Schiffner places second

Times Reporter   

 

Defending champion of the Canadian Finals Rodeo, Strathmore’s Scott Schiffner placed second in bull riding at this year’s event, in Edmonton at Rexall Place. His total earnings for the season were $55,304.39, just behind champion Chad Besplug.

“It was a good week,” Schiffner said, of the Nov. 6-10 competition. “I got bucked off two bulls, one I definitely shouldn’t have and it probably cost me winning Canada, but through and through it was alright.”

Schiffner has competed at the Calgary Stampede 11 times, and won in 2011. For the Professional Bull Riding World Championship, he’s reached the final on three occasions. Schiffner also won the Canadian Finals in 2001, and called the competition “like the Stanley Cup playoffs”.

“All our money that we won throughout the season, we carried into the finals,” he said. “Now that it’s all over, we carry the money that we won at the finals to our regular season earnings, and that’s how they declare the Canadian champ.”

Schiffner was pleased with his year, even with attending less rodeos than usual this season. The sting of silver still hurts, however.

“I was pretty happy,” he said. “I wish I could have done a little better obviously to win a third Canadian title but everyone says winning second is good – I look at it as second is always first loser.”

As the last rodeo of the year, Schiffner will have a couple months off; the new season begins in 2014. In the offseason, he plans to prepare hard in Strathmore.

“Just how I always do,” he said. “We have a ranch; I’m going to go home and work there, riding horses lots and cowboying. Keep in shape and go for next year.”