Mundare cowboy Cooper McNiven captured victory at the inaugural Zeke Thurston Invitational Saddle Bronc Futurity on July 28.
Held during the Stettler County Fair and Rodeo, the event was a showcase spearheaded by three-time world champion Zeke Thurston, to highlight the next generation of rodeo talent.
The invitation-only competition brought together Western Canada’s premier young bronc riders ahead of the main challenge on Wednesday night.
Stock were featured from 10 Canadian contractors, including the Calgary Stampede, Big Stone Rodeo, Prime Time Rodeo, Buck Peters, Jeff Yule, Frank Wyzykoski, Tom Bingham, Art & Shawn Francis, Ash Cooper, and Jerrett Jackson.
Frank Wyzykoski was named the winning stock contractor for the evening, thanks to a strong performance from the five year old Xplosive Skies, as well as two other horses.
Unlike traditional rodeo events, a futurity focuses on developing young equine athletes.
For the contractors, the Stettler event provides an opportunity to evaluate four and five-year-old horses in an arena setting before making the jump to professional rodeos.
McNiven scored an 83.5 in both the long and short go’s for a combined score of 167.
His winning ride atop the Yule Rodeo entry “Rock Bottom” topped a competitive field of 20 rides in the opening round.
Author: Landin Chambers
Landin Chambers is a news reporter for Hometown Media Stettler. He has a background in broadcast news, with previous roles in Prince George, Red Deer and Calgary. You may also see him as a cameraman for the Stettler Wildcats and Stettler Imperials. Have a story idea? Email: lchambers@htproductionsmedia.ca
