A saddle bronc rider from Blackfalds turned in one of the highlights over the weekend at the 2024 Sundre Pro Rodeo.
Nicolas Patterson climbed aboard Calgary Stampede’s Breaking Acres on Sunday and posted his first ever 90 point bronc ride. Patterson says “He’s been around for a little bit. They’ve had him in the bareback riding a bunch and then I hadn’t bucked him too much in the bronc riding until I seen him at Handhills earlier this year and he was really good. He had that same move out of the chutes, a hard left and continue bucking down, but did the same thing. Didn’t want to anticipate it but wanted to be ready for it that’s for sure. Yeah it’s huge, I’ve really liked this rodeo for a long time and always wanted to win it. Pretty big honour to do it.”
Patterson was thrilled to win in Sundre for the first time. He says “Yep, first 90. Pretty excited about that. I was close last weekend in Wildwood and it was pretty cool to do it here.”
Patterson had entered this weekend’s action in 5th place on the saddle bronc money list for the 2024 Canadian Pro Rodeo Association season with over $10, 000 dollars in earnings so far.
Other unofficial major event winners at the Sundre Pro Rodeo included Layne Delemont from Cardston in steer wrestling (4.7 seconds), Ethan Mazurenko from Thorhild in bareback (91 points), Dakota Buttar from Saskatchewan in bull riding (89.5 points), and Abby Phillips from Texas in barrel racing (17.33 seconds).
There were one-two splits in three of the major events in Sundre. Texas cowboys Shane Hanchey and Connor Atkinson both got the job done in 8.2 seconds in tie down roping.
The duo of Trey Gallais from Sundre and Joey Romo II from Nanton along with the tandem of Brady Tryan from Montana and Calgary Smith from Oregon posted the top time in team roping – 4.5 seconds.
Lakota Bird from Nanton and Caitlyn Dahm from Kansas both stopped the clock at 2.7 seconds to split the top prize money in breakaway roping.
A busy week for Pro Rodeo Canada cowboys and cowgirls starts tomorrow with stops in Fort McLeod and Ponoka. More action begins later this week with Alberta tour stops in Raymond and Airdrie, along with Williams Lake, B.C.
(Audio courtesy of Tim Ellis)
