Everything is relative … Maple Creek & the Canadian Finals Rodeo

PHOTO BY TERRI MASON Jared Parsonage roping at Jess Parsonage’s 2018 branding. The young cowboy is the nation’s season leader in Bull Riding.

BY TERRI MASON & TOM REARDON

The 45th annual Canadian Finals Rodeo runs from Oct 30 – Nov 4. Sanctioned by the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association, for the first time ever, the Canadian championships will be decided in Westerner Park at Red Deer, Alta. The previous 44 versions of the CFR were held in Edmonton and over the years, Maple Creek and area has been well represented. So, just for fun, we present our pre-CFR build-up — from a Maple Creek perspective.

To start this off — what does “Skimp” and Dorothy Parsonage and Mary Elliott have in common? Well, turns out that “Skimp,” Dorothy and Mary all get their mail at Maple Creek and have a grandson entered in this year’s six-round showdown as the season leader. Jared Parsonage leads all bull riders and Clay Elliott is the number one gunner in the saddle bronc competition.

The CFR showcases seven major events, only the best of the best competes. In years past, steer wrestler William Beierbach, bronc rider Dan Black, barrel racer Colby Gilbert, bronc rider Ross Kreutzer, barrel racer Kerry Maynes and bareback riders Colin Orr and Jason Wheeler have all earned CFR back numbers and represented “The Old Cowtown.” The highlights would be when Ross won the Canadian Championship in 2006, and William won the Average (best total time on six rounds) in 2005.

With an eye to the future, the CFR also hosts the Canadian Novice championships for younger competitors. Casey Bertram, Dan Black and Adam Gilchrist have all earned contestant jackets in the Novice Saddle Bronc Riding. Brady Bertram, Lane Link, Wyatt Maines and Jason Wheeler all made the cut to compete in the Novice Bareback Riding. The step before the novice events is Steer Riding, and Nolan Jans has “been there, done that.”

Of interest is Eastend’s Dantan Bertsch. As a kid, he won the Steer Riding. In his youth, he won the Novice Bareback and now he is competing for the Canadian Championship in Bareback Riding. Other district names that have been CFR contestants includes Kelly Armstrong, Tyler Martens and Cameron Vansandt.

There’s plenty of district connections in the production end too. The rodeo will be live streamed on FloRodeo and if you own a computer, you can sign up. That broadcast will feature Piapot’s seven-time CPRA Announcer of the Year, Joe Braniff, who will keep you well informed. Joe’s co-host is Bob and Peggy Needham’s nephew, Tim Edge.

The two pick up men were chosen by the contestants, and Jamie Packard’s uncle, Gary Rempel, will be there for his record-extending 20th year. He’ll be partnered with Wayne Resch’s younger brother, Jason Resch.

Bullfighters were also voted in and Scott Waye is one of three that will be protecting the bull riders. His wife, Julia, can trace her lineage all the way back to N.W.M.P. member and pioneer Cypress Hills rancher, David White.

PHOTO BY MIKE COPEMAN PHOTOGRAPHY Ross Kreutzer spurring his way to the 2006 Canadian Saddle Bronc Riding Championship.

Once again, Kylie Parsonage’s brother, Lane Peterson, received the call to be a judge at this year’s showcase. In bygone years, their mother, Brenda, served as CFR secretary many times.

Dave Flundra ranches west of town and his son, three-time Canadian Saddle Bronc Champion Dustin Flundra, is the CPRA’s saddle bronc director — he oversees stock selection. Dave’s daughter-in-law and Dustin’s wife, multi-award-winning trick rider and Liberty act cowgirl, Niki, is in charge of the always-dramatic grand opening and closing ceremonies.

This year’s contestant roster has several local connections. Steer wrestlers Scott Guenthner and Brendan Laye and bareback rider Clint Laye have families that originate from west of town in the Box Elder district, and have kinfolk scattered throughout the region. Bareback rider Ty Fast Taypotat has several relatives at Neekaneet. Young Tanner Skene is from Prince Albert now, but many Maple Critters will know his parents, Mike and LeeAnne, who were employed at the Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge for several years. Tanner is competing in the steer riding.

Over the years, Maple Creek’s contribution to the rough stock pens has certainly raised the tone of the town. Local Derek “Dirty” Moorehead raised a bull named Glass Tiger that was invited to the rodeo, and Hall of Fame bucking horses like High Chaparral, raised by Mike Shapley and Coyote, raised by Bob and Dixie Black, have made their mark and put a lot of jingle in the jeans of the nation’s top cowboys. Another bucking horse with Maple Creek connections — and whose influence is still being felt in the chutes today — was a mare named Tiny Bubbles. She was purchased by Calgary Stampede from Cowtown Rodeo Company (Bob Black, Bill Gilchrist and Lawrence Lundberg). Her descendants, Soap Bubbles and Umber Bubbles, have both been selected to buck at the 2018 CFR.

At the “timey end” of the arena, who can forget the photo of Daryl Brost holding the reins of three horses he trained that carried their new owners to the big show? This year pay close attention to the barrel racing, and watch 2017 Rookie & Permit of the Year winner, Diane Skocdopole, smoke the cloverleaf pattern on her mare that she calls Sonic, sired by RNJ Heckofafrenchman, aka Hector, a stud now owned by William and Donna Beierbach.

We would be remiss if we neglected the rodeo royalty from the short grass country. For the first half of the 2018 CFR, the festivities will be presided over by the outgoing queen, 2018 Miss Rodeo Canada Brittney Chomistek, whose grandparents, Emil and Angie, ranch north of Tompkins. Brittney is following in the boot prints of 1983 MRC Kathy Cornelson, daughter of Wilf and Jean Cornelson, who ran the Arena pasture for years, and 2005 MRC Christa Lawrence, daughter of Eric and Ann Lawrence and the granddaughter of centenarian Joan Lawrence. The Lawrence family has ranched along Fish Creek for over a century.

Even the glossy program has a Cowtown connection. With today’s technology, it was all put together by the veteran editor, Terri Mason, who also ramrods Canadian Cowboy Country magazine from her tiny office on Sidney Street. For the first time, the CFR Souvenir Program will be available as a free download for FloRodeo subscribers.

And that, folks, is how everything is relative between Maple Creek & the Canadian Finals Rodeo.

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