Bull rider Hansen saves best for last at Strathmore Stampede rodeo

By Laurence Heinen Times Contributor

The third time was a charm for Jordan Hansen who had to get on not one … not two … but three bulls on Monday before being crowned champion of the bull-riding competition at the 2022 Strathmore Stampede rodeo.

“I’m sure I have done it,” said Hansen in regards to the last time he rode three bulls in a span of 20 minutes. “I’m trying to think when the last time (was) and it’s definitely been a while, especially on a hot day like this. It takes a little bit out of a guy.”

As the last competitor out of the chutes on the final day of the rodeo, Hansen was awarded a re-ride after getting thrown off Macza Pro Rodeo’s The Motto. Following a quick break, he scored 77 points atop Legend Rodeo’s Magic Guy and was given the option of another re-ride.

“A big rodeo like this, you’re not going to keep a 70-point ride, that’s for sure,” said the 28-year-old cowboy from Amisk, Alta., who needed a bit more time to catch his breath before getting on Bar Star, another bull from Legend Rodeo. 

“A good bull like that for another re-ride, I had to take it,” said Hansen. “The third time I had to take an extra couple minute breather. I thought they were going to start yelling at me, but I figured they’d understand.”

The short bit of rest proved invaluable as Hansen impressed the judges enough to earn a score of 88.75, which vaulted him into the top spot just ahead of defending Strathmore Stampede bull-riding champion Edgar Durazo, who had an 88.5-point ride on Blue Bombshell a bit earlier.

“Me and Edgar, we’ve had a few battles for sure,” said Hansen of his Mexican bull riding counterpart, who now resides in the community of Speargrass, just 15 minutes south of Strathmore. “That’s one of the nicest guys on the planet. It’s hard not to cheer for him. I might have to buy him a beer because he had to sit there and wait for a little longer than he wanted.”

While Hansen had a payday of $5,820.48 for winning his first-ever Strathmore Stampede title, Durazo didn’t fare that badly either as he took home $4,607.88 for his eight seconds of work.

Like Hansen, Layton Green of Meeting Creek, Alta., had never won in Strathmore … that is, until Monday when he posted a score of 88.25 points on Night Attack to win the saddle-bronc competition and the first-place prize of $6,136.32.

“It’s pretty cool to get the win here,” said Green, while recalling that he finished second on a couple occasions previously. “It’s just the boost a guy needs here going into the last stretch (of the season).”

Meanwhile, Caleb Bennett of Corvallis, Mont., won his second bareback title in Strathmore thanks to his impressive 91.25-point performance on Monday atop OLS Tubs Stevie Knicks to earn himself a payday of $5,640. 

“This rodeo’s always been pretty good to me,” said Bennett who knew he had a chance to post a high score when he saw the bucking horse he was matched up against. “She made me look dumb once. That’s probably one of the greatest animal athletes in bareback riding. Today, out of all the trips I’ve had on her, was probably the strongest and buckiest she’s ever been.”

Also on Monday, steer wrestler Mike McGinn of Haines, Ore., stopped the clock in 3.5 seconds to finish first atop the standings.

“The judges did a good job drawing me a good steer,” said the humble bulldogger, who earned $6,133.50 for his efforts. “I just let it all hang out and tried to win something.”

While many of the winners were crowned during the final day of the rodeo on Monday, several earned their titles earlier in the four-day show.

Michael Otero of Millsap, Texas, stopped the clock in 8.0 seconds on Sunday during the tie-down roping event and his quick time stood up to earn him the top prize of $6,218.10.

“Winning Strathmore with this amount of money added, it would really boost my (place in the) standings and my confidence and get me going in the right direction,” said Otero before packing up and heading south of the border to attend more rodeos in his quest to qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas in November. “That was just a really great calf. I’ve been drawing really terrible for the most part in the States and we come up here to Canada and the calves are outstanding.”

Alberta-based team ropers Lance Gordon of Crossfield and Kelly Buhler of Big Valley set the time to beat of 4.9 seconds on Sunday and it held up to earn them a payday of $4,272.30 each.

Ponoka’s Shelby Spielman posted the fastest time of 17.59 seconds in the ladies’ barrel racing event to win $6,805.60, while Mikenna Schauer of Halkirk, Alta., stopped the clock in 2.22 seconds to finish as the top ladies breakaway roping competitor to take home $2,994.37.

Nash Loewen of Winfield, Alta., posted a score of 79.5 points to win the boys steer-riding competition and a payday of $1,552.

Meanwhile, Blake Link of Maple Creek, Sask., had the lone qualified ride of 73.75 points in novice bareback to win $877.66 and James Perrin, also of Maple Creek, posted the top score of 71.5 points in novice saddle bronc to give him an extra $990.18 in his bank account.