-Event Cowboys by Clay Creasy
“About seven or eight years ago, a similar rule was brought to the board but there maybe wasn’t the feeling that it was needed at the time.” With rough stock numbers being even lower now, he added that, “Our objective is to help anyone coming up in any way we can.” Kyle Wanchuk may be living proof of the need for this rule, having faced many hurdles in develop- ing as a bronc rider when he bought his full card after a strong start to the 2022 season in the team roping.
Garrett Zieffle, 2024 Drayton Valley Pro Rodeo photo by Carlie Borris
“My partner and I filled our card at Medicine Hat [spring rodeo], and I had entered the novice saddle bronc riding at Drayton Val - ley, but was told I couldn’t get on,” Wanchuk recalled. Although his brother Kolby had competed in the novice saddle bronc riding while developing into a CFR and NFR qualifying saddle bronc rider, Kyle had put his energy into the timed events, having only started entering the saddle bronc riding at college rodeos in the fall of 2021. With the novice level no longer an option, the younger Wanchuk focused solely on the team roping for the early part of the season. As the summer went on, he decided to use the only option he had available to him, entering some of the smaller pro rodeos in the open saddle bronc riding. It was a tough way for a beginning saddle bronc rider to learn, and as the Sherwood Park cowboy ex - plained, “It cost a bit more money than it should have.” However, he had determined he didn’t want to give up on bronc riding. By year end, he had earned two cheques at High Prairie and Grimshaw, signaling that his dedication was paying off. In 2023, he entered nearly as many rodeos in the bronc riding as he did the team roping, and by year end was showing just as strongly in a bronc saddle as he was in a rope sad - dle, claiming the prestigious Kenny McLean award.
He currently sits 5th in each event in the early 2024 season, while entering many US events in the saddle bronc riding as well. His rapid development as a sad - dle bronc rider has been truly remarkable, but being denied the opportunity to compete in the novice after becoming a full-fledged professional in a different event seemed like something worth reviewing, and drives home the reasoning for this change. Although Wanchuk is proud of his status as one of Can - ada’s top young competitors in both events, he noted, “I wish it would have been allowed for me, but I hope it can help out some more people coming up.” One competitor who may be able to benefit from the rule change in the near future is third generation timed event cowboy, Garrett Zieffle of Consort, AB. Z ie ffle has already filled his semi-pro card in the steer wrestling this spring, while also entering the novice saddle bronc riding. Although he plans on continuing to compete at that level for the remainder of the season while working to improve as both a bronc rider and tie- down roper, knowing that he could compete for a spot at the 2025 CFR in the steer wrestling and the novice saddle bronc riding gives him a sense of relief.
Canadian Rodeo News – May, 2024 – 37
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