Laye defends bareback championship

By Laurence Heinen Times Contributor

Clint Laye has made a habit of laying down winning bareback rides at the Strathmore Stampede.

That trend continued Monday afternoon as he scored 90.25 points atop Vold Rodeo’s 73 True Grit to win the 2024 edition of the annual rodeo.

“She felt really good today,” said Laye, who has had three successful rides atop True Grit. “I’m a huge fan of that horse. I won a Canadian Finals Rodeo go-round (in 2023) and then I won Wainwright on her this year. I don’t have enough good things to say about that horse. She’s bucked hard for a lot of years.”

By virtue of his performance, the 30-year-old cowboy from Cadogan, Alta, successfully defended the bareback title he won last year.

“I don’t know what it is,” said the reigning and two-time CFR champion, who also won in Strathmore in 2019 and 2021. “The timing of the year’s really great. I’ve been getting on lots of bucking horses, so I feel pretty sharp this time of year. It’s just a beautiful outdoor rodeo and a great pen – a great set of bareback horses. Just kind of everything comes together for me here, it seems like.

“It’s such a great rodeo – like really traditional,” Laye continued. “I remember coming here and riding steers when I was a kid. Strathmore’s just always been a part of my rodeo career. They’ve done such a good job and they keep building and making it better.”

For his efforts, Laye pocketed $5910.72 in earnings, while Cole Reiner of Buffalo, Wyo., settled for second place and a payday of $4,679.32 after his 90-point performance aboard Macza Pro Rodeo’s 118 OLS Tubs Stevie Knicks on Monday.

Heading into action on Monday, Wheatland County’s Audrey Butler had a firm grip on top spot in the ladies breakaway roping competition with an impressive time of 2.6 seconds.

Butler’s time held up until the last competitor out of the gates – Kendal Pierson of Wardlow, Alta. – quickly roped her calf and stopped the clock at 2.3 seconds.

“Definitely being last out helps,” said Pierson, who has two Canadian titles to her credit at the young age of 20. “You know what you have to beat. I just went out and made the best run on the calf I had.”

While Pierson took home $2,681.82 for her first-place performance, Butler still earned a respectable $2,458.34 for finishing in second spot.

“A few years ago, our sport was just an up-and-coming thing and now it’s still up-and-coming but to be where it is today, it’s crazy,” Pierson said. “There’s so many people that have stood and been here before us that have worked so hard to get our sport to where it is. It’s pretty exciting to see where it’s going.”

In bull riding, only Grady Young of Leader, Sask., and Garrett Green of Meeting Creek, Alta., had successfully ridden their bulls during the first three days of competition.

Young was in the lead thanks to his 87-point ride atop Duffy Rodeo’s 712 Glamorama, but he had to settle for tying for first place after Jordan Spears matched his score on Monday by going jump-for-jump with Macza Rodeo’s 922 Church Bells.

“I just was planning on showing up and riding my bull – I hadn’t rode very many up until today,” said Spears of Caldwell, Idaho, in regards to his strategy. “I didn’t know anything about my bull. He bucked a little better than I was thinking – not super easy to ride. I was just glad to be able to do my job and stay on and split first place today.”

Both Young and Spears earned $5,881.11 plus an additional $1,914.78 in ground money.

“It’s a sport where the highs are very high and the lows are very low,” said Spears, who was happy to be one of only four competitors in four days to have a successful ride. “If you can get an opportunity like this to win that much ground money, you’ve got to take advantage of it and keep moving forward.”

A four-time competitor at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Spears decided that he wanted to head north of the border in an attempt to qualify for the CFR.

“This is my first time here,” said the veteran 32-year-old bull rider. “I’m not sure why I never came up here to enter any of these rodeos, but I’m hooked now so I’ll be back until I’m done riding bulls.” 

OTHER WINNERS

Steer wrestling: Landon Beardsworth, 3.7 seconds, $7351.74

Team roping: (Tie) Luke Skocdopole/Garrett Brownlee and Brady Minor/Riley Minor, 5.7 seconds, $4621.28 each

Saddle bronc riding: Dawson Hay, 88.25 points on Outlaw Buckers’ B8 OLS Tubs Little Muffin, $6542.40

Tie-down roping: Chase Webster, 7.6 seconds, $6133.50

Barrel racing: Taycie Matthews, 17.13 seconds, $6932.50

Novice bareback: Denver Leitch, 76.75 points, $900.16 plus $729.44 ground money

Novice saddle bronc: James Perrin, 79.25 points, $990.18

Junior steer riding: Havana Aarsby, 76.75 points, $1659.67