Seven Canadians Within the Top 20 of the PRCA Standings
EDMONTON, AB (February 28th, 2023) – Over the past few months Canadian cowboys and cowgirls have been battling it out at some of the biggest rodeos down south. Massive payouts have contributed to their success in the standings. Right now, seven Canadians are sitting within the top 20 of the world standings and will continue to climb as the season progresses.
In the saddle bronc riding three-time Wrangler NFR championship, Zeke Thurston, positions himself second in the standings with $45,497 won. Thurston had great success at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo after winning $12,186 total. In the finals Thurston matched up with Xplosive Skies, the amazing Calgary Stampede horse that Logan Hay broke the world record on in 2022, for a 90.5 point ride to finish second overall. Most recently, the Big Valley cowboy won the Tuscan, AZ rodeo with an 88 point ride on Shiver Me Timbers. He also won round one of the rodeo with an 88.5 point ride on Nutrena’s Four Acres, walking away with over four thousand total.
Thurston has a strong lead against the other Canadian saddle bronc riders while the others remain close together in the top 20. In 14th spot sits three-time Wrangler NFR qualifier, Dawson Hay, with $23,734 won. Hay started his strong 2023 success at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo where he took home the championship and walked away with $16,759 total. He started off with an advantage in round one where he won the round with an 89.5 point ride on Joker Poker and earned $3,255 and then took home the win in the finals with 90.5 ride on Tokyo Bubbles and won $11,660.
Not far ahead of Dawson Hay is his cousin, Ben Anderson, who sits 13th in the standings with $23,828 won. Anderson has come into the season stronger than ever and is determined to make it back for a second trip to the WNFR. Anderson had some luck in San Antonio where he walked away with $2,368 but most recently took home the championship at the Dixie National Rodeo in Jackson, MS rodeo where he was 90 points on Ragin’ Lunatic and earned $5,725.
Right behind Anderson is Layton Green, who sits in 16th with $20,437 won so far this season. Green took home $1,709 in Fort Worth but had more success in San Antonio where he won $2,462. Earlier in the season, Green placed third in the finals at the National Western Stock Show & Rodeo when he matched up with Lunatic from Hell for 87.5 points and earned himself $2,627.
The other member of the Hay family, Logan Hay, sits 19th in the world standings with $21,181 won. Hay proved his talents last week at the Cinch World’s Toughest Rodeo in Columbus, OH where he took home the championship. In round one he matched up with Vailed for 87 points to win the round and took home $3,148. Then in the finals he took the win again with an 86 point ride on Lady Jane for a $1,000.00 cheque
On the timed event end, Jeremy Buhler sits 17th in the world standings with $12,448 won, alongside his partner Rhen Richard 19th with the same amount won. The team had great success in Texas where they walked away with $3,526 after finishing within the top five of two rounds of Fort Worth and in San Antonio they lucked out in two rounds as well and walked away with $4,594. Most recently they took home $1,081 in round one at Tuscan with a time of 5.3 and placed fifth in the finals and took home $441 with a 6.2 second run.
Lastly, Shelby Boisjoli sits 11th in the breakaway standings with $11,053 won. Boisjoli just had a huge win at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo after roping a fast time of 1.7 seconds and earning $5,500. In total, the cowgirl walked away with $7,750 in San Antonio.
In the upcoming weeks, the cowboys and cowgirls will battle it out at Rodeo Houston from now until March 19th, then head to Rodeo Austin from March 11th to the 25th. Stay tuned for more rodeo news on our website and social media accounts. After performing so well at these recent events, these tough competitors are more than likely to do outstanding at these big rodeos coming up.
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