The first day of the 2022 Calgary Stampede is in the books and one Canadian cowboy posted the top score in one of the six rodeo events. Zeke Thurston of Big Valley, Alberta had the highest result in the saddle bronc competition with a score of 89.5 points on the bronc Baby Kibitz.
Thurston had half a point more than Ross Griffin of Tularosa, New Mexico, who was in second place with 89 points. Chase Brooks of Deere Lodge, Montana was in third place with 84.5 points.
Four more Canadians posted a top-three result. In the bull riding, Jordan Hansen of Amisk, Alberta was in third place with 82 points. He was behind Josh Frost of Randlett, Utah (88 points) and Clayton Sellars of Wildwood, Florida (85.5 points). In tie-down roping, Logan Bird of Nanton, Alberta was in third place with a time of 8.4 seconds. Zach Jongbloed of Iowa, Louisiana was in first place with a time of 7.2 seconds and Tyler Milligan of Pawhuska, Oklahoma was in second place with a time of 7.4 seconds. In steer wrestling, Stephen Culling of Fort St. John, British Columbia was second with a time of 4.4 seconds. Ty Erickson of Helena, Montana was first with a time of four seconds. Finally in women’s barrel racing, Bertina Olafson of Hudson Bay, Saskatchewan is in third place with a score of 17.72 seconds. Emily Beisel of Weatherford, Oklahoma had the fastest time of 17.62 seconds and Dona Kay Rule of Minco, Oklahoma was in second place with a time of 17.69 seconds.
The chuckwagon racing (also known as the Rangeland Derby) also started on Friday. Darcy Flad of Bodo, Alberta had the fastest time of 1:13.07.
