ProRodeo Sports News 2023 Year-End Edition

REGINA, SASKATCHEWAN

Ty Taypotat gets 2024 off on right foot Strong Start BY ALEX RILEY, Special to ProRodeo Sports News T he moment Ty Taypotat climbed into the chute at the Canadian Western Agribition in Regina, Saskatchewan, he put 2023 behind him. That season was officially over. It was time to focus on what was ahead, not behind. MAPLE LEAF CIRCUIT FINALS

TOP SCORES

TOP MONEY EARNER Jacob Gardner ($9,886, bull riding) BAREBACK RIDING

The Nanton, Alberta, bareback rider hadn’t had a terrible year, but he had fallen short of where he hoped to finish. So, he planned to use the Maple Leaf Circuit Finals in late November as a reset moment – a plan that worked very well. Taypotat’s consistency over four rounds was nothing short of dominant, as he finished in the top spot each time, resulting in 333 points on four head and the Maple Leaf Circuit Finals bareback title. In all, the rodeo was worth $7,330 toward his 2024 earnings. “I just went in there with a clear mind. I just kind of told myself this is where I’m going to start my 2024 season, this is where it’s going to happen,” Taypotat said. “I was just being positive, I guess, and told myself what I was going to do and went and did it.” Taypotat split the first round with Strawbs Jones after both men posted 84-point rides. From there, he stood alone winning the second, third and fourth rounds with rides of 86, 81 and 82 points, respectively. Clint Laye was the next closest finisher with 327 points on four head, finishing second or third in all four rounds. After reaching the top 25 in the PRCA | RAM World Standings in 2022, Taypotat had hoped for some success in the United States during the 2023 campaign. While he did win six rodeos during the regular season, all of them were in Canada. As he wound down the year, Taypotat suffered a partial tear of his Lateral Collateral Ligament. The injury hampered his success toward the tail end of the season, but he pushed through to a fourth-place finish at the Canadian Finals Rodeo in early November. With some downtime between the CFR and Maple Leaf Finals, Taypotat hit the gym hard, working to build strength and rehab the injury. After a lot of perseverance, the tenacity appears to have paid off. “I was riding pretty sore. A few weeks ago, back in Red Deer, I partially tore my LCL there and was riding with kind of some messed up groin problems I’ve been having,” Taypotat said. “That’s why I was working out so hard to get ready for the 2024 season. It definitely was a confidence booster for sure.” With some solid earnings already in his ledger, Taypotat is using December as an opportunity to continue training, get a little rest and prepare himself for 2024. He got married back in September, so a few weeks at home with his new bride, Alexi Lively, is an added bonus to the break. But once the calendar flips, he fully intends to cross the border and get to work on what he hopes will be his best season yet as a PRCA member. Thanks to the Maple Leaf success, he’s got a head start. “I’m excited for this year and just ready to do some rodeoing. I’d like to go hard at the PRCA rodeos and try to stay down (in the United States) as much as I can,” Taypotat said.

Gardner

1. Ty Taypotat .................. 333 pts. on 4 2. Clint Laye .................................... 327 3. Strawbs Jones ............................ 319 STEER WRESTLING 1. Stephen Culling .......... 17.5 sec. on 4 2. Chance Butterfield ..................... 20.3 3. Harley Cole ................................ 21.6 TEAM ROPING 1. K. Drake/D. Ross ........ 13.4 sec. on 3 2. T. Mcleod/B. Chappel ................. 17.8 3. G. Quam/D. Wigemyr ................. 20.9 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Sawyer Eirikson ........... 326 pts. on 4 2. Lucas Macza ............................ 342.5 (Tie) Dawson Dahm ............... 324.50 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Stran Dunham ............... 36 sec. on 4 2. Shane Smith .............................. 42.6 3. Logan Bird ................................. 43.6 BARREL RACING 1. Taylor Manning ........... 54.8 sec. on 4 2. Jayden Wilson ......................... 55.27 3. Justine Elliott ........................... 55.61 BULL RIDING 1. Jacob Gardner .......... 336.5 pts. on 4 2. Wyatt Laughlin ................ 155.5 on 2 3. Coy Robbins .............................. 86.5

Complete results/Page 95

Chantelle Bowman photo

Bareback rider Ty Taypotat captured the Maple Leaf Circuit Finals Rodeo in Regina, Saskatchewan, with 333 points on four head.

ProRodeo Sports News 12/22/2023

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