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Sunday, 21 March 2010 22:03 |
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 There's an old addage, "Don't call him a cowboy unless you see him ride..." I call myself a "Cowboy". I've won buckles for roping, back in the day I qualified for the National High School Finals Rodeo, and I've been in the field of qualifiers for the provincial finals here numerous times.
This rodeo tenure of almost 30 years gave me the confidence to hop on a cold-backed horse. Since our last encounter over 3 months prior, ol' horsey had sat in a pasture, living the life of luxury. After pulling him from the pasture, brushing him almost spotless, I commenced to lounge him to get a little excitement out of him. This turned into too much of a physical chore as he refused to lope on the line, and I didn't have the proper aids at my discretion.
After 10 minutes of the battle, I hopped aboard. We trotted both ways a couple of times. Finally, I asked him to lope. He agreed, and loped roughly for half of the arena, I relaxed in the saddle, and then.... he flew up into the air like a rocket on his front end, kicked out with his back end at the climax and darted off the the right, while I went for the saddle horn, bounced off the cantle, looked at the ceiling and slammed into the ground.
Since that fateful night, I have been laid up. Walking is a chore, and my torso is pretty locked. It was during this time that I decided to watch some videos on www.SpeedWilliamsTeamRoping.com. A website portal designed for Roping and Horse enthusiasts, it is chock full of highlight videos, training videos, insight videos and more. Each clip also has commentary from the 8-time Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association World Champion Team Roper Speed Williams himself.
After watching the 3 and 4 second runs at the George Strait Team Roping Classic I segued into the colt training videos. During these, Williams makes note of the hot-walker behind the roping pen and shares the fact that he never gets on a cold-backed colt...they go on the hot-walker for a few hours first. Eee...if only I'd have watched that video a week ago!!
There are quite a few free videos to check out, and if you become a paid subscriber you get access to all the videos and can even submit videos for critique.
Check out www.SpeedWilliamsTeamRoping.com when you get a chance...you never know what you might pick up (or what lesson will be driven home in my case...). |
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Saturday, 13 March 2010 04:14 |
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Under the Friday Night Lights, the qualifying contestants of the 2010 International Professional Rodeo Association Canadian Finals Rodeo waged battle inside of Go-Round #2 or the Championship Round of the inaugural event.
Completing the field of 60 contestants in 78 qualifying positions were the best from over 800 contestants at all 27 IPRA Canadian Rodeos.
Though the competition was solid in most events in the first round, the entire field of contenders was trying to make it count in the final round inside the "Pride Seeds Arena" / Agriplex at the London Western Fairgrounds in London, Ontario, Canada.
In efforts to accomodate contestants that had qualified for both the IPRA Canadian Finals Rodeo and the IPRA National All-Region Finals in Montgomery, Alabama, a small handful of competitors didn't compete in the spotlight in front of the Western Fair Farm Show crowds...but before departing London Thursday Night racing for a 5:30am flight in Dayton, Ohio, some of the contestants vying for titles at both events had left numbers to contend with.
Such a contestant was Shawn Minor of Camden, Ohio. The 6-time IPRA World Champion Bareback Bronc Rider and 5-time IPRA All-Around World Champion had won the first-go with a 76, and scored a 75 on Rawhide Rodeo's #47 Big Buford to lead the Aggregate with 151 on 2. It would take some big numbers to unseat him, and the closest that they could get was an identical 151 on 2-head. Ste. Barbe, Quebec's Pat Legault, a former Rawhide Rodeo Extreme Tour Finals Champion in the same arena (London Western Fair Agriplex) posted the highest score of the IPRA Canadian Finals in the Championship Round, following a 77-point ride aboard Rawhide Rodeo's #198 Corona. Legault and Minor would both win the 2010 IPRA Canadian Finals Rodeo. The 2010 Canadian Series Champion was Mirabel, Quebec's Roger Lacasse, who was absent from the 2010 IPRA Canadian Finals Rodeo. Had it not been for the tie, Minor would have won the Series as well. The elite 8 qualifiers in Bareback Bronc riding showed why they were the best in Eastern Canada...7 of the 8 posted atleast one qualified ride over the two rounds, while 5 of the 8 covered both broncs.
