Canadian Finals Rodeo underway Wednesday with competitors from Medicine Hat region

Wigmyr has won $20,788.70 this year to be among the 24 contestants in team roping.

From the Saskatchewan side of the border Rylan Brost of Consul is also in team roping, having won $28,239.84 over the year.

Bull Riding will have a dozen riders trying to stay on for eight seconds.

Included is the third ranked Jared Parsonage of Maple Creek with $31,769.21 in winnings, the fourth ranked Grady Young of Leader with $28,211.52, and Dakota Buttar from Eatonia in sixth with $25,057.30.

Cecil Baynton of Maple Creek is competing in the junior steer riding event at the CFR in Edmonton. Submitted Photo

A pair of Maple Creek teenagers Cecil Baynton and Dayton Cronkhite will make their debut at the event competing in junior steer riding.

Both coming from farms toward the Piapot area, the 15-year-olds have been competing together on the junior steer riding circuit, both getting into the sport at the age of eight.

“All my friends were doing it, so I wanted to try it,” Baynton said.

There are only six riders who qualified for the junior steer riding at the CFR, with Baynton brining home $5,628.21 at events throughout the year to take the fourth spot.

Cronkhite took the sixth and final qualifying spot with $4,141.51 in winnings.

Cronkhite does have the upper hand on wins throughout the year with four to Baynton’s two.

Baynton earned more money based on staying on more steers passed the 8-second buzzer.

Riding with two hands is something not allowed in bull riding, but something that Bayton takes advantage of with junior steer riding.

Cronkhite is starting to make the adjustment to get ready for bull riding.

“It’s just a starter event. For me, it’s boosted my confidence a lot, riding one-handed,” Cronkhite said.

“Makes me feel more confident in my rides, most definitely,” he added.

“Hang on and try to make eight seconds. Make it look good.”

They had travelled to a number of events throughout western Canada to qualify starting back in April. Both were enthusiastic about the ability to head there together.

“Pretty exciting. Both from Maple Creek. Travel buds all year,” Baynton said.

“It’s pretty exciting. Goal from the start of the year to go there. To do it together is pretty fun,” Cronkhite said.

Dayton Cronkhite of Maple Creek is competing in the junior steer riding event at the CFR in Edmonton. Submitted Photo

The riders are also happy to get advices whenever they can from Maple Creek’s Parsonage, also competing at CFR in bull riding.

“Lots of tips. Most rodeos that he’s at that we’re at, get the same thing every time,” Cronkhite said.

“It’s pretty cool. It makes you look up to a guy like that and say you want to be like him one day and you kind of get that chance to when you’re around him.”

Cronkhite said he enjoys the memories of traveling with everybody.

Not competing at the CFR this year from the Medicine Hat area will be 2024 CFR Bull Riding winner William Barrows from Foremost, Alta.

Barrows injured himself at the pro rodeo during the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede this year, and is back riding, but didn’t make his way up the money standings to qualify this year.

by Jesse Gill

Canadian Finals Rodeo underway Wednesday with competitors from Medicine Hat region

Our Community