ProRodeo Sports News - August 6, 2021

XTREME BRONCS POLLOCKVILLE, ALBERTA

Saddle bronc rider Hay ties world record with 95-point trip; Thurston, Thomson share title Record Ride

BY JOLEE JORDAN, Special to ProRodeo Sports News T he Hardgrass Bronc Match in Pollockville, Alberta became part of ProRodeo history July 31. Saddle bronc rider Dawson Hay didn’t win the event, but he took centerstage with his world record-tying 95-point ride on Calgary Stampede’s Wild Cherry in the short round. “She’s a really crazy, good horse,” said Hay, who was competing about five hours from his home inWildwood, Alberta. “The hardest part of her is spurring her out. It hasn’t really sunk in (tying the ProRodeo world record).” ZekeThurston and KennethThomson shared the rodeo title with 182 points each in the two-head average. Hay was third with 181.5 points. Hay, who qualified for the 2019 National Finals Rodeo, was aboardWild Cherry for the third time, but he’d had no luck the first two trips. Dawson’s father is Rod Hay, a saddle bronc rider who qualified 20 times for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (1989-90, 1992-2008, 2010). “This was my first time to stay on (Wild Cherry),” Hay said. “The first time, I missed her out and then she bucked me off. The second time, I got her spurred out, but then she bucked me off. Once I got the spur out, I just had to bear down. She kicks really hard and just leaves it all out there.” Hay, 23, now shares the saddle bronc riding ProRodeo world record with Doug Vold, who had a 95-point ride on Franklin’s Transport in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan, in 1979, and ProRodeo Hall of Famer Glen O’Neill, who had a 95-point trip on Franklin’s Airwolf in Innisfail, Alberta, in 1996. After a solid 86.5-point ride brought him back to the short go, Hay selectedWild Cherry for the finals. “With the pen of horses out tonight, you had to expect that something big could happen,” Hay said. “They have an amazing crowd. It’s one of the best rodeos a guy gets to go to all year.” Hay, who entered Pollockville fourth in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings, earned $8,514. He didn’t have time to celebrate his performance. He and his hauling buddies piled into the rig for the long drive back to Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days where Hay competed in the finals Aug. 1 but failed to win a check. The Pollockville event, which was a stop on the Xtreme Broncs Tour, featured 30 riders in a long round of competition with the top eight advancing to the short go.

Riders were allowed to draft from a pool of 12 horses for their final out as they fought for their share of the $40,000 added purse. Thomson chose Calgary Stampede’s Special Delivery, the same horse that carriedThurston to the win in 2019 in Pollockville with a 94-point ride in the finals. Special Delivery delivered again as Thomson had a 90.5-point ride. Brody Cress won the Calgary Stampede with a 94.5-point ride on Special Delivery on July 18. That was the highest-scored ride of the 2021 season before Hay’s heroics. “He gave me everything I could handle and more right out of there,” Thomson said. “Then it was good. He felt even better than I thought he would. He was awesome.” Thurston countered with a 92-point ride on Calgary Stampede’s Xplosive Skies to split the win. “This is for sure going to help,” Thomson said. “I haven’t looked at the standings, the order doesn’t matter for a while yet. I just need to make more money.” The victory was critical for both cowboys, as Thurston came into the event 12th in the world standings andThomson 17th. Thurston earned $11,158 andThomson $10,672. 1. Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, Alberta. ......$39,278 3. Dawson Hay, Wildwood, Alberta. ...........35,598 3. Stetson Dell Wright, Milford, Utah.........30,336 4. K. Wanchuk, Sherwood Park, Alberta.....16,778 5. Shorty Garrett, Eagle Butte, S.D.. ..........16,631 6. Chase Brooks, Deer Lodge, Mont...........13,788 7. Brody Cress, Hillsdale, Wyo.. ................12,937 8. Ryder Wright, Beaver, Utah. ..................12,459 9. K. Thomson, Lundbreck, Alberta............10,672 10. Tegan Smith, Winterset, Iowa..............10,393 11. Lefty Holman, Visalia, Calif................... 9,208 12. Allen Boore, Axtell, Utah....................... 6,451 13. Jake Finlay, Goondiwindi, Australia....... 6,374 14. Sage Newman, Melstone, Mont............. 6,074 15. Layton Green, Meeting Creek, Alberta... 5,534 PRCA XTREME BRONCS 2021 TOUR STANDINGS (Unofficial as of Aug. 3)

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Complete results/Page 75

Dawson Hay tied the PRCA world record in Pollockville, Alberta, with a 95-point ride on Calgary Stampede’s Wild Cherry.

ProRodeo Sports News 8/6/2021

ProRodeo Sports News 8/6/2021

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