The 2006 IPRA All-around Rookie of the Year, Eric Maisonneuve of Val Des Monts, Quebec won the first round with a 13.4 in Tiedown Roping, and led the Aggregate by one-tenth of a second over Cody Mousseau of Aylmer, ontario. In the second Round, Mousseau roped first, posting a 14.0. The math would be simple for Maisoneuve...tie with a 14.0 to win the 2010 IPRA Canadian Finals. However, after a body catch, he would throw his hands up (to signal completion of the run) at 17.1. The winner of the Championship Round was Jason Thomson of Rockwood, Ontario, a 10-time Ontario Rodeo Association Tiedown Roping Champion, with a 12.6. That made Mousseau rise as the first ever IPRA Canadian Finals Champion with 27.6 on 2...winning the aggregate by 3.0 seconds. Holding a commanding lead going into the IPRA Canadian Finals Rodeo was former 2-time International Finals Rodeo Qualifier Ross Scully of Rockwood, Ontario. Though we wasn't able to make any points at the 2010 IPRA Canadian Finals Rodeo, he still ended the year as the Canadian Series Champion.
Into Junior Bull Riding, 2 of the 3 finalists covered in the first-go, however, only one would last 8-seconds in the championship round. Chris-Tuff Daoust covered Rawhide Rodeo's #742 Mike Johnson Express for 73-points, the highest score of the 2010 IPRA Canadian Finals Rodeo in Junior Bull Riding, and to end with 143 on 2-head. The Les-Cedres, Quebec junior bull rider walked away with the buckle and all of the championship round money. Season Leader, Shelby Pattison of Acton, Ontario retired the Canadian Series Champion after being "blanked" at the IPRA Canadian Finals Rodeo.
Team Roping was all about "Redemption" on Friday night. One night and one round previous, only one of the eight qualifying teams posted a time...9.2 plus 5, plus 10...a few more would catch in the Championship Round. However, as the winning team from the first round, Jason Thomson and John Scully of Rockwood, Ontario missed their heading loop on their run, it was wide open for the field to with the IPRA Canadian Finals Rodeo on a "Best-on-one" scenario. Recieving his 2nd buckle of the night...Cody Mousseau of Aymler, Ontario along with veteran partner and multi-Ontario Rodeo Association Champion Mark Coulson of Sterling, Ontario roped their steer the quickest with a 7.0 to win the Round and the Aggregate and the first ever IPRA Canadian Finals Rodeo Championship. The Season Leaders were still able to walk away with the Series Championships, though. Jeremy McCulligh of Fergus, Ontario and Stewart Cahill of Strathroy, Ontario are the first Canadian Series Team Roping Champions.
In the "Fastest Event of Rodeo" Breakaway Roping, 2.9 was the fastest time from Thursday Night. As they went through the Order, Paige VanWesterop of Lakeside, Ontario posted a 3.7 to set the bar. There were quite a few empty loops and Gold Buckle Dreams dashed. From the 3 Cowgirls with an opportunity to 2 for 2, only one would be able to rope to perfection. Briana Ewart, the "Kenilworth Kid" from Kenilworth placed second in the Championship Round with a 4.1, but combined with her 2.7 plus 10 (second Barrier Penalty) in the first round, she would win the 2010 IPRA Canadian Finals Rodeo being the sole to get both calves caught. For the Series Championship...Ewart was ranked third going into the Finals, jumped to 2nd after the first-go round, and following the 2nd in the 2nd go and 1st in the Aggregate, also won the Canadian Series Championship.
The Rawhide Rodeo Company is known for its elite championship bucking stock, including 8 IPRA World Titles for Broncs and Bulls and 6-International Finals Rodeo Titles for Broncs. At the 2010 IPRA Canadian Finals Rodeo, the Broncs in the Saddle Bronc Riding showed the crowd on-hand what Rawhide Broncs were capable of. Though all 8 qualifers were able to cover one bronc, only one would be able to cover both. First off, in the Championship Round, Luc Cloutier, the Season Leader by a long shot won the Round with an IPRA Canadian Finals Rodeo highest score of 75 versus Rawhide Rodeo's #663 Smooth Sailing. The Go-Round win was just a ton more points to give him the Canadian Series Championship. Returning to perfection, the only rider to cover both was Shawn Minor of Camden, Ohio. Minor had won the first round with a 74. During his 2nd Round ride, he was scored 69-points versus Rawhide Rodeo's #111 Painted Desert. On top of this, Minor was awarded a re-ride opportunity...but declined. Though the conversation between Minor and the judges wasn't overheard, it could be guessed that riding 5 broncs in one day (as he was a combo-finals contestant in Bareback and Saddle Bronc Riding) would pay a huge toll ontop of the Road Trip, Flight and four more broncs waiting in Alabama. The gamble paid off...being the only one to cover 2, he won the 2010 IPRA Canadian Finals Rodeo Championship in Saddle Bronc Riding as well.
