Saddle bronc hat trick
Alberta’s Zeke Thurston shines at Stampede
Hail bounced off Zeke Thurston’s hat while he contemplated his place in rodeo history.
The 23-year-old from Big Valley, Alta., became the first man to win three straight saddle bronc titles at the Calgary Stampede when he completed the hat trick Sunday.
“They say great things and success happen when preparation and the opportunity meet and I guess that’s just what that was today,” the reigning world champion said.
Thurston scored 92 aboard Get Smart to just beat fellow Albertan Layton Green’s 91.5 on Wild Cherry in the final showdown of the top four competitors.
“A lot of guys would go their whole careers and never win this rodeo,” Thurston said. “To win it three years in a row is unbelievable.”
Thurston was the lone Canadian victor in the $2-million Calgary Stampede, which dates back to 1905 and is one of the richest in the sport of rodeo.
The only other competitors to win three straight years at the Stampede were bareback riders Will Lowe of Canyon, Texas, (2008-10) and Davey Shields Jr., of Bashaw, Alta. (2005-07).
The winners of the six events — bull riding, saddle bronc, bareback, tie-down roping, steer wrestling and barrel racing — each received a cheque for $100,000 on Sunday in addition to any day money they won during the 10-day rodeo.
Thurston got his winning ride in before the weather abruptly turned Sunday. What was a warm, sunny afternoon turned to thunder and hail for the final two rodeo events — barrel racing and bull riding.
The Stampede doubled prize money for the winners from $50,000 to $100,000 in 2006.
“To have the opportunity to ride for that kind of money, people work every day of the year to make half that amount of money,” Thurston said.
“To be able to ride one bucking horse for $100,000 whether you do it or not, that’s awesome. I wish there were more rodeos like this.”
Sage Kimzey of Strong City, Okla., reclaimed the bull riding title he won in 2015. He scored 91 on Night Moves. The 23-year-old keeps a Canadian bank account for his winnings north of the border.
“I’ve actually left all my money up here because the exchange rate,” Kimzey said. “I checked the other day and I think it’s like 78 cents to the dollar. I’m not taking a thirty-thousand dollar hit.”