Rocky View County’s rodeo athletes gave it their all at the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR) last weekend, but unfortunately came up short of the winners’ circle.
The 49th edition of CFR came to a close on Nov. 5 in Red Deer at the Peavey Mart Centrium at Westerner Park.
Shelby and Makayla Boisjoli from Langdon finished with an aggregate (AGG) rank of sixth and 12th in the Ladies Breakaway Roping event.
Ladies Breakaway Ropers started their three rounds of competition with CFR rookie Macy Auclair from Ponoka, Alta. posting a 1.9 second run to win the Saturday matinee round, according to the CFR website.
Langdon’s Shelby Boisjoli got no time on that first round, while Makayla had a 12.1 second run.
The evening performance on Saturday saw second and third ranked ropers, Shaya Biever and Shelby Boisjoli split the win with 2.3 second runs.
During that same round, Makayla Boisjoli wasn’t far behind with a 2.9 second run.
While Shelby Boisjoli clinched a 1.8 second run on Sunday, ranking her first in that round, Biever from Claresholm Alta. took home the win with a 2.8 second run, adding up to 7.6 seconds on all three runs.
Biever’s performance knocked out the season leader, Aubrey Ross.
On her final run, Makayla Boisjoli had No Time recorded, ranking her 12th at the end of the weekend.
Crossfield bullrider, Tyler Craig, ranked 10th in bull riding going into CFR, unfortunately finished the weekend off with an AGG rank of 12th.
The young bullrider had marked his first victory of the 2023 season at the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Touring Pro Division’s Tofield Bull Bash this past August.
After being bucked off in the first round at the CFR, he scored 83 points in the second round, but was bucked off in the remaining rounds.
Two-time Canadian champion, Edgar Durazo, claimed the winner’s saddle and buckle to go along with his 2019 title. The popular, Mexican-born Durazo went five for six for the week, winning two rounds including the final round, stated the CFR website.
This year marked the last time the CFR was held in Red Deer as it moves to Edmonton in 2024 for a three-year agreement at Rogers Place, according to an Oct. 25 news release from the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA).
This final CFR in Red Deer shattered all previous records with 37,000 tickets sold, according to a Nov. 9 press release, solidifying this year's CFR as the event with the highest attendance ever recorded in Red Deer's CFR history.
In addition to a market, the cabaret, and interactive rodeo action, the Rotary Club of Red Deer hosted a 50/50 event, where one lucky winner walked away with $99,537.50 in prize money.