Shelby Pattison of Acton, Ontario was the top Barrel Racer at the 2010 IPRA Canadian Finals Rodeo. After just recieving her buckle for winning the 2009 ORA Year-end Championship in Barrel Racing two weeks earlier, she cleaned up in Barrel Racing in London. She won both go-rounds. The first round with a 15.413, almost 5-hundredths of a second over second place, and won the second round with a 14.826, by over 0.11 seconds over second place. But for the 2010 IPRA Canadian Finals Rodeo Championship, her 30.239 on 2 gave her the win by 0.393 over second in the Aggregate. The newly crowned IPRA Barrel Racing Rookie of the Year, Sindy Laliberte of Valcartier, Quebec won the Canadian Series. Her biggest payday at Ste. Tite, Quebec totalling $10,760.35 was enough to give her the overal series win by over $11,200. Laliberte was absent from the 2010 IPRA Canadian Finals Rodeo competing in Montgomery, Alabama.
Also sweeping the go-rounds and aggregate in Barrel Racing was Junior Barrel Racer Mickaela Cronin of Mitchell, Ontario. The 2009 Ontario Finals Rodeo Champion Junior Barrel Racer is now the 2010 IPRA Canadian Finals Rodeo Champion Barrel Racer. Her first-round time was the fastest time of all of the barrel racers in the first round, senior and junior combined at 15.397. Her second round time as a low 16 to win the Championship Round by 1.2 seconds. She won the Aggregate by 5.304 over second place on her fast barrel horse. Placing second in the Aggregate was Tamara Weese of Alvinston, Ontario. Weese lead the standings going into the IPRA Canadian Finals Rodeo, and placed 2nd in the 1st round, 3rd in the 2nd round. Adding in her aggregate money as well, Weese becomes the Canadian Series Champion junior barrel racer.
4.6 was the fastest time from the first round in Steer Wrestling at the 2010 IPRA Canadian Finals Rodeo. Deep in the order, Lucknow, Ontario's Luke Drennan would put together a 4.0 which would ultimately win the championship round for the cowboy, though the field would chase him. Stephan Daoust, Les Cedres, Quebec posted a 4.5, 2-time IPRA World Champion Matt Mousseau had a 4.6 and almost everyone else were in the low 5's (seconds). Having a stellar finals was Kitchener, Ontario's Tim Kemp. The 2-time ORA Year-end Champion Steer Wrestler was 4.6 to win the First Round and 5.2 to place deep in the second round. His total of 9.8 on 2 gave him the 2010 IPRA Canadian Finals Rodeo win by 2.3 seconds. Adding more accolades to the Tri-City cowboy was that his finals showing was just enough to surpass the season leader to emerge as the Canadian Series Champion as well.
Rounding out the event finally was Bull Riding. It was an uber-exciting round of Bull Riding in the Championship Round. Lucknow, Ontario's Luke Drennan was leading the Aggregate with 79-points on one from the First Round. The 2009 ORA Year-end and Finals Champion Bull Rider had one thing standing in his way...Rawhide Rodeo's #36P Wingman. Though Wingman had only an 8-2 record for a 75% Buck-off percentage in 2009....one of those buck-offs was Drennan in Leamington, Ontario in August of '09. The rematch was the flavour of the Bull Riding. Almost as fast as it started, Drennan was bucked off a second time from #36P. Drennan claimed he was fouled, and the suspense climaxed as he was awarded a re-ride versus Rawhide Rodeo's #TN Top Notch. That would wait until the end of the section.
Not to be outdone, one of the top Bull Riders of the past few years, Luke McCoag of Port Rowan, Ontario "threw down" a 78-point ride versus Rawhide Rodeo's #4017 Banana Split. He then sat with 151-on 2. St. Lin, Quebec's Eric Isabelle then nodded for Rawhide Rodeo's #9P Spyder Monkey, and they too were scored at 78 to tie for the lead of the Championship Round.
