Canadians shine at National Finals Rodeo on Thursday

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on December 3, 2022.

https://www.medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

Canuck bronc busters made a big entrance to the National Finals Rodeo on Thursday night, while Maple Creek bull-rider Jarod Parsonage made the eight-second mark but was left out of the money.

Parsonage scored 81.5-points on bull named “Grey Denim” to place seventh in the first go-round at the Thomas and Mack Arena in Las Vegas.

The top ride to open the 10-day rodeo was put in by Tristen Hutchings, on “Party Animal.” His 90.5-point score secured top-day money of US$28,914.

Parsonage’s score placed him No. 8, when the top-six finishers earn day money.

Other Canadians competing at the NFR include a cohort of five Alberta-based saddlebronc riders, three of whom put in money rides on Thursday.

Dawson Hay (Wildwood, Alta.,) and Zeke Thurston (Big Valley) each posted 87.5-point rides to finish tied for second-place on the night. They each earned US$20,053.

They wound up a half-point ahead of No. 4 finisher Kolby Wanchuk (Sherwood Park), who rode, Canadian-bred bronc Double Red from the Kesler Co. to earn US$12,125.

Logan Day (Wildwood) and Layton Green (Millarville) also registered rides, but were out of the money.

The night’s top-ride was posted by Montana cowboy Sage Newman aboard “Rubels,” a mount bred by the Big Stone Rodeo Co., which is based near Brooks.