High scores dominated in final rodeo performance
By Laurence Heinen Times Contributor
Doug Taylor Photo
As the final competitors to go in their respective events, both Hay and Laye emerged as champions in front of an appreciative crowd.
While Hay had an impressive 90.75-point ride atop Get Smart to win the saddle bronc competition, Laye won the bareback event thanks to his 88.75-point performance aboard Stevie Knicks.
As the final saddle bronc rider to compete, Hay gave fans a performance reminiscent of the ones his father Rod gave during his many successful years on the rodeo circuit.
“It’s a great rodeo,” said the 21-year-old cowboy from Wildwood, Alta., who won $6,226.56. “I love coming here. This is one of the rodeos that I always remember growing up around. My dad would always take us here every year, so to have success here meant a lot for sure.”
Knowing he had to beat the score of 86.25 that Ben Andersen posted earlier during the four-day event, Hay was happy that he drew Get Smart.
“It was either going to be really good or really bad,” Hay said. “He’s just amazing every single trip. I knew that if I made the whistle, I’d probably be pretty good. That’s not very easy on that one.”
Laye also knew he had his work cut out to beat the 86.75-point ride Ty Breuer posted to lead the bareback competition heading into the final afternoon of action.
“I was plum tickled when I seen the draw,” said the 25-year-old cowboy from Cadogan, Alta., who took home $5,730.24 after his thrilling ride atop Stevie Knicks. “That’s the second time I’ve got to match up with her. A guy could wait a long time to draw a good horse like that. So, it’s definitely exciting.
“A bit of a pressure horse, I was a bit nervous today because there’s a lot on the line when you know it’s in your hands to win it.”
Like Hay, Laye was pleased to win in Strathmore for the first time.
“It’s always been a rodeo on my bucket list to win,” he said. “I remember coming here in the steer riding in ’05, so I’ve been putting in quite a bit of time here at Strathmore, quite a few years. This is a big rodeo in Alberta and it’s just always been a part of my life.”
While Hay and Laye had what it took to win on Monday, none of the competitors in the bull riding event were able to accomplish the same feat.
That meant Sage Kimzey of Strong City, Okla., Clayton Sellars of Stephenville, Texas, and Trey Benton of Rock Island, Texas, all tied for top spot and identical payouts of $5,250.21 thanks to their 88.5 rides atop Gray Tower III, Whiskey Hand and Tubs Nickle, respectively.
It’s been quite the year so far for Kimzey, who cashed a cheque for $100,000 for winning the bull riding event at the Calgary Stampede.
“A lot of practise and a lot of hard work is all I can say,” said Kimzey, who also won in Strathmore last year. “It’s all just about how much work you put into it. Strathmore’s a great rodeo to come to. It’s always fun to get to come ride up here.”
Also on Monday, Rhen Richard of Roosevelt, Utah, edged out Didsbury’s Morgan Grant to win the tie-down roping competition. Richard stopped the clock in 7.7 seconds to win $6,175.80, while Grant’s time of 7.8 seconds won him $5,661.80.
Team ropers Dawson and Dillon Graham of Wainwright, Alta., set the time to beat of 4.9 seconds on Monday and it held up to earn them a payday of $3,468.60 each.
Bertina Olafson of Hudson Bay, Sask., posted the fastest time of 17.383 seconds in the ladies’ barrel racing event to win $6,636.40, while Evan Spady of Alliance, Atla. stopped the clock in 3.9 seconds to finish as the top steer wrestler to take home $5,625.90.
On Saturday Jayden Blacker won the novice saddle bronc event with a ride of 76.5 points atop Unit Doctor.
Blacker, who hails from Windsor, New South Wales, Australia, originally posted a score of 66.5 points aboard Twilight Moon but was given a re-ride and took full advantage of his second chance.
“I didn’t have much time to prepare for the next one, but I’m glad we got it done,” Blacker said. “I kind of rushed back to the chutes and got all my buddies to help me put my saddle on. I knew that horse was going to be nice. I took it moment-by-moment, I’d say.”
Chett Deitz of Milo, Alta., finished atop the novice bareback standings with a 71.75-point ride, while Tristen Manning of Yellowhead County, Alta., won the boys’ steer-riding competition with an impressive ride of 74.25 points.