Kavis Drake/Denim Ross cont...
And, while indeed it’s not their father’s team roping, there’s no doubt that both of their fathers have had a heavy influence on their success.
both Taber and Coleman, Ross and Drake had in - dividual earnings of just over 81-hundred-dollars. That’s nearly forty percent of the total needed to qualify for last year’s Canadian Finals Rodeo, lead -
“It was pretty cool roping with my dad my first year on the pro trail,” offers Drake, who teamed up with his father, Kent in 2022 to finish in the top 25 of the CPRA team roping standings while competing at fifteen rodeos.
ing one to speculate that Drake’s first CFR appearance and a third trip to the Finals for Ross may be in the offing. “I missed the CFR by about fifteen hundred dollars last year,” says Drake. “This money takes some weight off of our shoulders for sure.”
I’ve known him for as long as I can remember... he just turns the steer every single time for first.
“The year I was born, he missed the CFR by four hundred dollars or something. Then he stopped to start a family and went to some CCA rodeos. Then when I said I wanted to go, we came out here for that year.”
“Getting to the CFR was a great experience,” suggests Ross. “I learned to enjoy moment. After all, this is what we want to do forever, right.”
Ross didn’t get the chance to rope alongside his dad, Rocky, on the pro trail. But he did team up with his father’s old partner, Marty Lillico, in his first year. “I’ve heard some of the stories about their run,” chuckles Ross, who wasn’t born yet when his dad and Lillico won two Wildrose Rodeo Association titles together before qualifying for their first of five con - secutive CFR appearances. “Marty taught me about how to enter, how to check the draws, pay fees and a bunch of other stuff. And my dad’s always there to answer any questions I have.” After winning the Maple Leaf Circuit Finals in Regina in December and placing at
Canadian Rodeo News – May, 2024 – 22
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