Pro Rodeo Canada
For Immediate Release
Airdrie, Alberta (July 4, 2012)
Tanner Has Banner Weekend!
What goes around comes around! Canadian Steer Wrestler Tanner Milan settled a few scores over the Canada Day weekend… and along the way, collected $16,670 including the $5000 bonus payoff at the Ponoka Stampede.
While the $5000 doesn’t count toward the Canadian standings, the $11,670 he won as Ponoka champion and a 5/6/7 split at Williams Lake vaulted the likeable Airdrie cowboy into the top five in the Canadian steer wrestling standings.
The Ponoka win was made all the sweeter by the fact that it was at this rodeo in 2010, that Milan tore up his knee which resulted in recurring problems and eventually, surgery in December of 2011. Add to that, the fact that the he had been second at Ponoka twice before, and third once but never the champion.
“My first round steer at Ponoka was the same one I had at the short go at Wainwright, and I broke the barrier on him there,” Milan noted, referring to one more of the payback elements of his weekend. “My second steer, they’d been long on, but I got by him pretty good. In the short go, the steer led off a little, and I damn near missed him. Glad I didn’t.” Milan’s 4.4 in the finals was second fastest and helped him claim the average with a 3-head total of 13.2 seconds. He was last to go in the bonus round and needed to beat Blake Knowles’ 5.8 for the $5000 cheque.
“I just wanted to be as quick as I could and not break the barrier,” the seven time CFR qualifier recalled. “I got out okay and knew I had a shot.”
Asked how the knee was feeling, Milan grinned, “It feels great. I came back for Innisfail and this is the biggest thing that’s happened since then… and one of the biggest ever. It was a nice weekend!”
Another big weekend winner was Dusty LaValley who won second in the first round at Ponoka (86.5, $3933), split 2/3 in the finals (85.25, $1250) and won the average ($4968) for a total of $10,151. Add the bonus round win where LaValley rode Vern McDonald’s blue roan gelding, Make Up Face to an arena record setting 90 points and the Bezanson, Alberta cowboy earned a total of $15,151 at Ponoka alone. A 7/8 tie at Airdrie Rodeo added another $730. The grand total – $15,881 – a pretty nice payday for LaValley over the five day period! While the bonus round dollars do not count in the standings, LaValley’s earnings will move him well up in the world standings and will help maintain his number one spot in the Canadian rankings.
A familiar name in Canadian rodeo over the last couple of years is Shane Hanchey. The Sulphur, LA tie down roper, fresh off a win at Innisfail a couple of weeks back, enjoyed a second in the first round at Ponoka (7.9 secs, $2337), a share of first in the finals (8.3 secs., $1750) and the average win (25.1 secs on three, $3825) for a total of $7912. Hanchey split 4/5 at Williams Lake for $3054 and 7/8 at Airdrie for $1159. His weekend total – $12,125 – is a nice addition to his already commanding lead in the Canadian standings.
Carlee Pierce has been barrel racing in Canada for the past several weeks – and it’s been paying off in more ways than one. The Stephenville, Texas athlete moved to top spot in the world standings by virtue of her win at Innisfail recently. And she added considerably to her earnings over the July long weekend. Ponoka placings included third in the long go (17.297 secs., $2972), the finals win (17.274 secs., $2000) and first in the average (34.571 seconds on 3, $4572) with an overall total of $9544. Pierce also won the $5000 bonus cheque.
Strathmore bull rider, Scott Schiffner was another competitor who made the most of his time at the Ponoka Stampede. The 2001 Canadian champion earned second in the long go (86.75, $4290), a share of first in the finals (84.5, $1750), the average win (171.25 points, $5419) for a total of $11,459. He picked up an additional $2500 with his share of the bonus round money.
Other Ponoka Stampede average winners were Luke Butterfield in the saddle bronc riding ($8037) and Steele Depaoli and Chad Johnson in the Team Roping ($4165/each). Additional Ponoka Stampede bonus round winners included tie-down roper, Clif Cooper, team ropers Riley Wilson and Clay Ullery and bull riders Scott Schiffner, Ty Pozzobon, Jody Turner and Dakota Buttar. With no bull rider making the 8 second whistle in the bonus round, the $10,000 payout was split evenly between the four.
Cranna Roberts was the highest money earning Canadian barrel racer over the long weekend. The Lacombe, AB resident placed fifth in Ponoka’s first go (17.364 secs., $1829) and fourth in the average (34.884 seconds on two, $2743). She added a first place cheque from Williams Lake (15.778 secs., $4273) and a share of last hole at Airdrie for another $248 for a total of $9093. Roberts will move into the top 5 in Canada as a result.
BC steer wrestler, Clayton Moore, continued his hot streak over the long weekend. The Pouce Coupe cowboy, who’s been enjoying his best spring ever, ‘dogged’ his steer in 3.8 seconds to win the title and pocket $5,245 at the 86th annual Williams Lake Stampede.
Other weekend highlights included what could be called ‘a family affair’ at Airdrie Rodeo where Nina (Flundra) Smith won the barrel race and brother, Dustin enjoyed the saddle bronc win. Similarly, Clay Elliott won the novice saddle bronc title and older brother, Ty split the bull riding win with Garrett Green.
Denver Daines enjoyed a career weekend. The Innisfail bronc rider and country recording artist picked up fourth in the first round at Ponoka, a share of third in the average and the bonus round win – good for over $10,000. He added a share of bottom hole at Airdrie for a couple of hundred more. Overall – a lucrative weekend that will see the young cowboy move well up in the standings.
A number of other rodeo athletes enjoyed considerable success over Canada’s version of ‘Cowboy Christmas’ as well. For detailed results, see rodeocanada.com
Upcoming Pro Rodeo Canada events include four Alberta stops, Benalto July 6-8, Taber July 12-14 and two northern AB venues, Teepee Creek and Peace River July 14-15.
Pro Rodeo Canada
Airdrie, Alberta
Phone: (403) 945-0903
Email: cpra@rodeocanada.com
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