Then, back to Drennan's Re-ride. There would be no "what-if's" or speculation. Last to ride and needing to be 73-points to win the 2010 IPRA Canadian Finals Rodeo. A crack of a latch, three big jumps followed by an airborne 180 (degree turn and #TN Top Notch dashed Drennan's Gold Buckle Dreams by throwing the rider before the buzzer. That left Luke McCoag standing as the only Bull Rider to ride both bulls, the tied win of the Championship Round, the 2010 IPRA Canadian Finals Rodeo Championship and the Canadian Series Championship as well.
On paper, the event was to be the most electric finals in Eastern Canada's history. In reality, it lived up to the expectation with rank-rank stock and high-calibre contestants. Whether sitting in the grandstand or behind the bucking chutes in the Agriplex, the feeling was surreal. The first-ever IPRA Canadian Finals Rodeo was intense and the battle for supremacy and the gold buckles was a fantastic ride for spectator, crew and contestants alike.
Round 1 Recap Available hereOfficial results available at www.RawhideRodeo.com or www.IPRArodeo.com (in the next couple of days...the offices are closed for the IPRA Canadian Finals Rodeo and IPRA National All-Region Finals respectively) |
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Friday, 12 March 2010 02:31 |
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Round #1 of the 2010 IPRA Canadian Finals Rodeo took place Thursday night at the London Western Fair Agriplex as part of the 2010 Western Fair Farm Show. After 27 Rodeos across Eastern Canada, the top 78 positions were filled with 60 contenders, vying for the title of "First-Ever" IPRA Canadian Finals Rodeo Champion.
The crowd comprised of lots of Farmers, new rodeo fans, and even a number of Rawhide Rodeo Committees (Erin, Caledonia, Paris, Leamington to name a few).
Following the dark-house-pyro opening, the show commenced with some big rides in the Bareback Bronc Riding. 6 of the 8 Bronc riders coverted their rank Riggin' Riding Horses. 6-time IPRA World Champion Bareback Bronc Rider and 5-time IPRA All-Around World Champion Shawn Minor had the highest score of the opening round with a 76-point score on Rawhide Rodeo's #406 Flashback.
Next up into the Tiedown Roping, Campbellford, Ontario's Trevor Dunk opened with a 15.9, and following that, Aylmer, Ontario's Cody Mousseau posted a 13.6, then former IPRA All-Around Rookie of the Year Eric Maissoneuve posted a 13.5. Last to rope was Ross Scully of Rockwood, Ontario. He roped a 10.8, but, unfortunately succomed to a 10-second barrier penalty to wind out 4th.
Zach Bourgeois won the Calf Riding with a 74-score on #444 Red Rock, while Lane Morris of Roslin, Ontario won the Juniro Bull Riding with a 71-point ride on #742 Kingston.
The London Western Fair Agriplex arena, dubbed the "Pride Seeds Arena" during the Western Fair Farm Show, is perfect for the event of Team Roping. 98' Wide, it allows for a perfect "handle" of a steer, for some smooth runs. However, the Team Ropers decided to try the length (over 250') as opposed to the width, and Jason Thomson of Shelburne, Ontario and John Scully of Rockwood, Ontario were the sole team to get one caught of the 8 qualified teams. 9.2, plus 10 for the barrier, plus 5 for a single hock catch...24.2 to win Go-Round #1. These former Ontario Rodeo Association Year-end Champs (2008) lead the aggregate and have the chance of being the sole team to go 2 for 2 at the 2010 IPRA Canadian Finals Rodeo...if they have rough luck...it'll be a wide open round on Friday night.
Into the "fastest event of rodeo" Breakaway Roping, Lacey Beer, of Rockwood, Ontario had the fastest run of the round at 2.9. Shw qualifed for the Canadian IFR in the 2nd spot, and now leads the IPRA Canadian Standings as well.
The Bronc Riders in the Saddle Bronc Riding weren't as successful as the Bareback Bronc Riders...4 of 8 made qualified rides, and getting his second cheque of the night was Camden, Ohio's Shawn Minor with a 74-point ride on Rawhide Rodeo's #663 Smooth Sailing.
