Smart money was on Thurston to three-peat

Zeke Thurston didn’t get too wild on Saturday night.

He had a relatively quiet night celebrating his 23rd birthday with his wife, Jayne.

“We didn’t get too crazy yesterday,” said the affable Big Valley, Alta., cowboy shortly after winning the saddle-bronc competition on Championship Sunday at the Calgary Stampede rodeo for the thirdstraight year. “It was a pretty mild birthday party. I imagine tonight will be a heck of a time.”

Thanks to his impressive 92-point ride aboard Get Smart during Sunday’s final round, Thurston took home his third-straight cheque for $100,000 at the Stampede.

He’s the first saddle-bronc rider to accomplish that feat in the event’s history. Davey Shields Jr. won three straight titles from 2005-07, while Will Lowe duplicated that same feat from 2008-10.

“I still have no words for it,” said Thurston of his rare accomplishment. “That’s crazy to me. It’s amazing. A lot of guys will go their whole careers and maybe never win this rodeo, and to win it three years in a row, it’s unbelievable.”

After fellow Albertan Layton Green of Meeting Creek scored 91.5 points atop Wild Cherry, Thurston knew what he had to do.

“That was pretty special to be riding against your buddy,” said Thurston, who managed to beat his good friend by the narrowest of margins.

Thurston qualified for the finals by virtue of a 90-point performance aboard Timely Delivery in the preliminary round, held earlier on Sunday afternoon. He also won the Ponoka Stampede title in early July with strong rides on the same two horses he drew on Sunday.

BAREBACK

Richmond Champion had a hard time getting to sleep on Saturday night. Even when he did get to sleep, he found himself waking up in anticipation of competing on Championship Sunday at the Calgary Stampede rodeo.

“I was nervous,” admitted the 24-year-old bareback rider from Dublin, Texas.

The lack of sleep didn’t seem to affect Champion too much as he scored 89 points atop Trail Dust to qualify for the Final Four.

“I thought he had a chance to get me,” said Champion, who then had an impressive 90.5-point ride aboard Virgil in the final round to win his first Stampede title.

When he found out that he drew Virgil for the final round, Champion knew he had a shot to win the top prize of $100,000.

“That’s a horse I’ve always wanted,” said Champion, who beat firsttime Stampede competitor Mason Clements, of Santaquin, Utah, by just one point. “There’s no other bucking horse like him.”

While trying to get to sleep the night before, Champion even envisioned getting the opportunity to get atop Virgil in the chutes at the Stampede.

BARREL RACING

At first, Tiany Schuster didn’t think she’d won.

It was only when she heard her name over the loudspeaker on Sunday that she realized she just won the barrel racing title at the Calgary Stampede.

“I turned around and saw the clock, and it still didn’t register until I heard him announce, ‘You just won Calgary,’” said Schuster, of Krum, Texas, who had a pair of fast runs en route to winning $100,000 and a shiny new bronze trophy.

“I’m not normally at a loss for words. I’ve never won a major event ever … never.”

Schuster and Stevi Hillman, of Weatherford, Texas, both set the pace in the round of 10 with identical runs of 17.17 seconds to qualify for the finals along with Emily Miller of Weatherford, Okla. (17.21) and Nellie Miller, of Cottonwood, Calif. (17.23).

Shortly after Nellie Miller posted a time of 17.080 seconds, Schuster and her horse Showmance stopped the clock at 17.032.

“The rain started, and the wind was kind of coming in, and the horse just nailed that first barrel,” said Schuster.

Schuster was impressed that fans still stayed to watch her compete even though it was rainy and windy.