwork (that was beneficial for Pamela as well since she wasn’t back to riding yet), then some ranch riding, barrel racing training and finally rodeos. Amazing too is the fact that last year’s CFR qualification was Pamela’s first season back competing and Dyna’s second.
And while that first CFR didn’t go as well as Pamela might have liked, you get the feeling that 2025 could see a very different outcome. It seems like a fairly minor challenge compared to what Pamela Morrison and Dyna have had to endure to get this far.
Northern Dominance
Another two event winner on the weekend was bull rider Auzyn Corr. The Grande Prairie cowboy put up an 88 point ride on Duane Kesler Championship Rodeo’s 782 Jack The Ripper for $3290. He then followed up with 87.5 points on C5 Rodeo’s 947 Slobber Knocker for a $1521 win at High River’s Guy Weadick Rodeo. The double win will send Corr into the top 12 for the first time in his career as he vies for a Rogers Place date come October 1-4. And it would seem that the young talent loves that home cookin’ as two of his season wins were at northern Alberta stops in Teepee Creek and Dawson Creek, both SMS Equipment Pro Tour rodeos.
Depaoli on the Move
Not to be outdone was Longview tie-down roper, Steele Depaoli who posted back to back wins of his own: 8.5 seconds for $2952 at Dawson Creek, then at High River courtesy of an 8.6 second run for $2470. The strong showing has put the CFR two event veteran very much in the conversation for a return to the CFR in tie-down roping.
Two for the Monay
Trinity Bear of Whitewood, Saskatchewan and Didsbury, Alberta veteran, Kyle Brown split the honours at the inaugural Frank Wilson Memorial Bull Riding at Rimbey, both guys posting 86 point rides. Bear’s winning effort was on the back of Duffy Rodeo’s 141 Stray Bucks while Brown got the job done on Vold Rodeo’s 267 Wolf Bait with both men pocketing $6900.
The busy CPRA summer season has athletes competing at three Maple Leaf Circuit events: Cranbrook Pro Rodeo and Pincher Creek Pro Rodeo August 15-17 and Medicine Lodge Fall Round-Up August 16.
For complete results, standings and schedule, visit rodeocanada.com