The ground in the "Pride Seeds Arena" / Western Fair Agriplex stayed firm...in Barrel Racing, most prefer to be at the top of the Order to avoid ruts/divets, etc. However, Shelby Pattison of Acton, Ontario had a smoking 15.413 Barrel Racing Run to win the Senior Barrel Racing (though she's only 15!). Into the Junior Barrel Racing, the 2nd last to run in that event, Mickaela Cronin of Mitchell, Ontario, the reinging Ontario Finals Rodeo Champion Barrel Racer had an ever-blazing 15.397 Barrel Racing Run...the fastest run of both barrel racing events combined!
A former 2-time ORA Year-end Champion Steer Wrestler, Tim Kemp shattered the once leading 7.1 in the "Bull Dogging"/Steer Wrestling, to win the Round with a 4.6. he now leads the aggregate by 2.5 seconds rolling into the Championship Round on Friday Night.
Lastly, Bull Riding was intense...4 of 8 covered, Raymond "Bump" Postlethwait of Claire, Michigan posted a 71 aboard Rawhide Rodeo's #259 James Bond for 4th. Luke McCoag of Port Rowan, Ontario rode Rawhide Rodeo's #12 Gremlin for 73-points and 3rd place money. Lancaster, Ohio's Shane Rickly rode Rawhide Rodeo's #372 Bubba Ganoush for 78-points and 2nd place. The Top Contender in Round #1 was Luke Drennan of Lucknow, Ontario. The 2009 Ontario Rodeo Association Year-end and Finals Champion Bull Rider covered Rawhide Rodeo's #9P Spyder Monkey for 79-points to walk away with top-money.
The 2nd and Championship Round of the 2010 IPRA Canadian Finals Rodeo takes place tonight at 7pm inside the Pride Seeds Arena at the Western Fair Farm Show in London, Ontario. Tickets are Price: $22 for Adults and $10 for Children (10 and under)
Price includes admission into the entire Farm Show!
By Phone: 1-800-619-4629
In Person: Western Fair Box Office located at Guest Services |
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Monday, 18 January 2010 01:41 |
The International Professional Rodeo Association's finals, the International Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City is the marquee event for over 3,000 members. Across their circuit system of dividing their almost 150 rodeos into 4 circuits, their Southern Circuit is the largest. However, the North-East Circuit where our Canadian Contenders reside is the second largest, and also home to the largest outdoor rodeo in the IPRA, Ste. Tite, Quebec. At the Gold Buckle Gala on Sunday night, it was announced that aside from Oklahoma, Canada was the 2nd largest contingent (Quebec-Ontario) at IFR 40 with a record 20 positions held by Canadian Qualifiers.
IFR 40 boasted a purse of $250,000 and Canada was able to accumulate over $24,000 of that, along with 5 Championship Buckles. The final round of IFR 40 had lots of opportunities and a few of the Canuck Contenders realized their Gold Buckle conquests, and as with every Rodeo, there were some Championship Dreams dashed. All in All, though, 12 of the 18 Canadians earned a trip to the proverbial Paywindow at IFR 40.
Bareback Bronc Riding:
The final round of IFR 40 was intense. Tim Wilkinson of Steelville, Missouri was leading the Aggregate by 7.5 points, and had already won the 2009 IPRA Bareback Bronc Riding Rookie of the Year honours. One of the last to compete, he made his ride and had won the IFR Aggregate by 3 or 4 points, however, they offered him a re-ride. The Show Me State Cowboy had won the first two rounds and tied for 2nd in the 3rd go. Exuding with confidence, he said, "I want to win the day, give me my horse." The decision could have lost him the $4,166.67 cheque for winning the aggregate, however, fortune shined down as he made another qualified ride. Unfortunately, he scored 77 points for 6th in the round, but he was able to hold on for the win of IFR 40 by exactly 5-points. The World Championship in Bareback Bronc Riding was won by Shawn Minor of Camden, Ohio whom had an amazing IFR in the Bareback Bronc Riding. He qualified for IFR 40 in the number 2 spot in the World Standings and placed 4th in the 2nd Go and tied for 3rd in the 4th Go to finish 2nd in the aggregate. The win of IFR 40 gave him the Win of the World, making this his 6th IPRA Bareback Bronc Riding World Championship. Pat Legault of Ste. Barbe, Quebec was able to cover all four broncs at IFR 40. He was 75 points in the 4th go to finish 4th overall in the Aggregate. Christian Bilodeau of St. Lin, Quebec bucked off and retired with only 2 covered. Earlier in the week, 3-time IFR Champion Bareback Rider Roger Lacasse of Mirable, Quebec was injured, subsequently turnning out of the last three rounds.
