Cypress Showdown: first full CCA Maple Creek Rodeo in years

Posted on September 4, 2026 by Ryan Dahlman

By Marcus Day

Maple Creek News

Big crowds, balmy weather, blockbuster action – Maple Creek announced itself again as a cowboy capital by hosting its first full CCA rodeo in years.

In keeping with the sense of history, the weekend’s inaugural Cypress Showdown also featured an arena line-up of past Canadian Cowboys Association champions, spanning more than six decades.

Forty-four names were called out by announcer Joe Braniff in a “unique” celebration of rodeo royalty from the region.

Either side of the roll call of honour, hundreds of spectators enjoyed two days of high-octane entertainment when the best in the west vied for cash and glory at the High Chaparral Arena.

For saddle bronc riders there was a chance to earn the Wade Bertram Memorial Buckle.

The program included about 185 performances in bareback, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, saddle bronc, bull riding, barrel racing, breakaway roping, team roping, mutton busting and novice events.

Contestants came from Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Manitoba. Several cowboys hailed from Australia, and one from New Zealand.

Among top local performers were Consul’s Braden Brost, who won tie-down roping with a time of 12 seconds.

Two of Maple Creek’s up-and-coming stars also excelled: Zack Moorhead won junior steer riding, while Dayton Cronkhite was runner-up in novice saddle bronc.

Tyler Martens, one of the principal organizers, was thrilled with the way things went.

“I am very happy. We will have more time to bring it back next year bigger and better – that is the plan.”

The event was presented by Cypress Steer Riders and Hill Country Clothing, with all the proceeds supporting the future of rodeo.

It kicked off at 5pm on a warm, overcast Saturday, with a hint of rain in the air. Fortunately, the threat of a downpour never materialized.

Setting the scene, Braniff announced that there were only seven CCA rodeos left on the 2026 calendar.

“The crunch is on,” he said, adding that the adrenaline was going to be pumping a little bit faster over the weekend.

After the flying of flags and singing of O Canada in the opening ceremony, the action began with novice bareback’s sole competitor, Corbin Boczkowski, from Lethbridge, charging out of the chutes. His 58 points secured the championship.

He was followed by novice saddle bronc in which Cronkhite had home fans cheering with a 61.5-point ride.

Even during the intermission the arena was buzzing, this time with mutton busting, provoking lots of oohs and aahs from the crowd.

Many people took the opportunity to get food and refreshment from Papa Joe’s Smokehouse, which ran the booth by the entrance. Pulled pork dishes and cheeseburgers proved extremely popular.

As is traditional, bull riding provided a suspenseful climax to the day. In fading light, with lightning flashes in the distance, riders kept everyone on edge during the most dangerous eight seconds in sports.  Garrett Harrigan carried the hopes of hometown fans, but like the others he bit the dust before the buzzer.

Among spectators who filed out of the arena shortly after 8.30pm were Ron and Laverne Erven, from Thunder Bay, Ontario.

The couple, who had been visiting family in Calgary, found out by chance that there was a rodeo happening in Maple Creek and decided to give it a go.

It proved a great bonus to their trip. Having family connections with a city boasting the Calgary Stampede, the “greatest outdoor show on Earth”, meant they were well versed in the drama of a rodeo.

“We had a great time,” said Ron.

Championship Sunday started with a slack performance at 9am. By 2pm, the scheduled start of the rodeo, dozens of former CCA champions had gathered near the entrance for an extra-special Grand Entrance.

In a build-up to the line-up of champs inside the arena, Braniff, the seven-time Canadian Pro Rodeo Announcer of the Year, spoke of “something totally unique” about to happen.

He said 44 names from the traditional Maple Creek trading area – from west of the town to the Alberta border, south to Consul and Eastend, east to Tompkins, and north to Golden Prairie – were going to be honoured. Those who couldn’t make it had delegates representing them.

“You would be hard-pressed to find anything like this,” Braniff said.

Some of the past champions competed decades ago.

Some are still involved in rodeo today, and some have families and kids now following in their footsteps.

One of those unable to make it into the arena was 93-year-old Rita Wells, a barrel racing champion in 1963, when the  CCA was founded.

She went on to claim three more championships – in 1965, 1966, and 1967. For her, the 1960s really did swing.

Braniff named each of the past champions, the years that they won, and listed other achievements.

As their names were called, each cowboy or cowgirl stepped forward to acknowledge the cheers of the crowd in the public seating area opposite. Some took off their hats.

At one end of the line was 100-year-old Jack Hockley, a World War Two veteran described as a pioneer cowboy/announcer.

Such is Hockley’s renown that a high-yielding Canada Western Red Spring wheat variety bred in Saskatchewan has been named after him.

Afterwards, a group of cowboys carried Hockley out of the arena.

The action then began with Kegan Kmita, from Weyburn, Saskatchewan, bursting from the bucking chutes, the only bareback performer of the day.

When it came to junior steer riding, Candice Martens, who is on the organizing committee, experienced the joy of seeing her son, Dane Evans, put in a good performance.

“Pretty special day and rodeo for Dane. He got Alimony covered and made his first official CCA ride at our hometown rodeo that we had been working so hard on. Nothing beats seeing his excitement.”

Maple Creek’s Paden Robertson, 10th in the CCA standings also impressed, riding to 68 points.

Paden can boast illustrious rodeo heritage.

His great-great-grandfather, Edwin Perrin, was one of the six Maple Creek cowboys who made history when they were chosen to ride for King and Country at the First International Rodeo at Wembley Stadium in London, England at the 1924 British Empire Exhibition.

After bull riders brought the day to an end, with Sean Wheelans from Rossburn, Manitoba, being declared champion for his 79-point ride, Tyler Martens reflected on the event.

“I think it has been at least 12 or 13 years since we have had a full CCA rodeo in Maple Creek,” he said.

A forecast of weekend rain had been initially worrying, he said, but ended up encouraging farmers to leave their fields and go to a rodeo.

“It took the farmers off the tractors and put them in seats.

“In the end, the rain held off and we couldn’t have asked for anything better. We had a big Sunday crowd, and I was really happy about that.”

Tyler, whose wife, Candice, son Dane and daughter, Emersyn, competed, is already looking forward to 2027.

On the strength of this year, he believes the organizing committee has a public mandate to continue.

“I think we will be able to continue doing it,” he said.

In its first newsletter after being founded in 1963, the Canadian Cowboys Association stated that it aimed to “make a winner out of every cowboy”.

Many of those exiting the arena on Sunday would have argued that the weekend’s rodeo had once again made a winner out of Maple Creek.

See results in Sports section of the website…