ProRodeo Sports News - June 28, 2019

Albertan Cassidy wins Wainwright for third time Home Turf BY MATT NABER C urtis Cassidy has competed in ProRodeo for more than half his life. The Canadian cowboy started his ProRodeo career in 1998, and at 40 years old he’s on track to surpass the $2 million mark in career earnings if the 2019 season turns out to be as profitable as his 2018 season. “That would be something,” Cassidy laughed. “When BAREBACK RIDING 1. Orin Larsen .................... 176 pts. on 2 2. Caleb Bennett ............................... 172 3. Clint Laye .................................. 171.5 STEER WRESTLING TOP SCORES

I started rodeoing my goal was to win more than $1 million because 20 years ago there weren’t many over the $1 million mark. But not many have surpassed $2 million, so it’d be a sweet deal to pass that mark for sure.” Winning the Wainwright (Alberta) Stampede for the third time gave him a $4,090 boost toward the milestone. He also wonWainwright in 2001 and 2008. Before his most-recent win, he was ranked 28th in the 2019 PRCA | RAMWorld Standings with $24,255, about $10,000 away from the Top 15. “It’s a nice jump this time of the year,” Cassidy said. “This is basically the beginning of Cowboy Christmas. It’s kind of the same all year, being aggressive all year, but now it’s a matter of going at them all day, every day.” Cassidy brought the same horse and hazer combo he used at the 2018Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. With 15-year-old Tyson as his mount and Baillie Milan hazing, Cassidy placed fourth in the first round at 4.3 seconds and second in the short go at 4.5 seconds to win the average with 13.5 seconds on three head. “What makes it special to win up here is you have your friends and family around,” Cassidy said. Cassidy has gone to every Canadian Finals Rodeo since going pro in Canada in 1997 – 19 times in steer wrestling (1998-2003, 2005-12 and 2014-18) and 16 times for tie- down roping (1997, 1999-2004, 2006-08, 2010-14 and 2018). As for his ProRodeo career, steer wrestling is where Cassidy has shined brightest, making six trips to the Wrangler NFR (2002, 2008-10, 2014 and 2018). “I just love the rodeo game,” Cassidy said. “I haven’t gotten rich doing what I’m doing but it’s something my family has always been into. It’s about pouring your heart and soul into it.” Cassidy has competed on Tyson for five years, starting on him not long after retiring Willy after the 2010Wrangler NFR. Willy was the 2008 PRCA | AQHA Steer Wrestling Horse of the Year and carried four cowboys to steer wrestling world championships – Rope Myers (2001), Lee Graves (2005), Jason Miller (2007) and Luke Branquinho (2008). “Barry Burk told me if you find a great horse you need to keep looking for another great one because they don’t last forever,” Cassidy said. “I’m a huge believer in it. If it wasn’t for Tyson I wouldn’t be beating down the trail for the NFR. He’s a special horse who deserves to be at the biggest rodeos and the NFR.”

1. Curtis Cassidy .............. 13.5 sec. on 3 2. Blake Knowles ............................. 14.5 3. Brock Butterfield ......................... 15.0 TEAM ROPING 1. C. Buhler/C. Simpson .. 18.3 sec. on 3 2. C. Ullery/R. Warren ..................... 20.2 3. R. McFadden/D. Wigemyr ........... 20.4 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Dawson Hay .................. 172 pts. on 2 2. (Tie) Jake Finlay ........................... 169 Zeke Thurston .............................. 169 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Matt Shiozawa ............. 25.7 sec. on 3 2. Ty Harris ...................................... 26.1 3. Cade Swor ................................... 26.3 BARREL RACING 1. Justine Elliott ........... 34.669 sec. on 3 2. Hailey Kinsel ............................ 34.760 3. Mary Walker ............................ 34.889 BULL RIDING 1. Sage Kimzey ............... 176.5 pts. on 2 2. Trey Benton III ........................... 175.5 3. Jared Parsonage ........................... 171

21 There were 21 ties among those who placed within the

Complete results/Page 60

IN BRIEF RE-RIDE TO VICTORY

top six of each round and the

Saddle bronc rider Dawson Hay capitalized on two re-ride options to score 86 points both times and win the average. Wainwright marks the Alberta cowboy’s first major win since returning from a three-month hiatus due to a knee injury.

average across all events at the Wain-

wright (Alberta) Stampede, June 20-23.

ProRodeo Sports News 6/28/2019

ProRodeo.com

27