Steer Wrestling:
Canada clinched it's second World Championship in IPRA History as reigning World Champion Matt Mousseau of Dashwood, Ontario posted a 4.5 second run to tie for 2nd in the final go-round. He finished with 20.0 on four head ending 2nd in the aggregate at IFR 40. When all of the cheques were totalled, he earned more than enough for his second IPRA Steer Wrestling World Championship. Most contestants would prefer to not tie, however, Mousseau's tie for second was almost bitter sweet. Also posting a 4.5 was Alvinston, Ontario's Rod Weese. Weese's IFR was pretty decent with him catching 3 of his 4 steers; he ended up 3rd in the aggregate at the IFR. It was just enough to win the 2009 IPRA All Around Rookie of the Year Buckle, and more than enough for him to win the 2009 IPRA Steer Wrestling Rookie of the Year Buckle! Round 4 was won by Garner, North Carolina's Jason Bagwell with a 4.0. Walt Sherry of Atwood, Oklahoma won IFR 40 with 17.4 on 4-head and ended up the Reserve IPRA World Champion as well.
Saddle Bronc Riding:
Erik Wolford, the 2005 IPRA World All Around Champion and Saddle Bronc Riding World Champion lead the Aggregate by 7.5 points going into the Final Round of IFR 40. The champion added another buckle to the case following his 84-point ride aboard The Stuff of Broken Horn Rodeo Company to win both the 4th Go-round and the IFR 40 Saddle Bronc Riding Aggregate. Compounded with that, he also used the points and dollars to acquire two more buckles: the IFR 40 All Around Championship and the IFR 40 Top-Money Earner buckles. Ontop of his Buckles, $14,062.49 was his take home total. Shawn Minor, one of biggest champions of All-Time in the IPRA finished IFR 40 on a strong note. Already acquiring the 2009 Bareback Bronc Riding World Title earlier in the performance, he placed 3rd in the round to finish 4th in the aggregate at IFR 40. Though he was the season-leader going into the IFR, all of his cheques shot him way into the forefront. He ended up winning the 2009 Saddle Bronc Riding World Championship as well. In addition, he won the most coveted buckle in Professional Rodeo, the All-Around Championship. 2009 became the first year for Minor to clinch all three: Bareback, Saddle Bronc and All Around World Championships, now taking his total to 6 Bareback World Championships (03-06, 08-09), 2 Saddle Bronc Riding World Championships (07, 09) and 5 All Around Championships (04, 06-09). Dustin Thompson of Okotoks, Alberta bucked off in the 4th Round, ending with 150.5 on 2 head in the Aggregate. Though he only made one cheque at IFR 40, he was able to secure the 2009 IPRA Saddle Bronc Riding Rookie of the Year buckle. Luc Cloutier of Ste. Tite, Quebec covered with a 73, Tyler Foster of Watford, Ontario posted a 62.5 and Benoit Bouchard, also of Quebec turned out after his injury in the first-round.
Team Roping:
The 4th round of Team Roping was intense. With mere 10ths of seconds separating the top in the Aggregate and World Title Race, it would take great roping to secure the hardware. However, the leaders of the Aggregate after 3 pulled a no-time, opening the door for Jesse Leon and Casey Stipes of Salina, Oklahoma to win both buckles. Going into the round they sat 2nd in the World and 2nd in the Aggregate. A smooth 6.8 gave them 4th in the round, the IFR 40 Buckles by 8.5 seconds, and the World Titles by a fair margin. The Canadian Contingents in Team Roping didn't fair as hot, Ross Scully and Stewart Cahill of Rockwood and Strathroy, Ontario were 20.2 to end 11th in the Aggregate, and Jeremy McCulligh also of Rockwood, Ontario was 22.3 to retire 13th in the Aggregate with his Oklahoman partner Dax Stuart.
Tiedown Roping:
Back in the second go-round, the IFR State Fair Arena Record of 7.5 was broke when Ken Bailey of Henryetta, Oklahoma roped and tied in 7.4. Exciting at the time was the fact that the former arena record was held by Bailey's Cousin, Walt White, a 7-time IPRA World Champion Tiedown Roper of Ochelata, Oklahoma and PJ Spencer, the Reigning IPRA World Champion of Collinsville, Oklahoma. After round #4, another World Champion is added to the speeder list after Shawn Coleman, the 2005 Tiedown World Champion also posted a 7.4 to win the round. As for the IFR 40 Tiedown Roping Aggregate, Justin Thigpen of Waycross, Georgia was able to hold onto the lead of it following a business-type "smooth is fast" 9.9 second run. He won the aggregate with 35.5 on 4 head, 12.5 seconds faster than the second place contender. This became Thigpen's second IFR Title in the Tiedown Roping. He lead the World Standings going into the IFR by a large margin, and he accumulated enough at the IFR to win his first IPRA Tiedown Roping World Championship by over $10,000! Also having a smooth run in the final round was Rockwood, Ontario's Ross Scully. Scully was 10.3 to finish 3rd overall in the Aggregate at IFR 40.
Cowgirl's Barrel Race:
Canada had a great shot at its first IPRA World Championship in Barrel Racing rolling into IFR 40. Valcartier, Quebec's Sindy LaLiberte qualified for the IFR first in the World with an almost $4,000 lead in the standings. She placed 2nd in the first round and was seated 3rd in the Aggregate rolling into the final round. However, climbing the standings in a big way was 14-year old Mesa Leavitt of Bluegrass, Iowa. Leavitt, was the reigning 3-time World Champion Barrel Racer (06-08) and 2-time IFR Champion (IFR 38 and IFR 39). She was no stranger to the victory lap, especially after IFR 38 where she won all 4 go-rounds. IFR 40 was almost as strong for the young World Champion. She placed 3rd in the 1st Go, 4th in the 2nd Go, and won the 3rd Go. She had jumped from 4th to 2nd in the World Standings and trailed by just under $2,900. She lead the Aggregate by 0.28, and was ahead of World Leader Laliberte by over .6 seconds. For Laliberte to win the World, she would need to beat Leavitt and vice-versa. Laliberte ran a long 15.380 to wind up 11th in the Round and 6th in the Aggregate. Leavitt ran a 14.754, the fastest time of IFR 40 to win both the IFR and World Championship in the Barrel Racing. Mesa Leavitt has now won 4 consecutive World Championships, 3 consecutive IFR Championships, all before the age of 15. Sindy Laliberte did end up winning the 2009 IPRA Barrel Racing Rookie of the Year title, though. The 4th Round was a little better for Lorrainville, Quebec's Edesse Descoteau, though. She placed 2nd with a 14.817.
Bull Riding:
In the World's most dangerous event of Bull Riding, only one contender had covered all 3-bulls. Ramona, Oklahoma's Jared Long sat with 241 on 3-head. A qualified ride would have been strong enough to give him the win of the World Championship and the IFR. He bucked off Hell Yeah of 5M Rodeo Company, which kind of gave way for others to take away the Championship. Had Canada's Luke McCoag rode for 87.5, he could have won the IFR. Had Rosalia, Kansas's Carrson Hiatt, the now 2009 IPRA Bull Riding Rookie of the Year posted a 90, he would have won the IFR. Had Raymond Postlethwait of Adrian Michigan post an 82, he would have won the IFR. Postlethwait, the first contestant to qualify for the IFR at both ends of the Arena rode Charlie's Pet of Oubre Rodeo Company for 65 points to place 4th in the round, and thus 2nd in the Aggregate. This made Jared Long the 2009 IPRA World Champion Bull Rider and IFR 40 Champion by 16-points in the Aggregate. Both Canadians Ian Charman and Luke McCoag bucked off in the final Round. McCoag though placed 4th in the Aggregate with 153 on 2.
IFR 40 was record setting with the number of Canadians qualified, on top of the dollars and hardware acquired in Oklahoma, City. Other notable awards included IPRA Outdoor Rodeo of the Year awarded to Ste. Tite, Quebec, with the festival winning for the 11th consecutive time. The Rawhide Rodeo Company won most active Producer and Stock Contractor in the IPRA, and #48 High Time Gal of Rawhide Rodeo Company won the 2009 Saddle Bronc Horse of the Year World Championship.
Team Canada Buckle Tally:
Matt Mousseau, Dashwood, Ontario - 2009 IPRA World Champion Steer Wrestler
Rod Weese, Alvinston, Ontario - 2009 IPRA All-Around Rookie of the Year
Rod Weese, Alvinston, Ontario - 2009 IPRA Steer Wrestling Rookie of the Year
Dustin Thompson, Okotoks, Alberta - 2009 IPRA Saddle Bronc Riding Rookie of the Year
Sindy Laliberte, Valcartier, Quebec - 2009 IPRA Barrel Racing Rookie of the Year
Team Canada by the Bucks:
Matt Mousseau, Dashwood, Ontario $4974.91
Ross Scully, Rockwood, Ontario $3645.82
Luke McCoag, Port Rowan, Ontario $3385.42
Rod Weese, Alvinston, Ontario $3385.41
Sindy Laliberte, Valcartier, Quebec $1562.5
Edesse Descoteau, Lorrainville, Quebec $1562.5
Dustin Thompson, Okotoks, Alberta $1302.08
Tyler Foster, Watford, Ontario $1302.08
Christian Bilodeau, St-Lin, Quebec $1041.67
Pat Legault, Ste. Barbe, Quebec $1041.67
Ian Charman, Pontypool, Ontario $520.83
Stewart Cahill, Strathroy, Ontario, $520.83
Roger Lacasse, Mirabel, Quebec $0
Luc Cloutier, Ste. Tite, Quebec $0
Tim Kemp, Kitchener, Ontario $0
Benoit Bouchard, Ste. Sophie, Quebec $0
Pedro Giguere, Thetford Mines, Quebec $0
Jeremy McCulligh, Rockwood, Ontario $0
Team Canada Final Standings:
Bareback Bronc Riding
Christian Bilodeau, St-Lin, Quebec, 8th in IPRA, 11th in IFR, $1041.67 in IFR Earnings
Pat Legault, Ste. Barbe, Quebec, 11th in IPRA, 4th in IFR, $1041.67 in IFR Earnings
Roger Lacasse, Mirabel, Quebec, 6th in IPRA, 15th in IFR, $0 in IFR Earnings
Steer Wrestling
Matt Mousseau, Dashwood, Ontario, 1st in IPRA, 2nd in IFR, $4974.91 in IFR Earnings
Rod Weese, Alvinston, Ontario, 7th in IPRA, 3rd in IFR, $3385.41 in IFR Earnings
Tyler Foster, Watford, Ontario, 15th in IPRA, 14th in IFR, $1302.08 in IFR Earnings
Tim Kemp, Kitchener, Ontario, 9th in IPRA, 6th in IFR, $0 in IFR Earnings
Saddle Bronc Riding
Dustin Thompson, Okotoks, Alberta, 11th in IPRA, 11th in IFR, $1302.08 in IFR Earnings
Luc Cloutier, Ste. Tite, Quebec, 7th in IPRA, 8th in IFR, $0 in IFR Earnings
Benoit Bouchard, Ste. Sophie, Quebec, 10th in IPRA, 14th in IFR, $0 in IFR Earnings
Pedro Giguere, Thetford Mines, Quebec, 14th in IPRA, 13th in IFR, $0 in IFR Earnings
Tyler Foster, Watford, Ontario, 15th in IPRA, 12th in IFR, $0 in IFR Earnings
Team Roping: Heading
Ross Scully, Rockwood, Ontario, 14th in IPRA, 11th in IFR, $520.83 in IFR Earnings
Jeremy McCulligh, Rockwood, Ontario, 15th in IPRA, 13th in IFR, $0 in IFR Earnings
Team Roping: Heeling
Stewart Cahill, Strathroy, Ontario,, 9th in IPRA, 11th in IFR, $520.83 in IFR Earnings
Tiedown Roping
Ross Scully, Rockwood, Ontario, 5th in IPRA, 3rd in IFR, $3124.99 in IFR Earnings
Cowgirl Barrel Racing
Sindy Laliberte, Valcartier, Quebec, 2nd in IPRA, 6th in IFR, $1562.5 in IFR Earnings
Edesse Descoteau, Lorrainville, Quebec, 11th in IPRA, 5th in IFR, $1562.5 in IFR Earnings
Bull Riding
Luke McCoag, Port Rowan, Ontario, 6th in IPRA, 4th in IFR, $3385.42 in IFR Earnings
Ian Charman, Pontypool, Ontario, 14th in IPRA, 10th in IFR, $520.83 in IFR Earnings
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